September 18 — Psalm 140

“Deliver me, O LORD, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent, who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually.They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s, and under their lips is the venom of vipers. Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent who have planned my downfall. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net, along the road they have set snares for me. I say to the LORD, “You are my God; give ear, O LORD, to the voice of my supplications.” O LORD, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot. Those who surround me lift up their heads; let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise! Do not let the slanderer be established in the land; let evil speedily hunt down the violent! I know that the LORD maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall live in your presence.”

This psalm is about evil people — those who seek to do harm to the Psalmist with their wicked plans. There are many terms for evil, but here the psalmist chooses a specific Hebrew word, chamas. This is important for this word refers to a specific type of wickedness. When in the generation of Noah, the people began to cheat, steal, deceive and act with total corruption, the Bible laments that G-d saw chamas in the land (Genesis 6:11). Later, in the days of Jonah, the people of Nineveh are also described as engaging in chamas (Jonah 3:8). The specific crimes described as “chamas” are particularly insidious, as they undermine the very framework of society.

Here the Psalmist speaks about the evil that people can enact upon one another — the people who live by “chamas” and wish to constantly stir up violence. Ultimately, we all pray to acknowledge G-d’s great name and merit the presence of the Almighty.

Let us Pray:

O God, our deliverance, you keep guard over your faithful people. Protect us from those who would seek to do us harm, and bring justice to the poor, that we may praise and bless your name, and live in righteousness before you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

September 17 — Psalm 139

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Verses 1-12)

“Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.”

One of the greatest truths in life is the lesson we should all know: there is “no escape from God.” Like fugitives, we may run, but we cannot ultimately hide from the G-d who can see through even the darkness with the gaze of G-d’s own brilliant light. If we manage to dodge G-d in this life, we must still stand on that fearful day of judgment. There is no place to hide from G-d.

So, once we give up and accept the fact that fleeing G-d is not possible (I encourage you to read the story of Jonah again), we discover that G-d’s intention is not to harm us, but to bless us (Again, read the story of Jonah). G-d formed each one of us — we learn that G-d even knew us in our mother’s womb. This G-d has placed upon each one of us a purpose — and ordained all of our days even before we ever saw the light of day.

In coming to know G-d more intimately, we come to know ourselves. In the blinding light of G-d’s holiness and righteousness, we soon recognize the desperate need we have for G-d’s forgiveness and love. Since we cannot escape from this all-knowing, all-present, all-wise Creator, we cannot escape from the need for G-d’s sanctification in our lives. That is the message of Psalm 139. It’s not a generic psalm; it is an intensely personal expression of our need for G-d.

Let us Pray:

Almighty God, creator of the universe, we are filled with wonder at all your works and overwhelmed by your infinite wisdom. We praise you for your majesty; yet even more we rejoice that you do not forget us, yet desire to know and care for us; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.