Yesterday we ended our look at David’s Second Samuel 22 psalm (song of praise) with a reminder of how, when we stay ‘fessed up before Him, God sees us as pure. And God blesses that purity by revealing Himself to us in deeper and deeper ways. Let’s move on and get a look at the flip side:
“To the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the wicked You show Yourself hostile” (II Samuel 22:27, NLT).
“To the wicked You show Yourself hostile.” “God is love,” (I John 4:8 and 16). It’s not that He refuses to tolerate evil; He can’t. It’s so diametrically opposed to who He is that He simply cannot abide it. Which is why “to the wicked” He’s “hostile.” To be hostile is to show oneself to be an enemy.
We live in a horrendously wicked world that we are to be IN, not OF. In other words, you may have a pig sty on your property, but you still don’t have to wallow in it just because it’s there. Jesus plainly stated, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36a, HCSB). And James reminded us: “Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?” (James 4:4b, NLT).
Yow! To be “an enemy of God” is to play for the opposing team. The eternal losers. No one with an inkling of understanding as to whom God is and the power He has could possibly want to have Him as an enemy.
Speaking of teams, think about this: if you’re on God’s team, your enemies are His enemies. And God doesn’t take kindly to anyone seeking to harm His children. Matter of fact, He doesn’t take kindly to those who so much as wrongly influence them:
“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck” (Mark 9:42).
David knew he had the One and Only Powerful God on his side. If you’re His child, do you realize He’s your Defender, too?
David’s psalm continues: “You rescue the humble, but Your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them” (II Samuel 22:28).
While the Lord smiles on those who show humility, He is no fan of the prideful. Scripture after scripture warns of the downfall of “the proud.” Just one more example: “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Simply put, pride focuses attention on self: Look what I did. See what I have. A humble person doesn’t seek to be recognized for what he has accomplished or possesses.
David had outshone the entire Israeli army with his takedown of Goliath. He’d risen from absolute obscurity as a backwoods shepherd to leader of his nation. He was rich. He was handsome. He was powerful. But he knew he couldn’t take credit for one bit of all that: it was all because of the Lord.
If you’re dealing with a haughty-spirited Christian, hand that problem to Jesus and wait, watch and trust. If this person isn’t a believer, remember that God doesn’t spank the devil’s children – they’re stacking up a big enough payday in eternity. Pray for him or her; treat them with kindness regardless of what you get in return, and have faith that God can lift you above this problem or any other when you call on Him to help you.
Copyright © 2013
Judy Woodward Bates
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