Keepin’ It Real

Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Psalm 3:7-8

Yesterday we were able to sleep in peace because the Lord sustained us, according to this Psalm. After we arise, though, it’s a different story, isn’t it? We want vengeance because it’s a new day with new challenges.

What we’re reading is a snapshot in David’s life. One minute he recognizes the sustainment ability of the Lord and the next, he’s ready to mete justice on his enemies’ heads singlehandedly. If you think about it, he’s not really different than we are. We have emotional highs and lows; we have depressing times and we have times of true joy and peace. In today’s language, he’s keeping it real.

Let me ask you this: have you ever prayed the prayer David prays in this Psalm: Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked? How would it change the way you think about God?

David ends with a “safe” prayer and proclamation. He’s actually providing an answer to the previous verse. He knows the Lord well enough to know that God doesn’t dish out justice willy nilly. It’s in His time using His ways. It always has been and always will be, even if our prayers go out in anger and frustration.