PERSECUTION
To the leader: according to Lilies. Of David.
1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.4 More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
many are those who would destroy me,
my enemies who accuse me falsely.
What I did not steal,
must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.6 Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me,
O Lord God of hosts;
do not let those who seek you be dishonored because of me,
O God of Israel.
7 It is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my kindred,
an alien to my mother’s children.9 It is zeal for your house that has consumed me;
the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10 When I humbled my soul with fasting,
they insulted me for doing so.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12 I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help 14 rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
For the most part, we are praised rather than persecuted for our faith. We live in a society where Christianity is still tolerated, if not outright touted. The psalmist David, however, felt put upon because of his faith in God. His walk with this Lord put him out of step with many around him. And he felt that such persecution was just part of the journey of a faithful earthly life.
Where we may tend to be complacent about our place in the kingdom, we also need to make sure that our faith is public enough (in our words and deeds) that those who oppose what we believe may become convicted and convinced that the walk of discipleship is worth the abuse.
Let’s be bold to step out when the crowd is going wrong.
Prayer
God My Creator and Redeemer, let me live up to Your image in my daily life. Help me to praise You in spite of my surroundings. Help me to make Your will my wants. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.