It's Not Fair!
Opening Prayer
Lord God, I thank You for the wonderful truth that You are always with me, both now and always.
Read Psalm 109:1-31
[1]For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, [2] for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. [3] With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. [4] In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. [5] They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship. [6] Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his right hand. [7] When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him. [8] May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. [9] May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. [10] May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes. [11] May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. [12] May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children. [13] May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation. [14] May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out. [15] May their sins always remain before the LORD, that he may blot out their name from the earth. [16] For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted. [17] He loved to pronounce a curse- may it come back on him. He found no pleasure in blessing- may it be far from him. [18] He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil. [19] May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. [20] May this be the LORD’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me. [21] But you, Sovereign LORD, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. [22] For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. [23] I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust. [24] My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt. [25] I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. [26] Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love. [27] Let them know that it is your hand, that you, LORD, have done it. [28] While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice. [29] May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak. [30] With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him. [31] For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Where does David look for help in this situation?Have you ever faced false accusations? It’s not very nice, is it? Especially when everyone seems to have decided that you’re guilty before you can defend yourself. That’s what the psalmist is expressing here. Of course, the greatest miscarriage of justice ever to take place occurred when Jesus was crucified. He was innocent of any crime, yet he was horribly punished. Lying tongues spoke against him to destroy him. Life will never be fair. Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people all the time. Our words will be misunderstood and our actions misinterpreted; we will face false accusation. When this happens we can be comforted in knowing that Jesus walked the same path, and through it God brought about the great miracle of our salvation. He will bring good out of the situations we face, also. God knows the truth. He knows our hearts and our motives; therefore, with the psalmist we can praise him! We can thank him that he is near (31), that he has not abandoned us (Heb. 13:5b).
Apply
Tell the Lord about the struggles you face. Thank him for being with you, even in the hardest of times.
Closing prayer
Gracious Father, You know the struggles that I face. I trust myself to You. I know that You will hear my prayer.
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