Graceful Restraints

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Opening Prayer

God of great love, open my mind and soften my heart. Help me to breathe deeply of Your Spirit.

Read Psalm 58:1-11

^[1] For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? ^[2] No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. ^[3] Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. ^[4] Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, ^[5] that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. ^[6] Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! ^[7] Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. ^[8] Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. ^[9] Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns- whether they be green or dry-the wicked will be swept away. ^[10] The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. ^[11] Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

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.

Meditate

As we experience injustice in society, we may be tempted to become hopeless. Thank God that, as the psalmist reminds us, faith is still stronger than tyrants (11).

Think Further

Today is the Lord’s Day, a time to slow down and consider the context in which we live. This consideration may become somewhat uncomfortable, yet necessary, as we’ll see in today’s meditation.

In order to guide our meditation, let’s divide the psalm into three sections. First, injustices are the product of human activity (1-5). We all have a human tendency to do the wrong thing, what the apostle Paul calls our “sinful nature.” It is easier to see this “sinful nature” at work in others; use this ability to see the injustices in your environment. As the psalm does, look at your society, and remember that the sinful nature manifests itself in the deliberate acts of the human heart, hands, words, actions and decisions.

Second, some of our prayers flow out of the conditions we see around us (6-9). The reality of sinfulness and injustice will stir our emotions and desires to bring things right. It is in these emotions that we may find the source of our prayer life. We come to God charged with emotions and attitudes that emerge out of real circumstances. The wicked actions of some bring us to our knees with heavy hearts.

Third, the “righteous” live in hope (10,11). The righteous are individuals who trust and follow God in their personal alignment. They are alert and vibrant, able to respond to events in their lives with strong emotions. These are not emotions of desperation or determinism; rather, they are emotions that reveal the new life coming from God, which sees events and circumstances from God’s perspective.

Apply

How was your experience of coming into God’s presence with strong emotions? Consider how your emotions and responses to injustices help you to be stronger in following God’s path.

Closing prayer

Lord, sometimes the pain and suffering I see are overwhelming. I wait impatiently and in pain to see justice done. Grant me hope.

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