Shalom,


Psalm 140 is a psalm of David, probably written when he was being pursued by Saul. David was continually on the run for his very life! How do you think YOU might react to that situation? We're not just talking about a few harsh words here, but actual death threats! David said this in verses 8-11:


8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; further not their plot and device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 9 Those who are fencing me in raise their heads; may the mischief of their own lips and the very things they desire for me come upon them. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into floods of water or deep water pits, from which they shall not rise. 11 Let not a man of slanderous tongue be established in the earth; let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him [let calamity follow his evildoings].


Some scholars have argued with the translation of these verses, saying that David was simply speaking of what would take place and not how he felt or what he desired. This is simply not true! David was a human being, subject to the same feelings and emotions as we are, In fact, David was anointed with the Holy Spirit, but he did NOT have the Spirit of God living IN him, like we do! Do YOU ever cry out to God about a situation or circumstance involving people? We know that David didn't follow through on his own, but trusted in God for deliverance, because he had Saul within his grasp more than once and refused to harm him! This attitude is revealed in verses 7 & 12-13:


7 O God the LORD, the Strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. 12 I know and rest in confidence upon it that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will secure justice for the poor and needy [of His believing children]. 13 Surely the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face).


David was angry, but he sinned NOT (Ephesians 4:26)! God knows your every thought, so you might as well be honest with Him about how you REALLY feel! Then LISTEN to His instructions and DO the right thing! AMEN!


In 2 Corinthians 13:5:


5 Examine and test and evaluate  your own selves to see whether you are  holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?


 Paul, who has been instructing this church in both personal visits and letters, reminds them that the ultimate responsibility for their spiritual growth is THEIRS! Every believer must examine their own lives to see how THEY line up with God's Word! Some people have thought they were Christians, only to find out that they had never accepted Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour! Others have THOUGHT that they were standing on the Word of God for something, only to find out that they simply agreed with what was being said without meditating on the Word until it was in them in abundance! It is the Word (Truth) that I know that will set ME free (John 8:32)! So, LIVE in the Word of God and let your own life prove His presence in you!


I know that I have shared this before, but I LOVE this account in 1 Samuel 5:1-4:


1 THE PHILISTINES brought the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 They took the ark of God into the house of dagon and set it beside dagon [their idol]. 3 When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took dagon and set him in his place again. 4 But when they arose early the next morning, behold, dagon had fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and [his] head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of dagon was left him.


The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible had proven Who was REALLY GOD, not once, but twice! This deaf and dumb statue that they worshiped (after THEY made it, of course!) could not stand in the presence of the One, True God! If this wasn't proof enough for them, in every place that the ark was taken the people were dying and/or breaking out in tumors and boils. Do you think THAT had an effect on who they worshiped? Look ate verse 5:


5 This is the reason neither the priests of dagon nor any who come into dagon's house tread on the threshold of dagon in Ashdod to this day.


Wouldn't you have thought that they would burn down the house, or temple, of dagon after he proved to be no match for the God of Israel? They didn't! And unbelievers are no different today! That's why we pray for their eyes to be open to the Gospel and for laborers to cross their path! Only GOD can melt the coldest heart! Here is Hillsong's "Sing Of Your Great Love":

Shalom in Him!