Day 190: Psalms 55:12-18
Psalm 55: 12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
It would be bad enough if this were an enemy outside of our ranks. But so much of the trouble comes from within. As Judas was a traitor from within, as Absalom fought against his father, Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10) sought to deceive God’s people, so there are those even within the church would destroy it and plot against it and trouble it.
David even tells us that at one time, this was his friend. David had helped him and supported him, and this one turned on David. The traitor came from within our own ranks. You warned us, O Lord, that some would go forth from us who were not of us. Your Word has always proved true.
Judas forsook Christ. Peter betrayed his Lord for a season. Demas forsook Christ and the Apostle Paul because Demas loved this world too much. We invest our lives in many people, but we must know that some will turn away. They do not have the faith, the courage, or the grace to continue on. Like Pliable in Pilgrim’s Progress, there is something that turns them from being faithful to abandoning Christ.
Lord, deal with these who are traitors first and foremost to You, but also to Your children. O not let them go at peace to the grave. Trouble them because of the trouble they have been to us, Your people. Since they love wickedness and evil so much, let them have what they desire. If they will not repent, remove them and let them do no more harm to Your people and Your kingdom.
In Jesus’s Name, Amen!
Growing in Prayer 