O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.1
Amidst the blatant evil that pervades, is God actually silent? Or are we merely numb to his constant warnings?
The death of someone endearing has a way of jilting us. No one is really prepared by it. There is first denial, then shock, some succumb to anger—Why, Lord? But the earlier we go through the process of grieving, the better. Then comes the realization and acceptance. But there is even a more damning death—a spiritual death!
Have we been desensitized by the constant, persistent schemes of the enemy? We see an increase of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.2 Thus, marriages crumble, the youth fend for themselves and in their confusion resort to compromise, leaders are bereft of righteousness and justice. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.3
Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel,4 if you would but listen to me! There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.5
Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.6 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountain ablaze, so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane! Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.7
If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.8 Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.9
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefor take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Sprit, with all prayer and supplication. To the end keep alert with all perseverance, . . .10
Notes:
1. Psalm 83:1-3
2. Galatians 5:19-21
3. Galatians 6:7-8
4. Genesis 32:27-28
5. Psalm 81:8-10
6. Proverbs 24:1-2
7. Psalm 83:13-18
8. Proverbs 24:10-11
9. Jeremiah 48:10
10. Ephesians 6:10-20
