The power of this prayer is not in the description of those whose aim it is to bring down their prey. No. Look at the last verse.
Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
When we begin to see those we love as more helpless than evil or stubborn or faithless, we’re getting somewhere. Evilis the bloodthirsty desire to destroy what God has brought forth, to abort what God has begun in a life – or the life itself. Even the mother who aborts her own child, what led her to that decision? Fear. Lies. Pride. Confusion.
Fear of rejection. Fear of failure. Fear of lack.
Lies about God’s faithfulness. Lies about the worth and the sanctity of life, living and unborn.
Pride in our sin, trying to make two wrongs into a right. The pride of independence and of having all things, even life and death, our way.
Confusion. What to do? How to go on? Who will help me? Will I be marginalized … the Word of God says He will help us when morning comes, and never, no not ever, will He forsake us.
Pray for those you love today, those confused, those endangered by pride and wounded for lack of strengthening humility.
FATHER, FORCES OF DARKNESS HAVE LIED TO _____________________. THE DEVIL HAS WOUNDED _____________________ WITH TORRENTS OF UNTRUTH.
His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
FROM THE INNOCENCE OF YOUTH, FROM THE WISDOM OF SCRIPTURE, ________________ HAS BEEN AMBUSHED AND DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO ESCAPE.
His (the enemy’s) eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
VICTIMIZED, WATCHED IN SECRET UNTIL LONELINESS OR BITTERNESS OR SELF-PRESERVATION BECAME A TRAP. ___________________ CRUSHED WITH THOSE HEARTBREAKING CONDITIONS, NOW FALLEN OR TOTTERING.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees.”
HIS ENEMIES THINK YOU DON’T NOTICE; THEY THINK YOU DON’T SEE. YOU DO, AND YOU SHOWED ME. MY FRIEND, MY CHILD, MY SPOUSE IS CAUGHT AND WOUNDED – I SEE BECAUSE YOU SHOWED ME, AND FOR THEM I PRAY!
12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless. SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST, O LORD! THAT’S WHAT YOU DO, AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.
His mouth is full of lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;
he covers his face and never sees.”
12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Child running and falling
Jamie Campbell, by permission, Wikipedia
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