King David knew the Lord, and knew Him as must all of us, through His Word. We need protection from the maligners. “Sticks and stone may break our bones,” but words can wound so deep that we never recover.
How is it that children learn to mock and berate others before they can read and write? What parent hasn’t had to instruct and lovingly compel a child to cast off cruel remarks, teasing, “put-downs”?
Yet how many parents teach their children what to do with spiritual maligning? Here within these few verses is the key that turns in the lock: maligners plunder with words, but the words of the Lord are “flawless,” and they will keep us safe.
Below are a few all-too-recognizable jabs at the human heart. Let’s pray together today for those we love who have fallen victim.
“Your life is worthless.”
“I have made you to be a nation of kings and priests.” (Revelation 1:6)
“No one understands you or could ever really love you.”
“I know your going out and your coming in; I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)
“With this fall, you will never rise again.”
“It is to his own master he will stand or fall, and he will stand, for I am able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4)
“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
LORD, WE NEED YOU TO ARISE TO THE DEFENCE OF THOSE WE LOVE, THOSE MIRED IN LIES AND RECRIMINATIONS, BUT HELP US, TOO, TO RISE UP AND PROCLAIM THE TRUTH THEY DON’T YET BELIEVE.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.
NOTHING PROTECTS LIKE THE TRUTH! WE WILL SPEAK IT AND PRAY IT FOR THOSE WE LOVE, EVEN FOR THOSE MOST DESPERATELY LOST.
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
WE SEE THE VILENESS AROUND US; OPEN OUR EYES TO SEE AND PROCLAIM YOUR TRUTH CONCERNING THE WEAK AND THE NEEDY, MALIGNED AND FAINTING.
Scheherazade, Sophie Anderson, by permission, Wikipedia
(a note: many of the instances I found of words used to wound or damage were too awful to publish)
Marketplace Monastics 