PRAYING FOR PROTECTION FROM EVIL

Passage: Psalms 64:1-10

Key verse: 2

NIV

Psalm 64[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;(A)
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.(B)

2 Hide me from the conspiracy(C) of the wicked,(D)
    from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords(E)
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.(F)
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;(G)
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.(H)

5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;(I)
    they say, “Who will see it[b]?”(J)
6 They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them(K)
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads(L) in scorn.(M)
9 All people will fear;(N)
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.(O)

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord(P)
    and take refuge in him;(Q)
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!(R)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 64:1 In Hebrew texts 64:1-10 is numbered 64:2-11.
  2. Psalm 64:5 Or us
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Hide Me from the Wicked

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

64 Hear my voice, O God, in my (A)complaint;
    preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from (B)the secret plots of the wicked,
    from the throng of evildoers,
3 who (C)whet their tongues like swords,
    who (D)aim bitter words like arrows,
4 shooting from (E)ambush at the blameless,
    shooting at him suddenly and (F)without fear.
5 They (G)hold fast to their evil purpose;
    they talk of (H)laying snares secretly,
thinking, (I)“Who can see them?”
6     They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
    For (J)the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

7 (K)But God shoots his arrow at them;
    they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own (L)tongues turned against them;
    all who (M)see them will (N)wag their heads.
9 Then all mankind (O)fears;
    they (P)tell what God has brought about
    and ponder what he has done.

10 Let (Q)the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
    and (R)take refuge in him!
Let all (S)the upright in heart exult!

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

When there are people who try to bring us down unjustly, or accuse us behind our backs, we long for an impartial judge to whom we can present our case. This psalm shows us that we have such an advocate in God. When King David heard about people who were conspiring against him and laying traps for him, he laid out his complaint clearly before God. David knew how clever people are when they set their hearts on doing evil, and he asked God to hide him from their plots. God gave David inspired language to expose the evil in the human heart.

If we pray specifically about our troubles or even just our worries about the future, laying everything before God, we can receive God’s comfort. God is pleased when we bring our agonies before him. In this way we can also resist the temptation to fight evil with evil, keeping our heart upright. Then we can have great confidence in God. We can be sure that eventually God’s justice will be revealed and all people will see it and praise him.

Prayer: Father, thank you for inviting us to come to you when we are unfairly treated. Give me a pure heart and confidence that I will see your justice.

One Word: Lord, protect me from evil