Read Psalm 140:1-13. 1Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, 2who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. 3They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. 4Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. 5The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. 6I say to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord! 7O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. 8Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! 9As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! 10Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! 11Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily! 12I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. 13Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.
There’s a line in the movie The Dark Knight where Alfred, Batman’s butler, speaking about the evil Joker says in describing him, “Some men just want to watch the world burn.” That’s exactly who David is describing in Psalm 140, those who just want to watch the world burn. It is not a circumstance that has made them violent and evil, trapping and ensnaring. These people have simply chosen to reject the path of God and rather follow their Father of Lies.
How does a Christian respond in the face of such wickedness? David’s prayer for punitive justice strikes hard. But notice the way he has removed himself from the equation and left it up to God and natural consequences. Let evil hunt down the violent man speedily! The evil are hunted by evil. They fall into their own traps.
In Christ we have the power to let God be God. To let him take up our cause and execute justice. Vengeance is God’s, Christ will repay. Not you, not me. Do you want burning coals to fall upon the wicked? Then feed them when hungry, give them drink when thirsty, and in so doing you will pile burning coals upon their heads (Rom. 12:20).
To live is Christ is to love our enemy, to pray for them and even serve them when possible. And it is trusting God to deal with those who just want to watch the world around them burn.
You: How do you typically process the evil in the world around you?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ teach us to respond to evil?
Christ in you: Is there anyone that you need to trust God to deal with today?
Prayer. Jesus, one day all vengeance will be yours. You will avenge your church and the righteous saints that you love. Until then may I love those who hate your path. Amen.
To Live is Christ 