THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - October 9, 2014 - Day 64 - Psalm 64

The author of most of the Psalms, David, faced much danger in his life. Most of us will never face the physical threat that characterized much of David’s life. But most of us have felt the sting of the arrows David speaks of in Psalm 64. The Bible speaks volumes on the danger of the tongue. It can destroy a person. That is what David faces here.

Psalm 64:1-6
TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, who can see them? They search out injustice, saying, "We have accomplished a diligent search." For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep!

Though David faces the threat of death, he isn’t afraid of a one on one fair fight. But his enemies fight through lies here. It is a battle that is hard to win. But like always David knows where to turn.

Psalm 64:7-9
But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

Because of David’s faith that God truly is His defender he can turn fear into praise.

Psalm 64:10
Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

There is a special lesson hidden here for all of us who are Christ’s church. Gossip and talk is one of our greatest sins in the church. How often we disparage each other behind our backs. I am guilty. We forget that all of us fall short of the glory of God and sin. We need to stop looking at the past sins of our brothers and sisters. If they are Christ’s then those sins are forgiven. They are cast into the depths of the ocean. They are as far as the east is to the west. Jesus’ blood has covered them and it has covered us. Rather than cast aspersions at others, even when they still struggle with sin, we need to encourage each other by preaching the truth of the Gospel. That truth is simple.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

All of us have stuff. All of us have a past. We must stop back-biting each other and become the church. We are a family. We all heirs of Christ adopted into His family. We need to stop shooting arrows at each other and instead pick each other up as we walk through this life. It will be hard. But if we walk in the Spirit we can do it. By the blood of Christ we are all made righteous. Let us rejoice together in this and take refuge in Him.