October 14
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DELIVERANCE FROM THE WICKED AND RUTHLESS
In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be ashamed.
2 In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
Incline Your ear to me and save me.
3 Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come;
You have given commandment to save me,
For You are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked,
Out of the grasp of the wrongdoer and ruthless man, 5 For You are my hope;
O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth.
6 By You I have been sustained from my birth;
You are He who took me from my mother’s womb;
My praise is continually of You.- Psalm 71:1-6
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According to the ESV student study bible, this psalm is another individual lament, suited to a faithful person in danger from enemies who take advantage of any distress or weakness. Verse 1 acknowledges the God who is our refuge. In Him, we will not succumb to shame. It is interesting to hear this from the author of this psalm. He definitely knows that shame comes from the enemy and if he runs to God, he won’t ever feel that shame. Verse 2 declares God’s righteousness which gives hope to all of us because it is God’s righteousness that saves us and brings us out of evil. In verse 3, the psalmist acknowledges God’s law as the shield so that we won’t be defeated by the enemy. It also states the solid foundation that God gives to all those who believe in Him.
Verse 4 is a plea to be delivered from the plots and schemes of the wicked, wrongdoers and ruthless people. It seems like the writer enumerates the different kinds of evil people surrounding us. They have different levels of wickedness. Verse 5 is a confident hope that God will keep His promise. He knows that God will keep those promises in his youth. Verse 6 reminds us that God was there, as our mothers conceive us in her womb, watching us constantly. The psalmist declares his praise to God. What an awesome way to pray! It declares the God who protects and keeps His promises.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to be aware of God’s promises?
• What happens when we don’t know God’s promises?