February 18
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HIDE ME FROM THE WICKED
Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers,
3 Who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
4 Shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly,
Thinking, “Who can see them?” 6They search out injustice,
Saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
All who see them will wag their heads.9 Then all mankind fears;
They tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.
10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult! – Psalm 64:1-10
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The ESV study bible says that this psalm is an individual lament that shares with Psalm 63, a confidence in God’s victory over those who brings trouble on the righteous. The psalm has two parts: a request for help against deadly schemes and confident expectation that God will fight on behalf of his faithful (vv7-10). God gives victory as instruction for mankind (v9) and to bring joy to the godly (v10).
As the psalm indicates, all of us should run to the Lord to hide from the wicked. He must be our refuge. We must not rely on our own selves but only approach the ultimate protector and deliverer, who can grant victory even at the most impossible attacks.
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ADORATION: Praise be to the only source of protection and honor, the Lord God Almighty.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord whenever I rely on my own strength to fight evil.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you that you are our refuge, strength, protector and deliverer.
SUPPLICATION: May the Lord constantly hide us from the wicked and all their evil ways.
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REFLECTION
• Do you run to God for protection when the enemy attacks you with lies and evil tactics or do you fight in your own strength?