August 18
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PSALM 18 GOD DEALS WITH THE WICKED AND GODLY DIFFERENTLY
The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.
23 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.
24 So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. – Psalm 18:20-30
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Lord’s way is perfect and his word proves true
He deals with us based on our righteousness and his truth
If we continue to follow his laws, he will never depart from us
Let us praise the Lord always and be thankful for his love and grace
The Lord rewards those who stay upright and those who follow his way
With the blameless, he provides, protects and answers their prayers.
Our Lord saves the humble but leaves the arrogant to their pride
But all those who take refuge in him, he lovingly guides
He is faithful to reward those who walk in his Spirit and avoids sin
He leaves the wicked to their evil deeds and their own foolish ways
With those who are pure, the Lord shows himself pure
With the wicked, his wrath unwraps and they are tortured.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God deals with the humble and the wicked differently?