Daily Bible Study

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Day 190 Psalm 79:1 O God, the heathen came into Your inheritance; they defiled Your holy temple; they broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 2 They gave the dead bodies of Your servants as meat unto the birds of heaven, the flesh of Your saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3 They shed their blood like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. 4 We are a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those who are around us. 5 How long, LORD? Will You be angry forever? Shall Your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out Your wrath upon the heathen who have not known You, and upon the kingdoms who have not called upon Your name. 7 For they devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 8 O remember not our former iniquities: let Your tender mercies speedily prevent us; for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name: and deliver us. Purge away our sins, for Your name’s sake. 10 Wherefore should the heathen say, “Where is their God?” Let him be known among the heathen in our sight when You revenge the blood of Your servants which they shed. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power preserve those appointed to die; 12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached You, O Lord. 13 So we thy people and sheep of Your pasture will give You thanks forever. We will show forth Your praise to all generations. What do you do when people destroy everything you worked hard for your entire life? Do you take vengeance? Do you give them the same as they gave you? Asaph prayed for God to take vengeance on his enemies. They came in and destroyed Jerusalem. They massacred the people, and those they didn’t kill they led into exile. Their captors defiled the temple and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. They took everything from them and left God’s chosen people to wallow in defeat. Asaph turned to God. He prayed. He showed God what the nations did to Jerusalem, His holy city, and the people He loved. It’s easy to take vengeance, to do to those who wrong you the same as they did to you. It’s easy to plan and go to war. What is not easy is letting God take care of your enemies. As Christians, you need to do what Asaph did, pray. He showed God everything the heathen did against Israel. He didn’t presume to tell God how He should take vengeance. He asked God for help against those who destroyed His chosen people. Satan is your enemy. It might not look like anyone destroyed your life or livelihood, yet when you consider your life, your commitment to God the day you accepted Him as your Savior and Lord and where you are today, you can see how little innocent suggestions took you away from God and led you on the path of compromise. You allowed suggestions, compromises, to dull your faith and trust in God. You might say you did not compromise your faith. You trust God in everything. Yet, when was the last time you prayed? When was the last time you spent time with God reading His Word? When was the last time you eagerly spent time in His presence and hung on every Word, He spoke to you? Do you grumble when it’s time to go to church? Do you turn over and go back to sleep? Do you wear a cross, but haven’t been inside a church, opened your Bible or prayed since you committed yourself to Jesus? Compromise and destruction come in many shapes and sizes. You want to put your faith and trust in God, and Jesus, Your Savior. Yet you’re not willing to go the extra mile. See your life the way God sees you and fall on your knees in repentance. Change your actions and attitudes. Let God take first place in your life again. Let people see the joy of your salvation in your smile as you go the extra mile to help those in need. Open your Bible. Pray. Spend time with God and He will destroy your enemy. Squash compromise under your feet and tell Satan you won’t let him destroy your life. Then watch God change your life. Let’s pray: Father, it’s easy to fall prey to Satan’s schemes. It’s easy to sit back and compromise my commitment to You. Help me see Satan’s tactics and turn to You in prayer. Take vengeance as You promised as I recommit my life to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 18 December 2021 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay.