January 10, 2018 Wednesday)
The Psalmist needs God’s protection, because his enemies are fighting against him in overt and subtle ways, shooting their “arrows” at him. But he knows that God is a perfectly skilled “archer,” has better “arrows,” and they will be used on his behalf by his God.
Psalm 64 (NIV)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
GOD ON OUR SIDE
I. THE WAIL OF GOD’S PEOPLE – Vss. 1-2
1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.
II. THE WORK OF GOD’S ENEMIES – Vss. 3-6
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
they shoot suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, “Who will see it?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
“We have devised a perfect plan!”
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
III THE WONDER OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE – Vss. 7-10
7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him;
all the upright in heart will glory in him!
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
GOD ON OUR SIDE
I. THE WAIL OF GOD’S PEOPLE – Vss. 1-2
1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from the plots of evildoers.
II. THE WORK OF GOD’S ENEMIES – Vss. 3-6
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
they shoot suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, “Who will see it?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
“We have devised a perfect plan!”
Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
III THE WONDER OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE – Vss. 7-10
7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him;
all the upright in heart will glory in him!