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Psalms 17

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Verses 1-5, “Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.” 

Our God represents truth and justice, and He will indeed take up the cause of the righteous. Psalms 140:12‭-‬13, “I know that the Lord will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.”  By asking for vindication from God, instead of taking matters into your own hands, you demonstrate your faith through obedience to His word.  Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.”

Verses 6-15, “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me. They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, O Lord, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, With Your hand from men, O Lord, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes. As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” 

When facing trials and persecutions, it is easy to be tempted to lose faith. This is why David prayed for God to uphold his steps on the path God had planned for him. When our faith gets tested, some immediately turn away, while others persist until they become too weary to resist any longer with the same end result. Unfortunately, if you choose to walk in your flesh during these times, you will reap corruption instead of bearing the fruit of righteousness, which is God's will for you. Galatians 6:7‭-‬9, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

If we are going to face trials in our lives...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution...it would be a shame to miss out entirely on the perfecting work that God wants to do in us to bless us with endurance to finish this race. James 1:2‭-‬4, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”  By reverting to the flesh and taking matters into your own hands, you will miss the deliverance of the Lord, as well. In other words, you cannot witness the miraculous hand of God, if you aren't in a position to need a miracle. Quit trying to save yourself and surrender to the One who saves!

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