Seize the Moment – Day 1156
The Importance of a Lightning Rod!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, May 17.
Praying while you are angry can serve the same purpose as a lightning rod in a storm! While it doesn’t prevent lightning from striking, it does divert its destructive power to ground.
The title of Psalm 52 gives us the historical context for today’s psalm, “when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech.’” From 1 Samuel 22:6-23, we learn that Doeg’s report of David’s activity led to Saul ordering the massacre of eighty-five priests – Ahimelech and his father’s household. Doeg’s heinous crime was on David’s mind when he penned Psalm 52:1-5:
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long. Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. Selah. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah.
David’s anger burned against Doeg, but there is no record of him seeking revenge. Instead, the story culminated with this prayer. David expressed his grief and his anger to God, entrusting vengeance to the Lord. This is a powerful illustration of Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Easier said than done! May today’s psalm serve as an example of how to prayerfully trust God in times of pain and anger. Don’t gossip or take matters into your own hands; rather, petition God for His lovingkindness in your circumstances. Otherwise, the anger will consume you!
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 52, meditating upon the power of God to ground all your pain and anger. Trust God to be your lightning rod today!
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.