A Theology of Prayer - Struggles in Prayer

Study 47

Text: Psalm 14

THE NUMBER OF THE RIGHTEOUS

The fight against evil is a life-long one. Every generation must give battle against evil, or wickedness will prevail by default. Who may be counted upon to battle evil? Sadly, the number of the righteous is going to be minimal at best. This was an observation that David noted.

"The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one."
Psalm 14:2-3

1. God's search for the righteous

God has always been searching for the righteous. When Abraham stood before God and pleaded that Sodom and Gomorrah may be spared for the sake of ten righteous men, his petition was accepted (Cf. Genesis 18-19). The twin cities did not even have TEN righteous men!

What was God looking for? In this particular text, we read that God was not even asking for very much. He was looking for people who
sought Him. He was looking for people who understood Him. That is surely not too much to ask, is it?

2. Turning away from God

How easy it is to turn away from God! It takes just one moment to turn aside to another path and the individual has walked away from God.

3. Corruption- the final goal of evil

Sin is such that it tends to corrupt a person! This is something that we must take note of! How we must be alert to the deadly goal of evil!

HOLDING FAST TO FAITH IN GOD

David steeled his heart as he resisted the influence of sin and evil! He refused to give in to feelings of despair. Instead, he held fast to his knowledge and faith in God.

"Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call on the Lord?
There they are in great fear.
For God is with the generation of the righteous."
Psalm 14:4-5

David began with a statement of rejection of the activities of the wicked! He repudiated the senseless way in which evil men harried and bullied the weaker ones!

He went on to declare his faith that "God is with the generation of the righteous." He held on to this position of faith with everything he had! The wicked would one day find out just how wrong they were! God was still with the generation of the righteous!

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~