A Theology of Prayer - Struggles in Prayer

Study 53

Text: Psalm 17

CONFRONTING EVIL

Evil assumes many disguises and attacks where opportunity presents itself. The most effective way to confront evil is to combat it vigorously. Sometimes, this means that we pray that God would confront evil and stop it in its tracks. The following text is an example of how king David dealt with evil.

"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."
Psalm 17:13-14

1. "Arise, O Lord"

This is an urgent plea to the Lord! This is a desperate plea to the Lord to deal with the wicked 'NOW!'

2. "Confront him, cast him down"

This plea is made to the Lord to do more than curb the activities of the wicked. It is a plea for judgment to censure the wicked in the most direct way! If the wicked does not respond to the Lord's forthright confrontation, then he must be "cast down!"

3. "Deliver my life from the wicked with your sword"

The psalmist David was pleading with the Lord to take vigorous and strong action! The "sword" would represent the most direct way of stopping the wicked from going any further! (The sword could even represent meting our the highest judgment against the wicked- that is, death)!

4. "With Your hand…"

David appealed to the Lord to take direct, personal and firm action against the wicked. He recognized that even though people were wicked, nevertheless the Lord had been most gracious to them. He had given them all that man could wish for in life… wealth, a family etc.

He was essentially asking that the Lord would withdraw His hand of blessing from the wicked! If only He would deal with the wicked forthrightly!

FOCUS ON RIGHTEOUSNESS

We must not get the impression that David was being vindictive! He was not! His focus was actually on cultivating righteousness. He wanted to grow in his faith and his life, but wickedness stood in the way! His request for the Lord to deal with the wicked decisively was borne out of a desire to be righteous (Cf. Psalm 17:15)!

~ Pastor Charlie Tan ~