One difference between someone who follows the LORD and someone who doesn’t is that the follower wants the LORD looking in on their life, being aware of what is going on with them. The non-follower wants to hide what they are doing from the LORD and often from others. Inwardly they know they are doing wrong. That is, until their hearts become calloused by repetition of the sinful behavior. People then get to the point that they feel nothing when they engage in the sinful behavior.
We see this in our psalm. In the first half of the psalm our writer has solicited the LORD’s presence. But more than that, he has asked for a thorough examination of is innermost being. He wanted the LORD to look into his motives and actions. He was like an open book; he wanted the LORD to read every page.
Not so those who are addressed in today’s portion of this psalm. They are closed. They don’t want anyone looking into their business. We know this because they express their opinions with an arrogant attitude. Arrogance is a sign of contempt, an attitude that says that I am better than you. I deserve what I have and you deserve what you have. They think that no one is watching, that they will get away with their evil behavior. They feel above it all.
And because they think no one is watching, they don’t even try to hide their evil. So they are open in their pursuit of our writer. This person is purposeful in their pursuit to do harm. This is not accidental harm. They are tracking the writer down. And when they find him, they surround him, alert and ready to pounce. They are like paid assassins. Once they get a target, they don’t take their eyes off them. They wait for the perfect moment and then carry out their mission, usually quickly and efficiently. This has been popularized in current movies and TV shows.
He feels like he is going to be devoured by his enemy. Lions don’t give up tearing their prey until they have had their fill. And if you have ever seen what is left over after they have finished, and the hyenas have arrived, and the vultures have followed, and the other critters and flies…. You get the picture. Nothing will be left. What a terrible feeling that he will be next.
But our writer has hope. He calls on the LORD to rise up and get involved. He wants the LORD to bring His sword of justice. What I find interesting is that he uses language that is picked up by Paul in his letter to the Roman church. Here our writer says that they store up wrath here for themselves, and they are also storing up wrath with the LORD.
These words might not sound too Christian. Aren’t we supposed to be all sugar and spice? But these words express his true feelings, and if we can’t express our true feelings to the LORD, to whom can we express them? This is honesty. This is transparency. He feels these things, expresses them, and then leaves them in the LORD’s hands. He doesn’t try to carry out his own counter offensive. He lets it go.
He has assurance of the LORD’s favor. Even if he dies, he knows he will see the LORD. He is accepted. He is safe, even when his world isn’t.
The Arnold Journey 