That's not nice! Grace under fire

 

I saw this illustration that fits perfectly with our study this week. I'm indebted to the folks at bible.org who keep such great resources for us to use. Enjoy this chuckle and then I will explain how this fits with our next psalm:

The story is about four pastors from the same small town who went fishing together and shared a cabin for the trip. One night at their campfire, one of them said they should "bare" their souls and share their secret sin with the others. And he bravely said he would go first. When the others agreed, he said that every once in a while he would slip down to the track and bet on the horses.  Encouraged by the first pastor, another spoke up and said that his sin was his temper - every once in a while he would get so angry that he yelled at his wife.  The third man told about a bottle of liquor in his root cellar that he would "nip" on when he was stressed.  The three men waited for the fourth pastor to speak; as he smiled at them, he revealed that his secret sin was gossip -- he couldn't wait to get back to their small town and talk to their church members!

We may chuckle at that story, but it's not funny when people gossip about you. It's not nice when they say things that are not true! Sometimes it happens at work; you thought these people were better than that. Sometimes it happens at church; you thought you could trust these people, that they were fellow-believers. It hurts when you find out what they have been saying when you are not around to defend yourself.

It's sad. And it's not nice, when Christians find themselves "under fire" from those who profess to be believers. Some Christians grow discouraged and leave their church. Some pastors have even left the ministry. But should we be surprised when it happens to us? Even though David was God's anointed king for His people, he was almost constantly under fire. (It's all through the Psalms.) If we live our lives for Christ, we will be criticized and even attacked. Might as well count on it!

Well, what do we do when we are under fire? Psalm 5 gives us some pointers. What did David do? He used his trials to draw near to the Lord; he made sure that he made his refuge in God. Now, Psalm 5 is not a comprehensive answer, for there are other scriptures show that there is a time to confront our critics and defend ourselves. Psalm 5 tells us to take refuge in the Lord - He is our righteous defender.

Let's read the psalm and consider it thoughtfully. We'll "unpack" it next time.

 Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning. 

 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. 

 In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. 

 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. 

 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. 

You destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit. 

 But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You. 

 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. 

 There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue. 

 Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You. 

 But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. 

 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.