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Where Can I Hide when Evil Attacks?
By: Susan Deborah Schiller
When you are hemmed in on every side, pressed and shaken, torn and bleeding, and those who pass by kick you when you're down, where to do you hide? Who is on your side? Sometimes there is no one to defend you, no place to hide. For me, that's when I pray Psalm 31. I feel God's Spirit and I know I'm not alone.
Put yourself in David's shoes as he hides in caves from King Saul – the man he is destined to replace – and feel the hot breath of passion as David cries out, in prayer:
You’re my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you.
I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down.
I hate all this silly religiong, but you, God, I trust.
I'm leaing and singing in the circle of your love; you saw my pain, you disarmed my tormentors.
You didn't leave me in their clutches but gave me room to breathe.
Be kind to me, God – I'm in deep, deep trouble again.
I've cried my eyes out; I feel hollow inside.
My life leaks away, groan by groan; my years fade out in sighs.
My troubles have worn me out, turned my bones to powder.
To my enemies I'm a monster; I'm ridiculed by the neighbors.
My friends are horrified; they cross the street to avoid me.
They want to blot me from memory, forget me like a corpse in a grave, discard me like a broken dish in the trash.
The street-talk gossip has me "criminally insane"!
Behind locked doors they plot how to ruin me for good.
Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God!
Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me.
Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me.
Don't embarrass me by not showing up; I've given you plenty of notice.
Embarrass the wicked, stand them up, leave them stupidly shaking their heads as they drift down to hell.
Gag those loudmouthed liars who heckle me, your follower, with jeers and catcalls.
What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world.
You hide them safely away from the opposition.
As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip.
Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world.
Trapped by a siege, I panicked.
"Out of sight, out of mind," I said.
But you heard me say it, you heard and listened.
Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, but he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.
Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up.
Expect God to get here soon.
This is what we pray, and as we pray God draws near and accomplishes His Word.
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With all my love,
Sue
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
God gave me Psalms 31 a few years back – needed it then and stand on it now 🙂 Your Word's Lord God do not return to you void – vindicate me oh Lord my God………..
Psalm 31 must have been penned just for us, I think… I’ve lived in this Psalm for many years!
I think of you often, Lisa – how are you feeling?