1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,480 Speaker 2: Hey therein Welcome to another Prayer through the Psalms episode 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 2: of the Praying Christian Women podcast. I'm Jamie and today 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 2: we're going to be talking about and praying through. 5 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: Psalm fifty eight. 6 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 2: This psalm is entitled Prayer for the Punishment of the wicked, 7 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: and it highlights corrupt leadership or corrupt rulership. And we'll 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: kind of dive into it a little bit more, but yeah, 9 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 2: it's a little bit of a transition from what we're 10 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,199 Speaker 2: used to, a little bit of a different theme than 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 2: we've been having over the last few weeks. Before we 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 2: do that, as always, let's pray. I'm so glad you're here. 13 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: Thank you for being here, Thank you for taking the 14 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 2: time and for trusting us, for trusting me with leading 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 2: us into this time of prayer and worship when I 16 00:00:57,840 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: know you have a lot of things going on in 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: your person, So thanks for being here. 18 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Father God. 19 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: We just come before you now knowing that our to 20 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: do list is longer than we have hours in the 21 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: day sometimes, but we just come before you wanting to 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 2: honor you with our first fruits. Before the time presents itself, 23 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 2: we want to give it to you because you deserve it, 24 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 2: because we love you, because we want to meet with you, 25 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: because you have given us the privilege of being not 26 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 2: just creation, but children, and that is everything. Thank you 27 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: God for that blessing, that privilege. You did not have 28 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: to be a loving father. You have the right to 29 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 2: be a cold, distant creator, but you chose to love 30 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 2: us and to draw us to you, and to give 31 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 2: us this beautiful gift of prayer where even though we 32 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: can't see you in this life, Thankfully, there will be 33 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: a time when we will see you face to face, 34 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: when you will wipe literal tears from our eyes and 35 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: be in perfect communion with us. But until then, you 36 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 2: give us this gift of prayer where you bend your 37 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 2: ear to hear us and you allow us to hear 38 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: back from you. We just pray that you would give 39 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 2: us focus, that you would help us to set this 40 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: time apart. We just pray that you would take all 41 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: of the burdens, responsibilities, distractions that we're facing right now 42 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,239 Speaker 2: and just allow us to shed them as we walk 43 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: into the throne room. That we would just be free 44 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: and unburdened and clear minded. That we would attune our 45 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: ears to the frequency of your voice and your voice alone, 46 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 2: that our eyes would be fixed on Jesus, our hearts 47 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 2: would be focused only on you and in your direction, 48 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: that you would be magnified, that you would be glorified, 49 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 2: and that we would be transformed by having spent time 50 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: with you today, not just for ourselves, but so we 51 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 2: can carry it out with us into the world. 52 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: Amen. All right. 53 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 2: So this psalm Psalm fifty eight prayer for the punishment 54 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: of the wicked for the choir director set to al 55 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 2: tash Heth, which is translated as do not destroy. So 56 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: it's kind of to the tune of this song that 57 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: they already knew called do not Destroy a Micktom of David. 58 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: These micktoms are all kind of like lumped together, probably 59 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: not by accident. And again the micktom is possibly an 60 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 2: epigrammatic poem or atonement psalm, and epigrammatic is like it 61 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 2: says that at the end, it sort of tells a 62 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: memorable point, a twist, a punchline, or a striking insight 63 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: at the end, and it tends to be kind of 64 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 2: a shortened to the point psalm or poem. So without 65 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 2: further ado, let me find it again and let's read it. 66 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 2: Do you indeed speak of righteousness? 67 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: Oh? 68 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 2: Gods, okay, let me address this. So this word God's 69 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: is elohem, and the word elohem can refer to God. 70 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: It's plural, and so sometimes it's used to refer to God, 71 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 2: the triune Godhead. Sometimes though, it can be God's with 72 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: a little G, which some people will argue that this 73 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 2: is like the Principalities, either the Divine Council as some 74 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: people understand it to be, or was this council of 75 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 2: lesser spiritual beings that were given some form of authority 76 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 2: referred to as the Divine Council in heaven, or this 77 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 2: like from Daniel the Principalities, like the Prince of Persia, 78 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 2: the kind of territorial spiritual ruler of Persia, which again 79 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 2: is this kind of obscure like not necessarily demonic, but 80 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: potentially ungodly or against God kind of figure. I'm not 81 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: an expert on any of this. It can also mean 82 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: a human ruler with God with a little g or 83 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 2: a judge or a mighty one in general. I don't 84 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: pretend to be a theologian to know this. So if 85 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 2: you want to do your own research on the divine Council, 86 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 2: the Principalities, the Prince of Persia, the what little g gods. 87 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 2: Eloheim means please do because it's important that you seek 88 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: after biblical truth, using the basics, using the Bible, using 89 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 2: the lexicon. But to me, what this is saying prayer 90 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 2: for the punishment of the wicked. Whether these are wicked 91 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 2: spiritual forces and we're talking about spiritual warfare, which you 92 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: know I love to talk about, or whether these are 93 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: physical flesh and blood beings, It honestly doesn't matter. I 94 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 2: don't think I mean scripture matters, don't get me wrong. 95 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: But the way that we translate this it can be 96 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: valid no matter what. So I'm going to let you 97 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 2: decide how you want to translate that or whose commentary 98 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 2: you're going to rely on, if you have a go 99 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 2: to commentator. But I'm going to look at it from 100 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 2: both sides so that we can just kind of figure 101 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: that out. You know, we can look at it from 102 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: both sides. Do you indeed speak righteousness? 103 00:06:59,480 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: Oh God? 104 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: Do you judge uprightly? Oh sons of men? No, in 105 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 2: heart you work unrighteousness on earth. You weigh out the 106 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 2: violence of your hands. The wicked are estranged from the womb. 107 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 2: These who speak lies go astray from birth. They have venom, 108 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: like the venom of a serpent, like a deaf cobra 109 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: that stops up its ear so that it does not 110 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: hear the voice of charmers or a skillful caster of spells. 111 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: Oh God, shatter their teeth in their mouth, break out 112 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 2: the fangs of the young lions. O Lord, let them 113 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 2: flow away like water that runs off when he aims 114 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 2: his arrows. Let them be as headless shafts. Let them 115 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 2: be as a snail which melts away as. 116 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: It goes along. I kind of like that. 117 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: Another translation of that melts away is secretes slime, so 118 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 2: it's kind of gross. But let them be a snail 119 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: that secretes slime as it goes along, like the miscarriages 120 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 2: of a woman, which never see the sun. Before your 121 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 2: pots can feel the fire of thorns. He will sweep 122 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 2: them away with a whirlwind. The green and the burning alike. 123 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:15,239 Speaker 2: So either the living and the burning alike, I'm guessing 124 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: like green wood maybe that doesn't burn, and the burning wood. 125 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He 126 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, 127 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: and men will say Surely there is a reward for 128 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 2: the righteous. Surely there is a God who judges on earth. 129 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 2: So David is saying to corrupt rulers, whether it's spiritual 130 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 2: battle rulers, it kind of a lot of this to 131 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 2: me seems like human rulers, just because it talks about 132 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,719 Speaker 2: the violence of your hands, talking about you know, the 133 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: arrows and the. 134 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: Actual the blood of the wicked like it. 135 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:59,599 Speaker 2: To me, it seems like there's a physical component personally, 136 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 2: but it can apply. 137 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: To spiritual also. 138 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 2: But it's talking about these wicked, lying, venomous rulers, and 139 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 2: he likens them to having venom like the venom of 140 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 2: a serpent. And not only that, he takes it further 141 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 2: and says, like a deaf cobra that stops up its 142 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 2: ear so that it does not hear the voice of charmers. 143 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 2: So you've got this venomous, dangerous serpent. And if you 144 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,319 Speaker 2: can picture the image of a snake charmer, you've got 145 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 2: this dangerous snake and the charmer is able to kind 146 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 2: of soothe it into a trance so that it's no 147 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 2: longer dangerous but kind of under control. And the picture 148 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 2: of this is a venomous, dangerous serpent that deliberately stops 149 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 2: up its ears so it cannot hear the voice of 150 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: charmers or the skillful caster of spells. It will not 151 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: listen to reason, will not be subdued. It is like 152 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 2: a wild, untamable, unreasonable leader. And that's the most dangerous kind. 153 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 2: And so you've got these unrighteous, dangerous, unwilling to listen 154 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 2: to reason rulers. And from the beginning of time, we've 155 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 2: had these on our planet. And David is saying, God, 156 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 2: shatter their teeth in their mouth. If you're talking about 157 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 2: a venomous snake, shattering their teeth in their mouth would 158 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: be render them powerless to inject venom, because you know, 159 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 2: a venomous snake can bite all they want. But if 160 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 2: there are no fangs to inject the venom, the venom spills, 161 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 2: the venom is rendered useless. And then he goes on 162 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 2: and he changes metaphors. Break out the fangs of the 163 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 2: young lions, O Lord. And that's interesting too. So it's 164 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 2: the same these young lions, these and maybe it's a 165 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: different set of rulers, but the young lions. So you 166 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 2: think of like a young lion as being strong, but 167 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 2: maybe not as wise or tempered. So again you've got 168 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 2: this unreasonable, powerful enemy coming up against you. Break out 169 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 2: their fangs, render them powerless to attack to kill, let 170 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: them flow away like water that runs off and then 171 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 2: it goes to he instead of they, which is interesting. 172 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,959 Speaker 2: So he says, when he aims his arrows, let them 173 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: be as headless shafts. So picture an arrow with no arrow. 174 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 2: You just have a shaft, and it's going to not 175 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 2: do as much damage as the actual arrow would. It 176 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: probably bounce off of its target instead of penetrating it. 177 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 2: Let them be as a snail which melts away as 178 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 2: it goes along, or like I said, which secrete slime 179 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:11,199 Speaker 2: as it goes along. So basically just kind of fades 180 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 2: into nothingness, like the miscarriages of a woman which never 181 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 2: see the sun. And then before your pots can feel 182 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 2: the fire of thorns. So I looked into this a 183 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 2: little bit, and in biblical times, a lot of times 184 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 2: thorns were a pretty easy like kindling. So the thorns 185 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 2: would kind of ignite fast. I'm guessing they were thin 186 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 2: and fine, and they probably like dried out pretty easily, 187 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: and there were lots of dead thorns around, so it's 188 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 2: like kindling. And so you would light that for your 189 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 2: pot if you're cooking something. So think of the wicked 190 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: cooking something up. They're cooking up a plot, a plan, 191 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:55,960 Speaker 2: And so before your pots can feel the fire of thorns, 192 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 2: God will sweep them away with a whirlwind. The green 193 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 2: and the burning alike. So you've got the burning thorns, 194 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 2: which are just kind of for that quick kindling. The 195 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 2: green thorns, which I'm guessing might do a slower burn 196 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 2: and smolder a little bit and might be. 197 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: For more of a long term burn. I don't know 198 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: for sure. 199 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 2: So maybe their instant plans as well as their long 200 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 2: term plans that they're getting ready to cook up, God 201 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 2: will sweep them away with a whirlwind. The righteous will 202 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 2: rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He will wash his 203 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 2: feet in the blood of the wicked. And men will say, 204 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 2: surely there's a reward for the righteous. Surely there's a 205 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 2: God who judges on earth. And that in verse eleven, 206 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: that word translated as reward, Surely there is a reward 207 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 2: for the righteous. It's literally fruit. Surely there is fruit 208 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 2: for the righteous. So basically we're looking at corruption on 209 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 2: a leadership level, on a ruler's ship level, and David 210 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 2: is praying an imprecatory prayer, asking God to unleash his 211 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 2: judgment and his justice on earth, not just in the 212 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 2: after life, which I don't know what David's beliefs were 213 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 2: about the afterlife, but we know that there is an 214 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 2: after life. We know that there is a judgment and 215 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 2: that even things that were not made right here on 216 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 2: earth will be right in heaven. David is saying, I 217 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 2: want to see it now. I want their plans. 218 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: To be foiled. 219 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 2: I want you to sweep away, to emasculate, to render 220 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 2: harmless these rulers, and not just the plans they're cooking 221 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 2: up now, make it so even their long term plans 222 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: are foiled, literally that no weapon formed shall prosper. Which 223 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 2: is how we can very easily shift gear and look 224 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 2: at this on a spiritual level. Whatever you believe about 225 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 2: what Alohem in this passage means, we know that there 226 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: are rulers and principalities and demonic forces, satanic forces, forces 227 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 2: of evil, forces of darkness, the devil, whatever they are, 228 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 2: all kinds of words in scripture that tell us there 229 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 2: is a spiritual enemy. No way, there are lots of 230 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 2: spiritual enemies. We don't know all their names. We just 231 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 2: know that they are against us. They are fierce, they 232 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 2: are conniving, they are scheming, they are lying. And that 233 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 2: goes along with what this passage is say. In that case, 234 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: whether it's human rulers, spiritual rulers, and principalities, David is saying, 235 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 2: the rights are going to rejoice when vengeance is ours, 236 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 2: and so we will wash our feet in the blood 237 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 2: of the wicked, meaning they will be rendered powerless, they 238 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 2: will be exterminated. And men will say, surely there's a 239 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 2: reward for the righteous. Surely there's a God who judges 240 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 2: on earth. If you're like me, you might look at 241 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: the news headlines, you might see the world as we 242 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 2: know it, and you might wonder, is there really a 243 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 2: reward for the righteous? It seems like a lot of 244 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 2: the leadership, a lot of the rulership on the earth 245 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 2: comes about by corrupt means, or even people that might 246 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 2: be well meaning at first seem to become corrupted by power. 247 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 2: Whether that's in the church with a capital C, whether 248 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 2: that's in politics or government, or really anywhere you have power. 249 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 2: It seems to be a target for the enemy and 250 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 2: for corruption. And David is ending on this beautiful, hopeful. 251 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 2: Note that men will say, surely there is a reward 252 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 2: for the righteous. Surely there's a God who is righteous, 253 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 2: who judges, who sees that that justice will be carried 254 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: out here on earth. And that is a good hope. 255 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 2: And we need to hold on to that because he's 256 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 2: saying that there is a reward. 257 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: There is a God who. 258 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 2: Judges on earth, even when he doesn't see it playing 259 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 2: out in his immediate sphere. 260 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: So I think we can take hope. 261 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 2: I know I take hope from that that there is 262 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 2: a God and that even though it does seem like 263 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 2: the wicked are prospering, even though it does seem like 264 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 2: even the people with the best intentions disappoint us as leaders, 265 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 2: whether it's in our homes, our families, our churches, our country, 266 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 2: our state, or whatever, but there is a just God, 267 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 2: and we can stand on the truth that he is good, 268 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 2: that he is at work, and Jesus and other, you know, 269 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 2: teachings in the New Testament from Paul and some of 270 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 2: the other letters tell us pray for those in authority. 271 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 2: And so when we combine this and precatory prayer of 272 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 2: let the wicked be rendered harmless, let their plans be foiled. 273 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: We can pray that, and we can also pray let 274 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 2: these rulers meet Jesus. 275 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: That is our hope. We have a hope that that's possible. 276 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 2: If Saul, who persecuted believers gladly, who reveled in Stephen Stoning, 277 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 2: if he can become one of the greatest leaders of 278 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 2: the Christian Church and one of the greatest influencers in 279 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 2: the Bible, then surely God can take hold of our leaders, 280 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,719 Speaker 2: even the most corrupt, even the most evil seeming. So 281 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 2: I just want to take today and praise God for 282 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 2: his goodness that he is on the throne, that no 283 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 2: matter what the world looks like, we can claim that 284 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 2: He is just is good. There is a reward for 285 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 2: the righteous. There is a God who judges on earth, 286 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 2: and we can pray for his work to come to 287 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: pass on earth, that we get to see the goodness 288 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 2: of the Lord in the land of living, not just 289 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 2: in the after life, but that also we can pray 290 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: for our leaders, the ones that we hate the most, 291 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 2: the ones that we're frustrated with the most, the ones 292 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: who do the most vile and terrible things, even those 293 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 2: who speak against the name of Jesus, even those who 294 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 2: do terrible things in the name of Jesus, we can 295 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 2: pray for them. 296 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: Because God is powerful. He is that much of a redeemer. 297 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: So let's pray. Father, God, we praise you. 298 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: As a God of justice, even if we don't see 299 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:55,159 Speaker 2: it playing out right now. We want to proclaim in 300 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 2: heaven and on earth and anywhere that anyone will listen, 301 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 2: that you are the God of creation. You're the great 302 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,640 Speaker 2: I Am. You're the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 303 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 2: You're the maker of all things. You're the judge of 304 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 2: all men. We acknowledge you as being on the throne. 305 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: You have no equal. Sometimes we think of good and 306 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 2: evil as a yin and a yang, as two equal 307 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 2: and opposite forces. But that is not the case. Evil 308 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 2: has nothing on you. And so we stand on that, 309 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 2: and we find joy and hope in that truth. And Father, 310 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 2: we just pray that you would establish your throne here 311 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 2: on earth as it is in heaven. That where there 312 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 2: is injustice, that you would punish and bring about justice. 313 00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 2: Where there is evil, that you would snuff it out, 314 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 2: that you would blow it away like a cyclone. That 315 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 2: where evil plans and plots are taking place, that you 316 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 2: would just like a tornado, just swoop through and take 317 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 2: all of the kindling and all of the wood laid 318 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 2: up for later, so that none of the plans can 319 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 2: come to fruition, none of the short term plans, none 320 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 2: of the long term plans. The only thing that would 321 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 2: be left are your perfect plans. We pray your kingdom 322 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 2: come and your will be done on earth as it 323 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 2: is in heaven, and that nothing would stand in the 324 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 2: way of those plans taking place. By the authority that 325 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 2: you have given us through your son, Jesus Christ, we 326 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,919 Speaker 2: claim this world for you. We mark out the territory 327 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 2: that you have already claimed, that Jesus already died for, 328 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 2: that the enemy would no longer tread where he has 329 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 2: no business, no right treading, that we would no longer 330 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 2: turn a blind eye or be ignorant of what is ours, 331 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 2: What is our birthright, what is yours mistake our claim, 332 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 2: and we claim it for you. 333 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 1: And Lord. 334 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 2: We pray for our leaders and our rulers, those in 335 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 2: our communities, in our homes, in our churches, the Body 336 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:34,360 Speaker 2: of Christ collective, the political rulers of countries, of regions, 337 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 2: of states, of towns. We pray that you would be 338 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:43,160 Speaker 2: at work, and that the knowledge of Christ would come 339 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:47,560 Speaker 2: to them, that you would transform their lives. I just 340 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 2: pray for each of us to have a burden for 341 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 2: the rulers in our sphere, that we would be able 342 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 2: to lift them up now and present them before you 343 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 2: and stand in the gap on their behalf, and just 344 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,920 Speaker 2: ask for you to replace their heart of stone with 345 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 2: a heart of flesh. That you would raise up Christian 346 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 2: rulers and leaders, and that you would preserve them and 347 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: protect them from corruption, and that your purposes would happen more, 348 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 2: that they would take place in Jesus' name. Amen. 349 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: We'd like to take. 350 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 2: Just a quick second to thank the team at Life 351 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 2: Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. If 352 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 2: you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find dozens 353 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 2: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 354 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 2: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and so much more. 355 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 2: That's life audio dot com.