Tag Archives: evil

How Long, LORD?

21 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Psalm 94, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 94

Verses 1-7

The LORD is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
How long, LORD, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?

They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, LORD;
they oppress your inheritance.
They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
They say, “The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice” (NIV).

Reflection

As I gather my thoughts to write this post there are fresh reports that a ceasefire in the Syrian conflict has come to an end. Aid convoys have been bombed. Recriminations fly back and forth between the warring parties; each blames the other. Meanwhile, war rages on. People starve. Refugees flee. Bombs fall from the sky and children are killed and injured.

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While we enjoy peace in other lands war rages — photo by David Kitz

There is a present-day relevance to Psalm 94. Its words are an ongoing reality in war-torn Syria. How long, LORD, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, LORD; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. 

The Syrian conflict is now into its fifth year with no end in sight and many people are asking, ”How long, LORD?”  

There is so much evil in the world. Evil expresses itself most graphically during war. There are those who would like to blame God for war, but that makes no sense. Human pride, greed and cunning lead to war. Human intransigence keeps it going. We can and should pray for God to show mercy and bring peace, but ultimately human hearts must change to bring an end to war.

We are right to pray for an end to murderous regimes. Essentially that is what the psalmist is praying. Is there more we can do? Emergency aid to war-torn regions is always needed. We can open our hearts and our wallets to provide some help. When an entire nation falls into the hands of murderous thieves are there a few good Samaritans who are willing to help?

Sometimes there are no easy answers in this difficult world.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the peace and security I enjoy. I don’t want to take my peace and prosperity for granted. Show me how I can be a help in this troubled world. Amen.

Your Turn: Should we be concerned about foreign conflicts or only pay attention to things at home?

What thoughts find lodging in your heart?

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Psalm 55, Psalms

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Reading:                                            Psalm 55

 (Verses 9-15)

Lord, confuse the wicked; confound their words,
for I see violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,

 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about among the worshipers.

Let death take my enemies by surprise;
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,
for evil finds lodging among them (NIV).

Reflection

My wife and I are currently on a road trip through western Canada. Today I am in Edmonton, a growing, prosperous city of more than a million. Last evening after a passing thunderstorm, I went by myself for a walk in the Mill Creek Ravine. There in the cool of the evening I was surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation. After the heat of the day, it was a quiet place of refreshing.

Mill Creek Ravine, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Mill Creek Ravine, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Sad to say, my wife would not dare go for a walk by herself in Mill Creek Ravine. You see, last week in broad daylight a woman was attacked there by a sexual predator. Earlier in the day I had gone to a nearby bank branch to use an ATM. At the bank, a repairman was replacing a shattered window pane and the front door had been kicked in—presumably an attempted robbery.

In cities today the words of Psalm 55 ring true. I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.

Edmonton is no more dangerous than any large city. In fact, it is far safer than most North American cities of comparable size, nevertheless, evil finds lodging here. Evil leaps across geographic boundaries and crosses cultural and racial barriers. Evil finds lodging wherever a human heart entertains hatred, greed or lust. Jesus said that all manner of wickedness flows out from the heart. See Matthew 15:19.

The question I need to ask myself is what finds lodging in my heart. Do I open the door to the evil one, to resentment and bitterness? Or do I turn those thoughts away and invite Jesus in?

Response: LORD God, I want you to find lodging in my heart through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you live in a safe city or neighborhood? Take a moment to pray for your city.

What is your intention?

23 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Psalm 37, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 37

(Verses 30-34)

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,     

and their tongues speak what is just.

The law of their God is in their hearts;     

their feet do not slip.

The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,     

intent on putting them to death;

 but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked     

or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

Hope in the LORD and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;     

when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. (NIV)

 Reflection

Just yesterday, here in Canada’s capital we saw aspects of this psalm play out in real time. David, the psalmist states, “The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death.” A terrorist, with planned intent gunned down Corporal Nathan Cirillo, while he stood guard before the National War Memorial. This cowardly act highlights the contempt of those who celebrate evil, for those who stand for righteousness, truth and justice. The contrast between those who love peace and those who revel in violence is stark indeed.

The National War Memorial: Credit Ottawa Tourism

The National War Memorial: Credit Ottawa Tourism

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.

 When evil raises its brutal head, we need not be intimidated. We need to take heart. When we stand on the side of truth, justice and love, we do not stand alone. God is with us. He is on our side. He has our back. As the psalmist declares, we need to, “Hope in the LORD and keep his way.”

 The way of the LORD is the way of love. Jesus said to his disciples, “No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NET). Jesus then went on to demonstrate that supreme love by laying down his life on the cross for our redemption.

The question we need to continually ask ourselves is what is my motivation? Am I motivated by love or am I driven by hate? Am I drawing close to the God of love and hope? Is my life a demonstration of God’s redeeming love, or am I only concerned about my selfish interests?

Yesterday, Nathan Cirillo lay down his life in the service of his country. Which god will you serve? Will you serve the god of self or the God whose hands were pierced for you? The choice is yours.

Response: LORD God, we live in a very troubled world. When evil rises, we put our trust in you. Help me to walk in the way of love. Surround me with your peace. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Your Turn: How can you honour the life of Nathan Cirillo?

Who is upholding you?

01 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by in Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 37

(Verses 12-17)

The wicked plot against the righteous     

and gnash their teeth at them;

but the LORD laughs at the wicked,     

for he knows their day is coming.

The wicked draw the sword     

and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy,     

to slay those whose ways are upright.

But their swords will pierce their own hearts,     

and their bows will be broken.

Better the little that the righteous have     

than the wealth of many wicked;

for the power of the wicked will be broken,     

but the LORD upholds the righteous. (NIV)

Reflection

As stated in my first post on Psalm 37, this psalm is a stark night and day comparison of the life of the evil person with the life of the individual who does right in God’s eyes. The contrast is profound.

Petrie Island -- David Kitz

Petrie Island — David Kitz

I cannot read the passage above without thinking of the evil that is loose in the world today. Here in Canada, this week marks the start of Luka Magnotta’s trial in the slaying of Jun Lin, a Chinese born university student. Magnotta posted his killing of Jun Lin with an icepick on YouTube. After dismembering his body Magnotta mailed various body parts to schools and political party headquarters.

In Iraq and Syria, ISIS militants defiantly behead journalists and international aid workers in a cowardly display of their depravity. Any who hold different religious views are executed, their women raped, their children enslaved. It appears we live in a wicked world where hatred and evil are trumpeted as worthy pursuits—pursuits that attract adoring young fanatics.

The opening line of this psalm posting is as true today as when it was written three thousand years ago. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them… The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

The sin process is still at work in the hearts of men.  When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:13-15).

But thanks be to God! We have this promise: for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. God will uphold us as we put our trust in Him.

Response: LORD God, you are my help in evil times, in times of trouble. I put my trust in you. Hold me in the palm of your hand. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Your Turn: How do you fight evil? Where does it start? We must examine our hearts.