Thursday, July 31, 2025

Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow

Ibrahim Habila July 31, 2025 Daily Devotion , 0 Comments

THURSDAY, 31 JULY 2025

TEXT: PSALM 28:1-9

1: To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.

2: Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

3: Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.

4: Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.

5: Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.

6: Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

8: The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

9: Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WICKED

The psalmist sensed that the cup of God's wrath over the wicked was nearly full and realized that there was a possibility that God's fierce anger might spill over and drag him away with the wicked.

He revealed that these insidious wicked people speak cordially with their neighbours but harbour malice in their hearts.

They were the same group of people described in Psalm 12, where the psalmist dialed God's emergency number, thus: "Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore, those who are loyal have vanished from human race.

Everyone lies to their neighbour; they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts." In a society riddled with insidiously wicked people, everyone becomes a suspect, thereby providing a conducive environment for gossip and mutual suspicion to thrive.

QUESTION: Is the spiritual atmosphere of your family and work place toxic or clean?

PRAYER: Help us Lord, to rid our society of insidiously wicked people so that we can breathe the fresh air of freedom and companionship, in Jesus' name. Amen.