PSALMS OF ASCENT!

PSALM 125:4-5

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DO GOOD, O LORD, TO THOSE WHO ARE GOOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE UPRIGHT IN HEART. BUT THOSE WHO TURN TO CROOKED WAYS THE LORD WILL BANISH WITH THE EVILDOERS. PEACE BE UPON ISRAEL. (PSALMS 125:45 NIV)
PRAYER
The condent assurance of v3 turns into prayer in v4 here. The Psalmist has stated his condence that God will not allow the (apparently on-going) presence of the wicked to endure. He believes bad times have their day, but they do not last. As someone said, Tough times dont last, but tough people do. Our trials make us stronger - if we have a godly perspective on them. Such condence does not allow our author to be complacent in his prayers. He asks God to help the upright a s t h ey l i ve a m o n g t h e evildoers. We can pray this prayer. Are we alert enough to the possibility of being led astray in our beliefs or lifestyle? We are all under pressure from the world to confor m to its standards and values. Our trust in God is challenged by our circumstances and this calls for prayer. The prayer in this Psalm is not aimed at the wicked (v5)they are left to the Lordbut to the strengthening of those who follow the Lord. ... ght the good ght, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:1820 NIV) Is our Psalmist referring to people who had belonged to God, but who turned away? Defecting from God takes place due to deliberate and sustained rejection of His teaching and love. May that never be our personal experience!

CROOKED
We are in a crooked world, Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.. (Philippians 2:1416 NIV) and we can be inuenced by it like the people Paul talks about,

PEACE
Are you struggling with people tempting you back into t h e w o r l d ? We m a y b e inuenced, but we do not have to give in. Peace comes - but not by way of compromise. It comes by faith, trust, prayer and the way of righteousness. Pray more for your own s tren gth e n in g th an t h e i r disciplining.

INFLUENCE
We need strength to live righteously in this world, for we can be inuenced by those who turn to crooked ways, I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. (1 John 2:26 NIV)

Malcolm Cox, email: malcolm.cox@iccmissions.org | ICC Missions on facebook | www.nwlcc.org