“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise- in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Psa. 56:3-4)

This verse makes me think of Christians in other countries that are truly persecuted for being Christian, and I am sure that these verses and Psalms give them hope. We are SO incredibly sheltered in America from the type of physical and spiritual persecution that Christians in other parts of the world go through, and it’s hard to imagine being tortured and having your loved ones tortured as well for following Jesus.

Much of the “persecution” and spiritual warfare we go through here in the Western world is completely different, so I can see why it is hard to relate to the thoughts and feelings of these psalmists, who were going through extreme scenarios that we may never experience in our lifetime.

I think about the other Christians around the rest of the world, and then I understand why God would give us these imprecatory psalms. (“Imprecatory” psalms are those in which the writers invoke judgment, calamity, or curses, upon one’s enemies or those perceived as the enemies of God.) These particular psalms are prayers and encouragement coming from a place of enormous pain, fear, anger, and pangs of injustice that could only be captured by people going through this type of deep persecution.

While these psalms are still for every Christian, God must have especially made them to comfort those going through similar scenarios; where the hatred of sin and injustice is so tangible, that it flows as the very tears flow out of their eyes and blood floes out of their bodies. It’s crazy to think about, but I can see why they are necessary and relevant, even in modern day Christianity.

It often makes me think about my own walk and what I’m truly sacrificing for the Kingdom.

[From October 14, 2018]