Do not keep silent, O God of my praise! For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful have opened against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. (Psalm 109:1-2)

This is another of the many psalms said to have been composed by David as he was being pursued by Saul. So then, the first thought that comes to mind is how most of us would respond when being persecuted by someone with the power and ability to ruin our life, if not end it entirely. In other words, would most people faced with that kind of adversity be in a state of mind to compose words of inspiration and praise? Likely not. But David’s nature was such that it seems adversity served as a catalyst for his faith to be strengthened and his songs of praise to be frequent. I know that many of us are grateful for this fact because, in our own trials, we find encouragement in the words of the shepherd king.

On that note — that is, he was always quick to offer praise to the Most High — David implores the Lord not to keep silent on David’s behalf, especially since wicked men were speaking deceitfully. David was appealing to God to recognize the difference between him and his foes. For David, there was no one to praise except the Lord whereas wicked men tend to praise themselves and seduce themselves into thinking that their deceitfulness will go unnoticed by Heaven. In a manner of speaking, David was humbly challenging God to acknowledge that men like David were fewer in number than those who slandered and abused him.

As long as there are men there will be those who lie, slander and abuse those who seek to follow the ways of righteousness. It’s almost as if they know they will get away with it because they know the truly righteous aren’t permitted to operate in the same way. Let’s put it this way: God allows the wicked to do as they do and fight the way they fight but expects us to fight them with both hands tied and duct tape over our mouth — why? Because in the end, He will fight for us; He will defend and vindicate those who serve Him faithfully and in humility. Remember the words of Peter who said that we are not to “return evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). It’s tough to do at times, but this is what He expects us to do. Take heart though — He will vindicate His people because “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers” (Psalm 34:15).

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill