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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Your kindness and generosity are reflected in the beauty and bounty of nature. “You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. The meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy” (Ps 65:9–10, 13). I join with the valleys and meadows and say, “Praise the Lord!” Today in Your Word Today you shared with me more of David’s psalms. Psalm 58 is an imprecatory psalm, a psalm that calls in the strongest terms for your judgment on the wicked. David asked, “Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men?” (Ps 58:1 NIV). Those in positions of power should be examples of virtue and justice, but all too often they are full of violence and deceit. What should be done to those who abuse their power? What should happen to those who defraud the poor and kill the innocent? The Holy Spirit answered, “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! Let them vanish like the water that runs away; Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun” (Ps 58:6–8 NIV). This teaches me that the Spirit of Christ desires the destruction of the wicked. If they will not repent, then let them be swept away in judgment! It is right for me to rejoice in the wrath of God, and it is good for me to delight in the vengeance of Christ. When the Son of God returns in power, a sharp sword will come from His mouth, and He will strike down the ungodly nations and tread the winepress of God’s fury. When I truly understand how venomous the wicked are (Ps 58:4 NIV), I will gladly join Christ as He washes His feet in their blood. Then men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges the earth” (Ps 58:11 NIV). Hallelujah! Reflection Few things hurt worse than betrayal by a close friend (Ps 55:12–14). Both David and Jesus experienced the sting of such treachery (2 Sam 16:11; John 13:18). Their pain causes me to ask myself: What kind of friend am I? Do I truly love my friends and honor their trust in me? Request “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Ps 61:1–2). Thanksgiving How grateful I am for these words: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Ps 55:22)! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Cast Thy Burden on the Lord” — Unknown. Meditation Verse: Psalm 62:10.