"Let His Children Be Fatherless" April 2 Readings: 1 Chronicles 23-25, Psalm 108-110

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  1 Chronicles 23-25, Psalm 108-110  

Background:   

We are back to riveting reading in 1 Chronicles, as the division of labor for the Levites, priests, and the musicians in the House of God is spelled out. While there may not be great emotional blessings from this reading, it is worthwhile to note that our God of order spelled out how to use each man and divided the labor so each person would have a part in the service of God.

We also note that there were three families, or guilds of musicians. that of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. We also know there were the Sons of Korah involved as well. These musicians were are told were trained and skilled - it is good for the worship of God's people to be led by well-trained musicians. There is also a variety here. We may not know exactly what the differences were, but God did not demand that all his music be the same. God loves variety!

Psalm 109 is one of the primary examples of an imprecatory Psalm, in which David prays for God to deal harshly with his foes.

Daily Devotional: Let His Children Be Fatherless 

We often struggle to inculcate the values of the word of God into our lives, but I find that people are quick to want to jump on a couple of biblical themes. People love to emulate Jesus in Matthew 23 when he called the Pharisees poisonous snakes and whitewashed tombs. "See, Jesus was mean to people, so it must be okay when I do it." And, in Psalms like Psalm 109, David and other Psalmists often pray what are called "Imprecatory Prayers."

David is a model for us as a man of praise and a man of prayer. When things were good, he thanked God and praised him for his beneficence. When things were rough, he fell on his face before God and called to him for help. Whatever was happening, David talked to God about it and sought his help.

But all of his life he was hounded and surrounded by enemies, and he took those emotions to God as well. When he was hurt, he took it to God. When he was angry, he took it to God. When he felt betrayed, he took it to God. Look at some of what he says in Psalm 109.

Let his years be few;
    let someone else take his position.
9 May his children become fatherless,
    and his wife a widow.
10 May his children wander as beggars
    and be driven from their ruined homes.
11 May creditors seize his entire estate,
    and strangers take all he has earned.
12 Let no one be kind to him;
    let no one pity his fatherless children.
13 May all his offspring die.
    May his family name be blotted out in the next generation.
14 May the Lord never forget the sins of his fathers;
    may his mother’s sins never be erased from the record.
15 May the Lord always remember these sins,
and may his name disappear from human memory.109:8-15

Pretty harsh, right? Let their children be fatherless and wander as beggars? Demolished homes? Descendants cut off? Sins always remaining before the Lord? All their stuff seized by creditors? Not exactly "love your enemies" and "return good for evil," is it? 

So, are these verses carte blanche for us to go after people we don't like? Several preachers have publicly announced that they prayed imprecatory psalms against people like President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and others deemed as political adversaries. Are we justified in doing this? 

I do not believe so. Permit me to make a few observations.  

First, it is right and good to take your anger and hurt to God. When you are injured by someone, tell God about it. He knows already, but you can vent your anger to him. God hears our prayers, but he also hears our laments, our sighs, and our tears. Tell God about your pain. 

Second, David is not seeking vengeance here. He knew the biblical principle that vengeance belonged to God. He called out for God's vengeance but he did not seek it on his own. And, in fact, God does dispense justice. If someone injures a child of God, God will deal with him. 

Finally, we respond to the revelation we have. David lived in a different era. He worshiped the same God but did not yet have the full revelation of Jesus. Jesus taught us to love our enemies and to return good for evil. Our prayers are to be for their blessing, not for their teeth to fall out! The teachings of Jesus have superseded David's imprecations. We must live by the revelation we have been given in Christ and in the New Testament writings. 

But the principle behind David's imprecatory prayers is real and it is comforting. Never forget, child of God, you have a Father who loves you and cares for you. When you are attacked you can go to him. He will hear your cries and protect you from your foes. Call out to him. But when we pray for our enemies in this era we ought to pray for God's blessings on them, to love our enemies as Christ commanded. 

Father, I thank you that I can bring my hurts to you and that you care about me. Protect me from those who would seek my harm, and transform their lives by the power of your Spirit. 

Consider God's Word:

Do you pray for your enemies as Jesus commanded you to pray?
Do you ask God to bless them and build them in the faith?