Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue. Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.
I pray that God will empower me to follow David’s example, to react to wickedness with a desire to draw closer to the Lord, rather than focus on revenge against those who wrong me. So often I am tempted to dwell on the ways various people have failed me, attacked me, or simply gotten in my way. But David has the better way in this Psalm—focus on God, on His deliverance and power. It is important to leave punishment to the Lord, and also to realize we are just as deserving of punishment as anyone else, but for the righteousness of Christ. I did not expect to see such a Jesus-like message in the Psalms, but I shouldn’t have been surprised! This is also a great reminder that our righteousness comes from faith in God, not from any innate goodness or works. We are to take refuge in the Lord, follow His leading, and rejoice in His love.
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