Psalm 140:1-13 (excerpts) “Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men … Protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet … Do not grant the wicked their desires, O Lord, do not let their plans succeed … Surely the righteous will praise your name.”
The worlds of politics, big business, government, and any large bureaucracy are inevitably infected with certain men and women who see honest and upright people as their natural enemies. The psalmist prays for protection from these people who scheme to trip him up, who set traps along his path. I have experienced these types in my own career and may face them again in the future. The most important thing is to never, ever become like them. “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.” (1 Peter 3:9)
Father, please destroy the schemes of the wicked who lust for their own success and ride roughshod over others. I pray with the psalmist that their schemes will fail. Yet let me never return evil for evil, but instead do what you’ve called me to do – respond with blessing. I can only do this by your strength and power at work within me.