HATRED OF EVIL

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path
Psalm 119:105

If there is anything that “gets in my craw” is when I see evil win. I remember watching parts of the O.J. Simpson trial with all of his showmanship. Most everyone knew he had killed his wife, but the jury voted he was not guilty. I'll never forget the smug look on his face along with some of his lawyers looking very satisfied. In later years, we have learned that he has confessed to any number of people of his own guilt in that murder. He seems to have won. However, at this writing, he's still in jail for some other wrong doings. They say that Lady Justice will in the end have her way. I have news for them...it's in the end that the God of all justice has His way. My problem is that I get impatient and want everything handled NOW.

I've been so blessed in recent days revisiting the book of Psalms. I have looked at this precious book from several sides, but this time, did a little more probing. I began at Psalm 1 and read through Psalm 150. Let me say that I am a Bible marker. I realize some folks never underline or mark anything in their Bibles and that's okay. I'm just one of those who marks. My Bible is my text book, very much like my text books I underlined in during college days.

I wanted to seek out two things in my probing of Psalms. I underlined every name I saw for God (Lord, Father, etc.) and then wanted to mark God's attributes or characteristics (refuge, fortress, shepherd, love, etc.) The delight this brings me is not only in the study, but also later as I go back to that book when I'm seeking encouragement, cheer, comfort, and security. There are days when I just don't feel well, feel discouraged or just can't seem to focus even on words on a page. I look at this study Bible page by page and the circled words stand out to me whether they be names of God or His wonderful characteristics. I am stilled blessed in the process. I am quickly exposed to a God who is in charge and at the same time can keep me securely in His hand.

Right now, we are living in some troubled times in our country for any number reasons. The main reason for the troubled times is the fact that we as a country have pulled away from God and His ways. There's much we've allowed to distract us spiritually. Our attention seems drawn to the most negative of things. As I was working on Psalms, I came to Psalm 34. Because of the marks I had made, my attention was drawn to some verses that gave a contrasting picture between evil and God.

Because of the time we are living in, the first four verses in Psalm 34 gave me a good picture of evil, not just in David's time, but that describes many people in all walks of life in our own day. Following on the heel those verses (5-7), I saw a wonderful picture of God as opposed to the evil we may find all around us. Here's what I discovered: 
                   WICKEDNESS                                          GOD

                 Fearless of God-1                                      Mercy-5

                 Flatters himself-2                                       Faithfulness-5

                 Speaks sin/deceit-3                                   Righteousness-6

                 Doesn't seek wisdom-3                             Deep judgments-6

                 Devises mischief-4                                    Preserver-6

                 Doesn't walk in goodness-4                       Lovingkindness-7

                 Embraces evil-4                                         Fountain of life-9

When I see the evil all around me, no matter where I go, I can become discouraged. I see evil on TV, even on many ads on TV, inappropriate magazines on racks next to cash registers in the grocery stores, newscasts, government reports of various kinds, terror reports, scandals all around, even news of evil doings in some churches, etc. Many things we can choose to have nothing to do with...TV, computers, radio...but there are things we do need to know for safety sake if nothing else. I'm concerned as I see advertisements for movies in theaters that seem to be aimed at children, cartoon type especially. They are very subtle in what they show vulnerable children. Evil can become our focus though, if we aren't careful.

As I looked at that WICKEDNESS list from Psalm 34, I could see each one as I think of our sin sick country. I could sit and ponder those things, even putting faces with each characteristic and then my mind would really be awash in turmoil. However, I can choose to go immediately to the GOD list, concentrating on each of those characteristics that tell me again and again who He is and that He never changes. I can look at those godly characteristics and be blessed as I think of people in my life who have blessed me by some of those same attributes that are a part of their Christian walks. But my mind mostly goes to thoughts of my Heavenly Father and His goodness in my life.

We can choose what we will think about. Paul gives us a list of godly attributes in Philippians 4:8....true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report...Paul says if there be any virtue and any praise to think on those things. I look at that list and see that God is also each one of those things. Paul stresses that it's those things we are to focus our minds on and not on the evil that surrounds us.

We're in a political season in our country. So many running for offices from city positions to President of our country. Sometimes it seems I could compare it all to a food fight that might break out in an elementary school lunch room. It has to be cleaned up, but no one can seem to find out who started it or why. It's a big mess and even the maintenance man hardly knows where to begin in the cleaning process. Ugly words spoken can be worse than any food fight and aren't easily cleaned up or taken back, which should be a warning to us all.

The Word of God must be our filter. We must be consistently reading it and taking it to heart. If we don't apply it to our lives, it will be for almost nothing. When sincerely taking God's Word into our hearts and minds, there is a cleansing process that takes place. We can never avoid the filth of evil but we can think on the things of God that will help us walk in victory.
                                        Thy Word have I hid in mine heart
                                          that I might not sin against God.
                                                           Psalm 119:11

I thank You, Father, for Your Word and all the benefits that are mine through it's teachings. Help me to read it in such a way that my mind doesn't dwell on evil but on those things that speak of who You are. In Jesus Name....Amen