“Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.” (Ps 141:4NIV)
For years we have cried, longed and prayed for help in this nation. We want to be free from the hands of those who are oppressing us. We want to be rescued from the hands of those who are cheating us, corrupting us and injuring us. Unfortunately, right now, we are very far from anything called freedom. And do you know why? It is because most of us are a part of the problem we want to solve. In fact, that is exactly why it has been difficult for God to help us.
Our God still answers prayers. However, He only answers the prayers of people who are sincere with themselves and sincere about their situations. Day after day we cry out for change. But how many of us are actually sincere about this change that we so much talk about? For example, we accuse our leaders of looting our wealth, but we will not mind having a share of the loot. Also, we complain of bribery and corruption in the high places, but we don’t think of them as very destructive vices in our own low places. Our usual excuses are, “Everybody is doing it. It’s not as bad as you think. It is okay as long as you are not caught…”
I solemnly declare to you that we all have been a part of the problem of this nation, and unless we change as individuals, things will never get better for us as a nation.
When God anointed David king in place of King Saul, he knew that God was expecting him to set right all the things that had gone wrong and that were going wrong in the land. However, David also knew that there was no way he could set anything right if he himself was a part of the problem of the land. David was a warrior, a warrior that was exposed to all sorts of temptations, especially the temptation to oppress the poor and despise the weak. In addition to that, he had around him a number of wicked and worthless soldiers who were only concerned about their own bellies. Anyone who has ever been in a position of authority will understand what I am talking about. (Cf. 1Sam 22:1-2)
Now how would David succeed and do what was right in the sight of the one who anointed him in the face of all such terrible influences and temptations? How would he avoid being a part of the problem he wanted to solve? The only way out for him was to get God’s help, and that was why he prayed. And what was the focus of his prayer? The focus was that God would keep his heart free from wrong desires and keep his life save from the enticement of evil workers.
I am sure you and I also need to offer that kind of prayer for ourselves. We may not be able to run away from the temptation to do evil, but we can receive strength and boldness from God to stand against it and save our country from disintegration. I hope that you will take no different view from this; God bless you.
Life Application: In what area of your daily life are you part of the problem you are asking God to solve, and what will you do differently about it?