Sniping With Words

Psalm 64

My son told me of a field exercise he was part of while in the military. Those involved were paired up in twos. Their mission was in part to camouflage themselves and perform other tasks while in the field. They had been awake for more than a day and were supposed to be awake at all times especially if an instructor found them where they had hidden themselves. He recalls instructors going past different times aggravated they weren't finding them. They were thankful they had camouflaged well for both had dozed off at times. Such is the nature of training for warfare. Warfare isn't always a physical combat action. The very action of becoming a soldier in any branch of the military all goes back to basic training. A drill instructor told me that it takes about three weeks of training to get the the recruit into the mindset of becoming a soldier.

Let not thine heart be envious against sinners: but let it be in the fear of the Lord continually.

Proverbs 23:17 GNV

Several of the Psalms reflect this ever present reality of opposing thoughts. We may either look at sinners or to the Lord. We can be envious of those who appear to be victorious and at ease or fear the one who will ultimately be victorious and wait upon Him when He not only claims the victory He already has over sin and death, but reigns in His final triumphs.

As these thoughts come to mind reading through this psalm begins:

To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David.

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, and from the rage of the workers of iniquity.

Psalms 64:1 - 2 GNV

In the military it was my son's responsibility to hide himself as if from the enemy. Here David cries out for God to hide him from the conspiracy of the wicked, not just from the wicked, but from the conspiracy of the wicked. But the enemy also prepares. They are trained to hide also. One of the more deadly individuals one on one in the military is the sniper. They get very special training and nearly continual practice. And like the sniper David tells of those, the wicked who were after him.

Which have whet their tongue like a sword, and shot for their arrows bitter words. To shoot at the upright in secret: they shoot at him suddenly, and fear not.

Psalms 64:3 - 4 GNV

Instead of bullets they hide to shoot words. Conspiracies, words, these men may or may not be able to find out, but David crying out to God for help and protection is crying out to Him who alone knows all of every aspect of any conspiracy, and knows the words and what is behind them. And can do exactly what is needed to bring about the best result that will bring Him the most glory.

But God will shoot an arrow at them suddenly: their strokes shall be at once. They shall cause their own tongue to fall upon them: and whosoever shall see them, shall flee away. And all men shall see it, and declare the work of God, and they shall understand, what he hath wrought.

Psalms 64:7 - 9 GNV

And when David called upon God for help He accepted whatever outcome God would bring out of it.

Jesus often had men shooting words at Him, conspiring even with one of His disciples to betray Him. The scribes, Pharisees, Jews, even Sadducees were all those who would challenge Jesus in that way. No question whether Jesus could have prayed this psalm as a prayer to His Father. It aptly fits Jesus praying this everytime He was confronted by any of these who were suspicious or outright opposed to Him and what He was preaching.