“Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Less they be exalted” (Psalm 140:8)

This Psalm is written by King David and is a prayer that the Lord would: Deliver him from the plans of evil men and preserve him from violent men (v 1); Keep him from the power of evil men and again to preserve him from violent men (v 4); Shelter him from harm in battle which must also include violence (v 7); and bring down the wicked to their end (vv 9-11).

This Psalm is written for David’s own situation; but as a type of Israel’s Messiah, it will also have its fulfilment when Messiah Jesus rules the world from Jerusalem – in fulfilment of His covenant with David.

For these requests to be made it is evident that evil men were plotting against the king and his life and rule were under threat. In the Psalms written by David we find a confidence in the Lord to fulfil His covenant with him.

We live in a world full of troubles; not least of these are violent men who oppose anything godly. Their motives are many but they are all under the power of the evil one and of the spirit of antichrist.

On this anniversary of one of the many very violent acts in our time we would do well to lift up our eyes to the Lord with a prayer and for an answer.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills –
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord Who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1, 2).

We may look to the “hills” (UN, USA, NATO, EU, etc.) for help but no help will come from among men, quite the contrary.

“The heart of man is deceitful above all, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart; I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

In answer to the question the writer declares that it is the Creator alone who can give that help.

We live in a world where people have a greater ability to express wickedness and on a much larger scale than in times past. Is this cause for us to be discouraged in the Lord? By no means: Jeremiah and David both declare that the Lord will administer justice to all according to their life and actions.

When the Holy Spirit convicts the heart of a person that they are of the same wickedness as those who perpetrate such evil deeds, they are then well placed to call on the name of the Lord. In Him alone are forgiveness of sin and the gift of new life. It is in Him alone because He alone is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).