Scripture:
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes,
Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
Psalm 13:3-4
Observation: The psalmist (David) asks how long will it be that his enemies exalt over him, and then he states his fear of the ultimate timeline ... until his death. His prayer is that he will be acquitted and saved from his enemy soon, but at the very least this will happen before he dies so that his enemy cannot have the final say, both pronouncing the final statement that they have won, and celebrating that victory as final and permanent.
Application: It is only in the context of God's judgment and mercy that we can understand that death is not final. I have enemies. These enemies have not only defeated me, but it is possible they have "permanently" defeated me ... that there will never be a time where they are not exalted over me.
Yet, this isn't true. There will be a time when I die, and am raised in Christ to reside in heaven. And there will be a time when they die, and what happens to them is a matter between them and God, for them to work out for themselves. If they eventually realize the truth about Jesus, place their faith in him, and are raised as me, that would be wonderful. There would be no condemnation either way, and in fact the old hurts won't matter in any way. If they do not choose this path ... again, that is a matter for them to work out with God, and I do not believe it will go well for them.
True judgment doesn't occur before death, with a hope of 'victory' in this life. Victory is about eternal life in Christ alone. This is the only personal victory and outcome I care about.
Prayer: Lord, into your hands I commend my soul, this day and every day. I do not pray as David did for a timeline to be exalted above my enemies, for that does not matter within the timeline of earth. I will someday simply be with you, and that is so much more than any earthly status. Amen.
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