Responding to Evil with Worship

Scripture:
An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
Dread of God has no effect on him.
For with his flattering opinion of himself,
he does not discover and hate his iniquity.
Psalm 36:1-2

Observation: Accurately the psalmist describes a wicked person as this ... someone without any dread of God. Without the fear of the Lord - in fact, without any knowledge about the Lord or even belief in the Lord's authority or perhaps existence - all the wicked person has is his own opinions and thoughts. He exercises those thoughts, coming up with them all the time, and then goes off and does evil. Furthermore, without knowledge of God, he can't even know enough to hate his own actions.

Application: While verses 1-4 are consistent with other parts of scripture - that evil is rooted in a lack of fear in the Lord - what I love about this psalm is what comes next. After detailing how evil people act, verses 5-9 are ... a worship song!! In fact, Third Day made them a modern song I have referenced before.

And this is our proper response to understanding and acknowledging evil ... worship.

Yes, there are wicked people ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people plotting evil ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who ignore God ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who are ignorant even of their own transgressions and evil ways ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who speak with lies and hatred ... we are to worship the Lord. Yes, there are people who will never reject evil ... we are to worship the Lord.

While we may have a mission to tell others about Jesus, we do NOT have a mission to condemn others. In some cases, there is nothing we can do. In all cases, the root of their issue is faith, and so telling them about Yahweh and Jesus is all we can do. We cannot correct behavior, thoughts, attitudes, or words.

Instead, we can properly direct our own behaviors, thoughts, attitudes, and words, and we can do that in worship of the love, faithfulness, righteousness, and judgment of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, may my words and behaviors honor you. Forgive my anger toward those who dishonor you, please, for my anger is not what you need or want. You want my heart, and to hear my praise. This I will do. Amen.