August 7, 2019 
The word Sabbath means to cease.  So as Dr. Brooks is away on sabbatical, we will be using his original devotionals from 2009 on the book of Psalms.  He will resume The Bible Project devotionals upon his return.  Thank you for reading with us and praying for him as he replenishes his soul for the next seven years of ministry.
Psalm 64
1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
    from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;
    they say, “Who will see it[b]?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him;
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!
New International Version (NIV)
Mean words hurt.  David’s psalm is a song of complaint against evil people and the effectiveness of their malicious designs.  The noisy crowd of evildoers threaten David’s safety.  “They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.”  Arrows can do a lot of damage.  About ten years ago I shot an arrow on my friend Melvin Beard’s ranch in West Texas.  The arrow veered off target (user error) and hit a metal feeder pole.  The arrow made a perfect octagonal hole in the steel pole.  I had to show my friends to convince them that it happened.  Imagine the damage a word can do when it is cast carelessly in the direction of another.

David’s opponents are not careless but intentional.  “They aim their words . . .”  Stealthily they ambush the innocent and fearlessly shoot, unconcerned about the consequences.  Further, the evil hunt in packs.  “They encourage each other . . .”    So far, it sounds like the good guys are in for trouble.  Thankfully God turns the tables. 

“But God will shoot them.”  Notice David trusts God to defend him.  Often we fear that if we do not defend ourselves, nobody will.  David confided in God’s protection.  Often the Lord tells us not to spend time or energy defending ourselves against the scurrilous attack of others.  When we go against that advice, the pain is always great for us and others.  God turns the tables by turning their own tongues against them and bringing them to ruin.  There are few slanders which can stand the test of silence.  The truth triumphs in the end, because God is on the side of the truth.  When God protects us all we can do is rejoice in him and take refuge in him. 

Has anybody harmed you with words this week?  Wait for the Lord to exonerate you.  Carefully consider:  have you harmed anyone with words this week, perpetrating verbal homicide?  Make it right with the person and with God.  Why wait?  Do it now.
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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