What does it say?
David prays to the Lord for his enemies to be ashamed and turn back. He also prays for those who seek God to be glad and God be magnified. God took the psalmist from his mothers womb and sustained him all of his life. He ask that God not forsake him in his old age. He asks that his enemies be covered with reproach and vows to tell of the righteousness and salvation of God all day long. He asks God to comfort him in his old age. He vows to play the harp and the lyre while singing praises to God. Solomon prays that the kings son be able to judge righteously as God judges. He prays that the righteous flourish and have peace. He asks that all the nations bow before him. He will deliver the needy and have compassion on the poor; therefore, they pray for him all day long. The earth and the city will flourish and all the nations will call him blessed. His prayer is that the whole earth be filled with the glory of the Lord God, the God of Israel. Asaph notices that the wick seem to become rich and die in ease. However, he feels that he has been stricken though he follows the Lord. When he pondered to understand this he was troubled until he perceived their end which will be sudden terrors. He confesses that he had become bitter within at seeing the wicked flourish. In repentance he desires nothing on earth for God is his portion forever.
What does it mean?
We should magnify the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, no matter what is going on in our lives. We should recognize that it is God who created us and sustains us throughout our lives; therefore, we should worship the Lord and praise his name. We were created in the image of God; therefore, the likeness of the Son of God should be our goal. We should pray for the righteous to flourish and peace be on the earth. Another words, may God’s will be done on the earth as it is in heaven. We should pray for the kingdom of God to come to the earth. When this happens all of the nations on the earth will be glad. However, in this present day the wicked do seem to flourish and oftentimes the righteous are oppressed. The world that we live in can seem backwards and upside down. We should not be jealous of the physical things because the wicked will be cast into hell. We should rejoice no matter what we have on the earth because our portion is with the Lord our God forever.
What shall I do?
I get depressed when I see the wicked flourish and I do not see justice prevail. I understand that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; therefore, none are subjectively righteous but those who have trusted in Jesus Christ have been declared righteous by God. I shall not be jealous of what others on the earth have because I have been justified, as a gift, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. My portion is with the Lord in the new heaven and the earth where righteousness and justice will reign forever. I shall pray as the Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray: Matthew 6:9-13 (NASB)
“Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
