Bible Reading: Psalm 71
“Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man” Psalm 71: 4(KJV)
Indeed the world is full of wickedness and cruelty. Men who have sold their hearts to the devil demonstrates some level of cruelty that staggers the mind of a normal and sane being. Some actions emanating from some persons clearly shows that Satan is the one operating through human channel. As human beings continue to yield themselves to the devil they become possessed of the evil spirit responsible for perpetuating wickedness and cruelty. It is such a person that the Psalmist was describing in our today’s verse of scripture. He is an individual that is wicked, unrighteous and cruel. In our world today such men are everywhere and are responsible for the great number of wicked acts that is carried out in the land. These are men who have sold themselves to the devil and their heart turned to stone. They lack human feeling and can kill at the slightest provocation. These are men who operate in the dark to perpetuate wickedness in the land. These are men referred to as rulers of the dark places and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). They operate with the belief that they are not accountable to God. They boast of their powers and intimidate with reckless abandon. They put fear in the heart of men and send men crawling to earn their support and influence.
The society we live in is saturated of men of such demonic and arrogant disposition. It was under the pursuit of such men that the Psalmist cried out to God for help. Our escape from such an adversary is a place under the covering of the Most High God. Hear what the Psalmist said, “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is with me” Psalm 56:9(KJV).
We have a covenant of protection embedded in our covenant with God that was sealed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. That covenant guarantees us protection and exempts us from the harassment and the intimidation of men of wickedness and cruelty. When we are confronted by the forces of evil we are entitled to invoke our covenant of protection. This is what the Psalmist meant when he said in Psalm 74:20(KJV): “Have respect for the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitation of cruelty.” The covenant in question was sealed and consummated at Calvary where the devil was completely defeated and humiliated. “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” – Colossians 2:15(KJV). As children of God we do not see their intimidating menace, but we see the grace of our God and His eternal provision of our victory. We are more than conquerors because we confidently watch as the forces of wickedness fall before the mighty power of our God in the battles of life.
I admonish the reader of this piece to run to God to benefit from His covenant of protection that covers you from cruelty and wickedness of men. Christ has won the eternal victory for us “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” – 1 John 5:4(KJV).
Prayer: Father thank you giving me victory over the wickedness of men.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo