What can we do about wickedness in high places? David knew all about it 3000 years ago. In fact, his own father-in-law, King Saul, spent years trying to kill David, not because David had done anything wrong, but simply because of his jealousy at David’s success.

No, David was no stranger to the kind of stories that fill our headlines: making evil plans and then using violence to get our way, stirring up wars, laying deceptive traps for one another, telling lies and slandering the innocent.

So, what can we do about all of this? In the first place, we should note what David didn’t do – he didn’t try to take matters into his own hands. In fact, even when he found King Saul alone, and in a very vulnerable position, he refused to kill him or even to take him prisoner (see I Samuel 24). Instead, he did so often what we see him doing in this passage. He poured out his complaint to God, and asked God to do justice. He asked God to let the wicked experience the same sort of problems they had planned for David (vv. 9-11). At the same time, he asked God to deliver him, to preserve him and to guard him (vv. 1, 4).

But how could David be so certain that God would hear and answer his prayers? Why was he so confident that God would help the afflicted and give justice to the needy (v. 12)? At least in part because God had protected him so many times in the past, even in the heat of battle (v. 7). In the same way, as we look back over our lives, when we remember the ways God has helped us and protected us, our confidence in Him should grow, no matter what is going on in our lives today.

But the biggest reason for David’s certain confidence in God did not spring from his history with God, but from his relationship with God. In verse 6, he simply says, “I say to the LORD, You are my God.” And we can have the same sort of certainty. All those who love and trust Jesus belong to Him, and He belongs to us. And He has promised that He would never turn us away when we come to Him, but that He would meet all our needs (John 6:35, 37).

So instead of despairing over the violence and wickedness we see all around us, let’s remember God’s blessings to us in the past. And let’s rely on the One Who laid down His life for us that we might be saved.

Psalm 140 (ESV)

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah
6 I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
7 O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah
9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.