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Proverbs 16:28

“A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.”

Psalm 108:1-3

1 “A song, a psalm of David. I am determined, O God! I will sing and praise you with my whole heart. 2 Awake, O stringed instrument and harp! I will wake up at dawn! 3 I will give you thanks before the nations, O LORD! I will sing praises to you before foreigners!”

Psalm 109:1-4, 21, 26-30

1 For the music director, a psalm of David. O God whom I praise, do not ignore me! 2 For they say cruel and deceptive things to me; they lie to me. 3 They surround me and say hateful things; they attack me for no reason. 4 They repay my love with accusations, but I continue to pray. 21 O sovereign LORD, intervene on my behalf for the sake of your reputation! Because your loyal love is good, deliver me! 26 Help me, O LORD my God! Because you are faithful to me, deliver me! 27 Then they will realize this is your work, and that you, LORD, have accomplished it. 28 They curse, but you will bless. When they attack, they will be humiliated, but your servant will rejoice. 29 My accusers will be covered with shame, and draped in humiliation as if it were a robe. 30 I will thank the LORD profusely, in the middle of a crowd I will praise him…”

If you have ever been talked about, it is not much fun.  Inner turmoil is a possibility, but it does not have to be our reality. David was bugged by people spreading false rumors about him.  He told God about it, but what is so beautiful is how He rested in God as His Defender.  He did not need to refute the lies.  He just trusted that His Daddy would take care of it for him.  Even more amazing was that He knew that falsehood spread about him hurt God’s reputation because His child was being spoken about in a hateful way.  David was jealous for God’s glory and wanted His reputation cleared.  People were jealous of David and wanted his reputation marred.  David just cried out and rested in His loving Father’s acceptance and love.

We do not know fully what the attacks were on David, but He defeated it with prayer, faith and worship.  In His prayer, He uses the future tense – He had already decided and determined that He was going to praise God and He was confident that God would move on His behalf.  That is the place of peace and sincere worship.  When people attack, whether it is due to jealousy or presumptions, we are not accountable to people’s perceptions, but we are accountable to God.  In that place of suffering, a catalyst for drawing nearer to God is formed.

Our response at such times can bring Him glory, or can drag us down into the mud with the mudslingers.  Not much decision there.  I confess that when I have been in similar situations, I am hurt but I do not wish for people’s demise as strongly as David did.  I just wish people could believe the best and be all about God’s glory instead of finding things to be bugged about. The time is short and we need to be upset about things that really matter … like Christians persecuted and murdered for their faith, or a nation that is falling from within.

If we are honest, we have all spoken about others at one time or another.  We have also probably been the recipient of such treatment.  This ugly behavior even enters the church.  Although it can be painful to endure when people attack us for no reason, it is a beautiful tool in the Master’s hands, freeing us from the fear of man and stirring up fervent praise.  He is worthy at all times!

Lord, thank You for helping us to have Your perspective and for bearing all of our burdens.  I worship You, Lord, and thank You that You are our Defender.  May You be glorified in our moments of blessing and in challenging times, as well.

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