In Psalms chapter seventeen David prayed to Jehovah God, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly”, and in chapter seventeen and verse eleven David said, “They have now compassed us in our steps” where we read,
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
The verse begins, “They have now compassed us in our steps:” David began with the words, “They have now compassed us” which means “the wicked have at this time and moment surrounded, encircled and walked around us, David and his men” “in our steps” or “within the goings David and the men with him”. David said wicked people surrounded the travels of both him and the men who were with him.
The verse goes on to say, “they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;” David continued with the words, “they have set their eyes” or “the wicked have put, appointed and fixed their physical eyes” “bowing down to the earth” which means “stretching out, extending, pitching, inclining and bending low toward the arable land, ground, country and territory”. David wrote how wicked people have fixed and set their physical eyes toward he and his men to throw them to the arable ground.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how David knew wicked people surrounded both him and the men who were with him. He said their focus was upon the things of the “earth” and desired to cast David and his men to the ground. This is normal for most people. Most people do not look beyond this life to know there is an eternal life after death. God knew this even as John the apostle wrote, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (See John 3:16), and because everyone was condemned to eternal death and separation from God (See John 3:17), God sent Jesus to save all who believe and trust in Him. Though “wicked” people surround us and seek to destroy us, it is because their attention is toward things of the earth. God desires to save and keep us so that our focus is on Him and the eternal life that He extends, and we should praise Him for His willingness to protect us from those who desire to cast us to the ground for all eternity.
Next time David says the wicked are, “like a lion that is greedy of his prey”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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