v 7. Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
Thoughts of taking revenge – getting your own back– usually surface when you feel that someone is getting the better of you by some devious means. ‘How dare they’ you mutter to yourself, and then you are off on the road to wanting revenge of some sort.
I sense that there a fair bit of David’s experience distilled into this Psalm. ‘Be still … wait patiently … Don’t worry … don’t fret .. ‘ These were all lessons that David had to learn as he was being pursued by Saul. There were times when he nearly cracked under the pressure; the incident we read about on Monday (David sparing Saul in the cave) and Wednesday (David’s reaction to Nabal) were serious learning events in his progress towards becoming the King God intended him to be.
Please be practical in the days ahead – this is not just interesting theory about human behaviour and learning to get on with difficult people. It is learning to be more like Jesus. Look out for learning opportunities; when difficulties mount and difficult people seem to be getting the better of you, ask God to help you with these four things:
Be still … wait patiently … Don’t worry … don’t fret ..