No harm, no foul

DEVOTION

PSALMS

NO HARM, NO FOUL

 Ps 7: 1-5

O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, 2 or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands —  4 if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe —  5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. 

NIV

Here we must take a stanza at a time, as this was a song David wrote about Cush who was a Benjamite. We are not sure if these experiences are those of David or about Cush. Yet we can be sure that whenever there is someone in pursuit of us, we can take refuge in the Lord. There is no question that Satan is in hot pursuit of our soul. Because he is not omnipresent as the Lord is, he does have a legend of demons who he has sent out to trouble us. If we are not seeking refuge in God, they could very well tear us to shreds as a lion does its prey. God can and will deliver us from the jaws of death. We also need to accept the realization we have committed sin either in word, thought or deed. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, for we certainly do not deceive God. He knows our every thought.

Heb 4:12-13

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

NIV  

Here the psalmist seeks the Lord to examine his heart, to see if he has guilt and has done harm to anyone who is at peace with him. We should be careful to note we are at peace with God. It is also true that as much as it depends on us, we should live in peace with all men.

Heb 12:14-15

14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

NIV

Living in peace means to do no harm to those we are at peace with. This means everyone, but especially God. We should do no harm to God, or to his name. That would imply as his representatives to the world, we should live as harmless beings, so as to not give God a bad name, or bring dishonor to his name. If we live bringing dishonor to him, then as the psalmists asks, let them trample us down, let them tear us to shreds, and make us sleep in the dirt we have created with our disgraceful words or deeds. Oh sure we cannot be perfect, but let us not willingly go about living as if we are not at peace with everyone and see how much harm we can do to them or our God. We should live with that adage, no harm, no foul and seek the refuge of God.