My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent. (Ps. 109:1)
A CONCERNED WOMAN came to me, suspicious that her preschool daughter was being abused when left alone with a male relative. I knew the family and certainly, if the suspicion was true, we needed to stop the abuse and deal with the perpetrator. But what if it were not true? What if there was some other explanation? A false accusation can ruin a person’s reputation.
When I talked with authorities, they assured me that they had ways of investigating without pressing charges until they were sure that abuse had occurred. Their investigations failed to prove that the mother’s suspicions were well-founded. I was glad that we had not ruined a man’s reputation with a false accusation.
The psalmist was not so fortunate. His name had been besmirched by those who lied about him. Their “wicked and deceitful” words had wounded him and hurt his reputation. He pleaded with God not to remain silent, but to deal with those who had wronged him.
We are tempted to dwell on his harsh words about his enemies. But the greater truth is that despite their behavior, the psalmist found reasons to praise God: “With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him” (v. 30).
Lying words are deeply painful. But trust in the Lord and find ways to praise him anyway.
Trust God to help you rise above unpleasant circumstances in the new year!
Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife, Carol. He has written his weekly column, Positive Perspective, for more than thirty years.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
