Passage: Psalms
Seventh Petition
What does this mean?
We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven
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Whether we recognize it or not, evil is ever-present. There are times when we clearly know that something is evil. At other times, we are less comfortable with the idea of naming something truly evil. In some ways, it is good that we do not see evil around every corner, but at the same time, when we get overly comfortable and fail to recognize the presence of evil in the world, we run the risk of dismissing the corrosive nature of evil as less harmful than it actually is.
Luther was far more readily cognizant of evil and its impact on his life. In the Wartburg Castle, you can see a spot on the wall that is rumored to be from a time when Luther hurled an ink well hoping to drive out Satan and stop his evil plans for Luther. Most of us are not likely to throw objects at Satan, but we should be aware of the influence that Satan can and does have in this world. We ought not to dismiss Satan and evil as some outdated notion.
All that said, in this seventh petition, we pray for God to deliver us from evil. The psalmist notes in Psalm 121:7-8 that “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” God is paying attention to our lives. He is intimately aware of what we are doing and to influence of the evil that is around us. The Lord will not be caught off guard, even if we are. God will be looking out for us and, when we ask, will steer us away from evil, protecting us as we go about our lives.
Thoughts for Reflection
How has God delivered you from evil and kept you safe from harm?