“LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE”
It’s a common statement. As part of the concluding passages of what is commonly called “The Lord’s Prayer” this statement is taught, memorized, and often times recited. Ever wonder what it means? In Psalm 12 David is lamenting the struggle of seeking to maintain righteousness in a culture that loves and celebrates wickedness.
“Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.” (12:1-2)
David saw a culture that had become totally corrupt. Godliness was no longer of value, faithfulness was a forgotten attribute. It seemed you couldn’t trust anyone around you because they were all liars. They loved flattery, but they all spoke with a double tongue (i.e. said one thing to your face and another behind your back). It was a culture absolutely devoid of integrity. You may wonder what the root source of this broken culture was…
“The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.” (12:8)
It was a compounding problem. The more the society participated in wickedness, the more society came to accept wickedness. The more they accepted wickedness, the more emboldened the wicked became, and therefore wickedness became even more acceptable. It was spreading like the plague. It was a culture that had grown to accept, and even to exalt the vilest and most disgusting behavior imaginable. Could you imagine such a culture? A culture that celebrated falsehood and deception? A culture that loved drunkenness and carousing? A culture that celebrated sexual immorality? A culture that applauded pride and arrogance and boasting? A culture that lived for the sensual desires of the flesh? A culture that was literally choking out the godly and corrupting them at every turn?
No wonder David prayed, “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be”. David literally wanted God to “cut off all flattering lips” (12:3) and to silence the wicked who so easily spread their depravity upon the unsuspecting. David was in effect praying what Jesus taught us to pray: “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
What was God’s answer?
(12:5) “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”
God promised to deliver the afflicted from the wicked. And to make sure that they were set in safety. This is not a safety from persecution or tribulation or even trials. It is however a safety from the degrading influence of the wicked. It is an answer to the request that we not be led into temptation but that we be delivered from the evil one. God said He would do just that.
And this answer from God was more than enough for David because David knew the words of God to be true.
“The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them; You will preserve him from this generation forever.” (12:6-7)
There we see the promise to keep those who desire godliness FROM this generation. It is a promise to deliver him from temptation.
TAKE HEART OH RIGHTEOUS MAN!!! I have to tell you that I get as frustrated as anyone. In fact let me just call it “righteous indignation”! I fully understand those imprecatory Psalms. I get it when David prays things like “smite all my enemies on the cheek…shatter the teeth of the wicked” (3:7); “Hold them guilty O God; by their own devices let them fall!” (5:10); “Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries” (7:6); “Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, Seek out his wickedness until You find none.” (10:15). I understand that frustration. I understand the groaning when you live in a society where it is no longer acceptable to rebuke the wicked. I am often filled with indignation at the way the wicked prey upon our children and seek to defile them with their evil influence and temptation, and I know what it is to say, “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.” There are some of you who know that frustration too. You know what it is to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Well rise up with joy and faith, for God promises to rescue those who call upon Him. We see it in Psalm 12, but not just there. Listen to Psalm 10, “O, LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.” (10:17-18) Listen to David’s faith in Psalm 11, “The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.” (11:4-7) In Psalm 9 David remembers: “the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;” (9:7-9) In Psalm 7 David said, “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.” (7:10)
We see it! God delivers the righteous man and does not allow the wicked to flourish forever. When we cry to Him He does in fact deliver us from the evil one. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12) And God promises to deliver His children from His defiling influence.
We live in a world that loves sin. We live in a society that celebrates sin. We live in a society that defends sin. It is no surprise to us that the wicked strut about on every side. Why wouldn’t they when vileness is exalted? But they are men and not God. God reigns supreme and He delivers His children who call to Him from this evil temptation and degrading influence. Join me in prayer that God would “lead us not into temptation, but delivers us from the evil one.” Join me in prayer that God would break the teeth of the wicked (Satan) who lie in wait to attack the weak among us (Ps 10:5-11). This is not a prayer for physical safety, this is not a prayer for financial prosperity, this is not a prayer for worldly comfort. We’ve got plenty of that already. This is a prayer for holiness. This is a prayer for righteousness. “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.” (Ps 11:7). This is a prayer for myself and this is a prayer for my family and this a prayer for my brothers and sisters in Christ. “Lead US not into temptation, but deliver US from the evil one.”
Join me…
