Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalms 55:10-11 (New Living Translation)

¹⁰ Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders,
but the real danger is wickedness within the city.
¹¹ Everything is falling apart;
threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

Sometimes we need look no further for our problems than ourselves. Such is the case related by David in this Psalm.

Soldiers are patrolling the city walls day and night watching for an approaching enemy. The enemy, however, is inside the city. The city is crumbling because threats and cheating are rampant in the streets.

Let’s back up a moment: threats and cheating? Shouldn’t a city be threatened by real threatening things like poisoned water supply, nuclear waste, collapsing financial markets, rampant hyperinflation…You know, really serious threats?

But threats and cheating? Come on. So what if people drive five miles faster than the speed limit or inflate their claim of gifts on their income tax. And what’s the big deal if drivers mutter threats to other drivers who can’t hear them in their cars? Those little things never hurt anyone, right?

Maybe they are bigger than we like to think.