Psalm 120:1-7

The psalmist is feeling somewhat isolated among a people who are deceitful and are liars. He states, “I am tired of living among people who hate peace.” This made me think of Lot, who chose the best of the land when given the choice by Abraham because it looked good, yet he lived in Sodom and Gomorrah—and we know what happened there. How difficult it is when you know the right way to live, yet are surrounded by those that choose to ignore God’s laws.

Consider 2 Peter 2:7 which records:

“But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.2.7-9.NLT

For the righteous, wickedness torments the soul when we are surrounded by it. In fact, Psalm 97:10 states:

“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭97‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.97.10.NLT

That is reassuring, yet we still have to endure wicked people at times. Our hope is that God’s light in us serves as a beacon of hope for those who are desperately lost—and also as a sign of impending judgment to those who persist in wickedness.

Paul stated it this way in Philippians 1:27-28:

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.1.28.NLT

We must never bow to wickedness—just as light doesn’t bow to darkness but instead expels it. Don’t forget why we are here. In the words of Jesus:

““You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.14-16.NLT

Shine brightly, so that the world sees Christ in you—the hope of glory!