Lurking

He sits in the lurking places of the villages.  In the hiding places he kills the innocent.  His eyes steadily watch for the unfortunate.  He lurks in the hiding place as as lion in his lair.  He lurks to catch the afflicted.  He catches the afflicted when he draws them into his net.  He crouches.  He bows down and the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.  He says to himself, “God has forgotten.  He has hidden his face.  He will never see it.”  Psalm 10:8-10 (NASB)

I read an article in the paper this week that just chilled my soul.  Briefly, leaving out some of the more lurid details: a 60-year old man, his wife, and their adult son abduct a 6-year old little boy walking by their home.  Man and Wife watch while Son molests the child.  Then Man joins in and finally Man and Son strangle the child to death together with their hands.

When I read these verses I thought the author described that crime pretty well from several thousand years away.   I believe evil not only exists, he has a personality, has allies in the spiritual realm, and is at work in our world in and through people.  Satan is still lurking in the dark, in people’s hearts, twisting them to the point they can do such heinous, obscene things.  And he’ll begin his work in you and me with any foothold we’ll allow him.  Don’t think you’re immune.

Never forget what and who is lurking out there.  Every time I turn away from God, I am choosing to join with what’s lurking in the darkness.  There’s no middle ground.