Pornography wants to leach and erode our souls like acid eating into the steel locks of a bank vault full of precious valuables. This picture coupled with the thoughts I am reading and meditating on in Psalm 64 are powerful to me and I want to share them and process through them. My thoughts through the chapter will be in italics.

Psalm 64 (ESV)

Hide Me from the Wicked

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

64

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
    preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

there is a yearning here that God would connect and that God would hear. A reverence and an intimacy with God in that the heart being expressed by the voice is longing that God would take up the thought and the pain and the problem and hear the complaint of what is going on because there is a fear, a desire to be whole, a want to be valued or kept from the fear of something that is against or not able to be faced.

2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
    from the throng of evildoers,

Hiding to me makes me think of a place that is unknown or a stronghold that others can't get to. Hiding brings strength in that one can't be reached or known. The wicked would not see or know where one is in order to cause their pain on the one who is seeking peace.

3 who whet their tongues like swords,
    who aim bitter words like arrows,

Vivid imagery here as to how there is an offense. Thinking as I am to the torture of pornography the whet stone is something that sharpens an iron, and when it is sharpened it is ready to cut to the core of the flesh. It captures the battle against pornography for me because the images or actions are infiltrating the mind and hearts of men and women. The image that the tongues of evil are damaging. There are so many damaging things done in porn within its creation and also those who watch are stirred to actions that damage their bodies and relationships with others.

The heart of man when damaged by such cannot do anything but spew words that are argumentative, without truth, and cause pain. The penetration of an arrow into the heart is such a fierce and forceful thing.

4 shooting from ambush at the blameless,
    shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
5 They hold fast to their evil purpose;
    they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”

So much of our culture is no longer innocent to the imagery of sex and its power in advertising and how it drives industry. I find this thought to coincide with it being an ambush as man as become accustomed to the thoughts that nudity, sensuous image, and blatant messages are present, presenting themselves on every corner and space so that even those who are blameless are unable to avoid the offense.

No longer is porn something that is hidden. Internet access is bold and does not hide. It seeths and stomps and openly expresses its disdain for innocence and purity. It wants to harm and smear mud on the innocent. Porn defiles the pure. It mixes it's dirt and shames the young into a life of blame, anger  and toil. 

Holding fast to their purpose they don't think anything is wrong with their lifestyle and actions and limits and shame have no effect in causing them to think there is anything different or wrong with their actions.

6     They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
    For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

Porn is an injustice to man as it purposes pleasure that has twisted what God made as beautiful for the marriage bed, the pro-creation of human beings, and the pleasure of creativity in peace. Sin searches mans heart and takes root in it's deepest parts. Sin does not spare any human being. 

I am so thankful for this next verse though...

7 But God shoots his arrow at them;
    they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
    all who see them will wag their heads.

God's provision of care for his people is that He would battle and He would fight against those who are blatant and prideful about their sinful deeds. He pierces them with his purity, and points at their error. They are wounded because only God can bring Man to the point of recognizing his wound and need for a Savior.

9 Then all mankind fears;
    they tell what God has brought about
    and ponder what he has done.

When a force greater than that which has captured the heart of man here on earth takes over it is fear that results. I find it good to fear as it keeps me alive, keeps me from danger, and causes me at times to bow in reverence toward that which can destroy me. The verse appears to allude to the thought that people cannot stop thinking and talking about what God does because it is so complete and different than what is known. The World knows sin and delights in it. God knows purity and holiness. He delights in the utmost of this and the world marvels at it because it's so foreign.

10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!

Let's just say there is a big party in the end when peace, purity, innocence, and reverence come to a place that is protected and Holy. Refugio in Portuguese is this act of delighting in a place where fear is no longer because of danger or sin. Refuge in the Lord. This is the true defense against porn and evil. Refuge in the arms of God. Using His Word as a place of calm. All needs met. Forgiveness complete, and safety supreme.

What a party! Imagining all pure protected hearts exuding lasting joy because they are upright, not because of their own fashion, but because of God.

Thanks for walking through this with me. I look forward to hearing your comments on how this chapter might apply or connect with the battle that you are facing as well.

- Andrew