The Just God"I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." Psalm 7:17
Does the world weary you? Do you get tired of the hateful speech that arrives in our homes by television and social media? Are you heart broken at the trends and laws being made that profess to guard the rights of all peoples but ignore righteousness?
We don't hear much about ISIS in the media these days, so we aren't seeing pictures of horrible persecutions of Christians, yet they are still happening. Evil abounds everywhere.
"What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter." Isaiah 5:20
In Psalm 7 David requested God to protect him and judge fairly between him and his enemy, referred to as "Cush the Benjamite." Many commentators believe this reference is either to Shimei or Saul, both from the tribe of Benjamin. In 2 Samuel we see Shimei come out to curse David when he is on the run from Absalom. In effect, he throws stones and curses at David, telling him he is getting what he's deserved for taking the throne away from Saul.
"Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!' he shouted at David. 'The LORD is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul's clan. You stole his throne, and now the LORD has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!" 2 Samuel 16:7-8
Have you ever been bitterly accused of some wrong doing that may or may not have been your fault? Have you been the object of gossip that tore down your reputation--caused others to question your honesty--your motives--your integrity?
The LORD is the righteous judge. He will judge the nations. He will judge our enemies. He will judge...us. He will not let sin go unpunished--ever.
When we believed God loved the world and sent his Son into the world to save and not condemn mankind (John 3:16-21) our sin was judged at the cross. We received mercy and the grace of his forgiveness. When we stand before God in eternity, we will stand before the Bema Seat where Jesus will reward us for those things in our lives that have pleased God.
In Psalm 7 David pleads with God to end the evil of those who are wicked. He sees God's enemies conceive evil and make trouble for others. Often in Scripture we see the evil plans of the wicked backfire on them.
When we are reeling from something in our lives that seems unfair, we have two options. One is to ask God if we've done anything wrong to bring on discipline and, if so, repent of it quickly. Then, we need to pray for the source of our discomfort. This option, I believe, frees us from carrying the burden of continued hurt and allows us to heal.
The second option may be to ask God to judge our tormenters--as David once said, "break their teeth in their mouth." (Psalm 58:6) That may bring a measure of satisfaction temporarily, but does it bring peace in the long run?
Those who walk in darkness and plan evil will have their day of judgement. They will stand before God at his great white throne of judgement without hope. The righteousness of God demands justice. Do we really want them to reside in eternal anguish in the lake of fire? God tells us to love our enemies and that means to pray for God to have mercy on them and change their hearts.
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven..." Matthew 5:43-45a
We can be thankful our holy God will judge everyone in righteousness. He is just. Praise his holy name.
by Marilyn Allison