Vengeance is the devil’s justice.”
–Chad Cull (The Devil’s Justice)
“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
–Romans 12:19(NKJV)
————————————–
What is that saying, “What goes around comes around.” David is concerned about justice. He is being unduly attacked, then he sees it amongst the people–the poor and those in depravity. Where is justice? We must remember that God is greatly concerned about justice. He is more than just a God of love, He is a God of Justice. David feels that he is being treated unfairly, but think of Jesus on the cross. Was that fair? But it was love…and it was justice.
Jesus once said that “the poor we have with us always.” A pastor friend once told me that this is true, but not only of money. Look around you–there are poor in faith, there are poor in sin, there are poor in depression, and on. The poor are always there. That does not excuse the choices they make, especially regarding Jesus Christ. Let’s finished reading Psalm 69.
22 — Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap.
23 — Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; and make their loins shake continually.
24 — Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 — Let their dwelling place be desolate; let no one live in their tents.
26 — For they persecute the ones You have struck, and talk of the grief of those You have wounded.
27 — Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not come into Your righteousness.
28 — Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29 — But I am poor and sorrowful; let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 — I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
31 — This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.
32 — The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live.
33 — For the LORD hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners.
34 — Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 — For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.
36 — Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it. (NKJV)
Now that is some kind of vindictive prayer we read in the first part. “Get them God!”, cries David. David longed to see justice and retribution. Notice David’s mood, especially in his prayer against his enemies, but then the mood changes in verse 30. Instead of praying that God to get his enemies he begins to praise the Lord. Oh, Lord help us to rest content in Your promises.
Remember, justice was done on the cross. We don’t see it done the way we may wish, but eternal justice was taken care of at cross. The choice must be made. Life goes on, but one day those who have not accepted Christ will see the wrath of God’s justice. Now we should praise Him for all He has done for us.
“When we seek relief from a long-felt grief,
When oppressed by new temptations,
Lord, increase and perfect patience;
Show us that bright shore where we weep no more.”
–Nilolaus von Zinzendorf
————————————–
What is that saying, “What goes around comes around.” David is concerned about justice. He is being unduly attacked, then he sees it amongst the people–the poor and those in depravity. Where is justice? We must remember that God is greatly concerned about justice. He is more than just a God of love, He is a God of Justice. David feels that he is being treated unfairly, but think of Jesus on the cross. Was that fair? But it was love…and it was justice.
Jesus once said that “the poor we have with us always.” A pastor friend once told me that this is true, but not only of money. Look around you–there are poor in faith, there are poor in sin, there are poor in depression, and on. The poor are always there. That does not excuse the choices they make, especially regarding Jesus Christ. Let’s finished reading Psalm 69.
22 — Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap.
23 — Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; and make their loins shake continually.
24 — Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 — Let their dwelling place be desolate; let no one live in their tents.
26 — For they persecute the ones You have struck, and talk of the grief of those You have wounded.
27 — Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not come into Your righteousness.
28 — Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29 — But I am poor and sorrowful; let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 — I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
31 — This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.
32 — The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live.
33 — For the LORD hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners.
34 — Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 — For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.
36 — Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who love His name shall dwell in it. (NKJV)
Now that is some kind of vindictive prayer we read in the first part. “Get them God!”, cries David. David longed to see justice and retribution. Notice David’s mood, especially in his prayer against his enemies, but then the mood changes in verse 30. Instead of praying that God to get his enemies he begins to praise the Lord. Oh, Lord help us to rest content in Your promises.
Remember, justice was done on the cross. We don’t see it done the way we may wish, but eternal justice was taken care of at cross. The choice must be made. Life goes on, but one day those who have not accepted Christ will see the wrath of God’s justice. Now we should praise Him for all He has done for us.
“When we seek relief from a long-felt grief,
When oppressed by new temptations,
Lord, increase and perfect patience;
Show us that bright shore where we weep no more.”
–Nilolaus von Zinzendorf