“They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush Your people, O LORD, and afflict Your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, ‘The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.'” Psalm 94:4-7
Devotional Thought For The Day
The psalmist begins to detail his complaint and accusation against the “proud” and the “wicked,” those who are impenitent, unbelieving, uncompassionate, and unloving – and who oppose all of the things that pertain to God and His gracious love in Christ Jesus. Again, we struggle with God as the God of vengeance, but when confronted by those who behave in such an arrogant, shameless, and violent manner we have no small consolation in bringing these burdens to God in prayer and leaving them in His hands for resolution. There is plentiful mercy and forgiveness for the penitent and believing, for those whose hearts are being renewed and reshaped by God’s great love for us. However, for those who reject God’s love and compassion, who plow full speed ahead in their efforts to destroy God’s people, it is certain that God will eventually deal with them.
So what is the behavior exhibited by those who reject God? First, they are convinced that God doesn’t see them, or that if He does He will somehow side with them. Because of this unbelief and inattention to His Word they “pour out their arrogant words.” They boast in the evil they commit. Pious and wise theologians have often noted that the unbelieving call evil good and deem good to be evil. We have an abundance of this dark wickedness and foolish arrogance these days – even within our public and political discussions. It appears to be getting worse. Confused about good and evil, the wicked seek to “crush” God’s people and “afflict” His heritage, His church. Today it is contemplated that the law might do this – with “hate crimes” legislation that criminalizes “calling good good” and “calling evil evil,” and which threatens the health and vitality of the church by disallowing free practice of traditional Christianity based on biblical morality and teaching. Violent crimes against the unborn [abortion] are already legal, and the negative impact of immorality and divorce on vulnerable women and children has grown dramatically. Remarkably, the liberal social activists don’t seem to notice any of this; they are too keenly focused on the destruction of God’s people, the eradication of all knowledge of God. Lord, have mercy!
So we struggle in the face of all of this, and cry out to God along with the psalmist. We would prefer that the wicked come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth, that they would receive the embrace of God’s love and mercy in Christ Jesus and embrace God in faith. However, we must also pray God to deal with those who mete out such violence and destruction upon the innocent and vulnerable, and that God would stand up for His people and His heritage. So we humbly and fearfully rejoice that God is the God of vengeance, and that He does “see” and “perceive” all that goes on the world today. We struggle with patience in face of such evil and violence, and we struggle with God’s long-suffering patience, His will that the wicked not perish in perdition. So with the psalmist we must comfort ourselves with the assertions of God’s Word, assertions of faith and trust, knowing that God’s vengeance is coming quickly, and His deliverance of His people. We do so taking great care that our own hearts not become hardened, proud, self-righteous, and devoid of love and compassion – for this would be worse than any earthly suffering or physical death. We pray, for ourselves and for all – Lord, have mercy!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You know the grinding misery of being between one’s inner compassion and love and the wretched hatred and violence of the wicked. Help us to follow You, to walk the path You walked, to retain both a deep commitment to mercy and also to what is good and right. Protect us from those who seek to destroy You; preserve us in humble faith and trust in Your love that we may continue to bear witness to You to those around us. Help us to be patient and wise in awaiting Your vengeance. Amen.