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Psalms 94:1 O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth.
WE love to tell people that God is love. He is merciful and faithful to forgive our sins. Would you ever tell someone, “God is an avenger?” We believe you would if you said, “God upholds the law. He gives justice to those who have been wronged.” God’s vengeance is not an angry response to sin. His vengeance is a deliberate penalty for the crimes against himself and his people. All who desire fair and equitable treatment will be pleased to know God properly disciplines those who break his law. Of course, the sinful heart wants no part of God’s discipline. As Israel was corrupt from its own idolatry and the influence of pagan nations, the psalm writer calls for God’s vengeance: V 3 How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? 4 They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. 5 They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance. This is true for our lives, too, isn’t it? We look around and wonder how long will the wicked be jubilant? We wonder, for example, when God will avenge his persecuted church? When will he avenge the countless children murdered in the womb, trafficked for pleasure and neglected because of greed? When will God silence the evildoers who are boasting of their attacks against law and order in our neighborhoods around the world? How long will God allow the wicked to boast, V 7 “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.” Why does the avenging God wait to dispense his justice? The answer is beyond our knowledge. We have faith that one day he will redeem the world. The psalmist warns V 8 take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? 9 Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Yes, It is futile for evildoers to think they can reject God’s law. V 23 He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the LORD our God will destroy them. With a mix of sadness for the lost and hope for God’s own, we know he has judged and will avenge all the evildoers’ victims. The Bible records numerous times he disciplined the nations. Among them are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome. He’s judged the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre and Sidon. And many evil empires that have risen are now in ruins. Still the world rages against God’s law and his people. The Bible tells us this will become worse as the time of the end approaches. Our hope and confidence must remain in God’s promise. The God who avenges shines forth. The Christian sees God’s justice shine forth from the cross. We know those who reject God’s law will be condemned. Those who receive God’s law in faith by the blood of the risen Lord will be saved. This is God’s redemptive plan. It is available to all. V 15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. With confidence and love for God and love for others, you can tell people, “God upholds the law. He gives justice to those who have been wronged.” Comments are closed.
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AuthorBob James Archives
January 2025
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