1 The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long, Lord, will the wicked,
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, Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
11 The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.
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This psalm is a prayer for justice, as others we have seen before. The psalmist is confident that the Lord will deal justly with the proud, wicked and arrogant. Their actions are known by the Lord and he will bring his justice.
Rampant injustice is one of the marks of the fallenness of creation. Whether we’re talking about governments, businesses, international dealings, or even family relationships, there is so much injustice in the world. One of the blessings of the new creation is that the Lord will come and set things right. I don’t pretend to know what all that means, but it is a common theme throughout the Scriptures that the Lord’s justice will be a mark of the new heavens and the new earth.
So my prayer today is for justice – between peoples, within nations, between nations. I am praying that those who are intent on acting unjustly would be stopped. And I pray that wherever it is possible, that the Lord’s people work for justice as preview of what our Lord is bringing when He returns.
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