Justice often seems in short supply. Sentences for serious crimes seem woefully inadequate and unfair. The wickedly crafty exploit those less discerning. Ruthless rulers oppress their citizens and deny basic human rights. Injustice weighs heavily on righteous souls who cry out to God, "How long?"
"The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God. For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men." (Psalm 9:17-20)
The Psalmist reminds us that justice will one day come through the direct intervention of our Creator, even as he appeals to the LORD to act. Wicked people and nations will be consigned to destruction. The poor will be provided for. The afflicted will have hope restored.
How easy it is to lose sight of ultimate justice. The people of God are often oppressed and mistreated by the sons of the evil one in the world. The way of righteousness is mocked and ignored, while ungodly values and lifestyles are glorified. Will God ever act?
The dilemma of justice delayed invariably takes me back to familiar words in 2 Peter: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!" (2 Peter 3:9-12).
Justice delayed is grace extended. This moment of injustice is an opportunity for the unrepentant. And perhaps that perspective moves us from groaning for justice to administering His grace to the responsive.
As we wait for justice and administer grace, perhaps the best prayer we can pray today is that of the Psalmist: "Let the nations know that they are but men." Perhaps we need that reminder as well.
May we serve today as agents of justice and mercy for the God who is Lord of both.
Steve
© 2011, Steve Taylor
"The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God. For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men." (Psalm 9:17-20)
The Psalmist reminds us that justice will one day come through the direct intervention of our Creator, even as he appeals to the LORD to act. Wicked people and nations will be consigned to destruction. The poor will be provided for. The afflicted will have hope restored.
How easy it is to lose sight of ultimate justice. The people of God are often oppressed and mistreated by the sons of the evil one in the world. The way of righteousness is mocked and ignored, while ungodly values and lifestyles are glorified. Will God ever act?
The dilemma of justice delayed invariably takes me back to familiar words in 2 Peter: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!" (2 Peter 3:9-12).
Justice delayed is grace extended. This moment of injustice is an opportunity for the unrepentant. And perhaps that perspective moves us from groaning for justice to administering His grace to the responsive.
As we wait for justice and administer grace, perhaps the best prayer we can pray today is that of the Psalmist: "Let the nations know that they are but men." Perhaps we need that reminder as well.
May we serve today as agents of justice and mercy for the God who is Lord of both.
Steve
© 2011, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:02 AM
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