Read
The Lord Punishes
1Lord God, you punish
the guilty.
Show what you are like
and punish them now.
2You judge the earth.
Come and help us!
Pay back those proud people
for what they have done.
3How long will the wicked
celebrate and be glad?
4All of those cruel people
strut and boast,
5and they crush and wound
your chosen nation, Lord.
6They murder widows,
foreigners, and orphans.
7Then they say,
“The Lord God of Jacob
doesn't see or know.”
8Can't you fools see?
Won't you ever learn?
9God gave us ears and eyes!
Can't he hear and see?
10God instructs the nations
and gives knowledge to us all.
Won't he also correct us?
11 The Lord knows how useless
our plans really are.
12Our Lord, you bless everyone
that you instruct and teach
by using your Law.
13You give them rest
from their troubles,
until a pit can be dug
for the wicked.
14You won't turn your back
on your chosen nation.
15Justice and fairness
will go hand in hand,
and all who do right
will follow along.
16Who will stand up for me
against those cruel people?
17If you had not helped me, Lord,
I would soon have gone
to the land of silence.
18When I felt my feet slipping,
you came with your love
and kept me steady.
19And when I was burdened
with worries,
you comforted me
and made me feel secure.
20But you are opposed
to dishonest lawmakers
21who gang up to murder
innocent victims.
22You, Lord God, are my fortress,
that mighty rock
where I am safe.
23You will pay back my enemies,
and you will wipe them out
for the evil they did.
Reflect
The world is a wicked place and evil men run rampant. All we have to do is listen to the news broadcasts about events around the world, or look around in our own communities to know that statement is true. In fact, that statement has always been true, from the day Adam and Eve chose to trust the serpent instead of God and opened the way for sin to enter the world. Throughout history it has seemed that God does not see, does not hear, does not care.
But there is good news. The gospel gives us what David describes in this psalm – a fortress, a refuge, relief from the world and all its evil, respite from the unrighteous and all their plans. That refuge is him, God Himself. Like David, we can know that he is always there, ready to support us with his love, ready to rescue us with his mercy and ready to redeem us with his grace.
David acknowledges God’s presence and work in his life, even when it seems that he is distant. David declares what we too can know without a doubt, that the God who “implanted the ear” does hear, he who “formed the eye” does see and he who died on our behalf does love us beyond measure. We too can know that he is a God of justice who will act on our behalf.
The world is a wicked place and evil men run rampant but take heart, “far greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Respond
Our Father in Heaven, thank you for showing us that you are with us every moment of every day. Thank you for lifting us up when we fall and helping us to raise our eyes to you in times of trial and need. Amen.
Marcia Lee Laycock
Marcia Lee Laycock is an award-winning writer and sought-after speaker. Having lived a few kilometers from the Arctic Circle, and two degrees off the Equator, her writing draws from a rich field of experiences. Marcia was the winner of the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone, and she now has four devotional books and a fantasy series in print, which have also garnered awards. Marcia lives in central Alberta with her pastor husband. They have three grown daughters and two huge Great Dane grand-puppies.