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Good News in a Wicked Place Psalms Reflection

Read

The Lord Punishes the Guilty

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.

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
See this passage in other languages or Bible versions

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.

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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.

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