Bible Reading Blog
“Appeal to God's Righteousness”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: Psalm 9
“In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”
And the [Jesus] said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you; he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18.1-8)
--
Jesus’ kingdom is marked by justice toward the oppressed. The pervasive image of Psalm 9 is of the king on the throne executing judgment against wickedness (Psalm 9.4, 7-8, 16, 19). He will make things as they should be. Hence the admonition of the psalm to appeal to God’s righteousness. “…those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9.10).
The challenge is we often desire immediate retribution and reprieve. We want to see others get what they deserve, and for us to be vindicated. But if we really thought that through, we might think twice. We all deserve something we don’t want to pay for (Romans 3.23; 6.23). Our sins are worthy of immediate consequences, BUT GOD has patiently endured in hope of better things. We must not presume upon God with our frustrations towards his ‘slowness’ (2 Peter 3.9). His timeline towards the wickedness in this world is often in hope of their repentance, which we either can’t see or don’t want to see (consider Jonah 3.10-4.2).
We must not put ourselves in his rightful position. He is the king who sits on his throne to judge. He will execute judgment on the unrighteous and offer hope to the oppressed, in his time. That is not our role. If we learn nothing else from the parable of the unforgiving servant, it is that God expects us to show mercy and not judgment towards our fellow man (Matthew 18.33). He will do what is right (Psalm 9.7-8). As citizens of the kingdom, we must always humbly differ our passions and appeal to the king and his righteousness.
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12.19-21)
