The Lord will not Abandon His Pe

01Oct
O Lord, you God of vengeance,
  you God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise up, O judge of the earth;
  give to the proud what they deserve!
O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
  how long shall the wicked exult?...

…For the Lord will not forsake his people;
  he will not abandon his heritage;
for justice will return to the righteous,
  and all the upright in heart will follow it.
- Psalm 94:1-3,14,15


Psalm 94 opens with a cry to God, the "God of vengeance," a plea for justice and retribution against those who perpetrate evil. It speaks to the universal longing for justice, an age-old desire that remains present in today’s turbulent world. 

Admittedly, I have to caution myself against the desire to call down God's judgment upon those with whom I disagree or that I consider bad. It is hard to hold back when the line between good and evil seems so clear. Living in this moment, I sometimes feel the weight of injustice as strongly as ever. Whether I look to the halls of power, where corruption often goes unchecked, or at the streets, where vulnerable communities suffer, the cries of the oppressed echo through every headline. The psalmist’s question in verse 3 resonates deeply: "How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?"


There is a rising frustration in the air, a sense that systems are rigged, that truth and righteousness are distorted for profit and power. The psalmist describes a world where the powerful crush the weak and the widow and the foreigner find no defender. I see the same injustices today—refugees turned away, the marginalized silenced, and the poor abandoned.


But there is also comfort in Psalm 94, a reminder that God sees it all. Though it feels at times that justice is delayed, I am reminded in verse 9: "Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?" God is not blind to the suffering of His people. And, it is not about what I feel is just or good or evil. I am reminded that vengeance is not mine to pursue—"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy".

 

There is a temptation to take matters into my own hands, to make judgments and demand immediate retribution. But Psalm 94 teaches me the discipline of trust, that God’s timing is perfect even when it doesn’t align with mine. It also calls me to be a participant in His justice, not through hatred or vengeance, but through faith, patience, and love for my neighbor. I am reminded that no injustice escapes God's sight and that His justice will be far more complete than anything I could orchestrate.

In a world filled with noise, manipulation, and power struggles, I need to remain focused on the real message of this Psalm: "For the Lord will not abandon his people, nor will He forsake his own."


Musical Reflection -  God is Working His Purpose Out - Shaw Schola Cantorum


Gracious God, when we seek vengeance on our own, kindly remind us that mercy defeats justice in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

FaithUnfairJusticeTrust

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