Psalm 26 – God Will Dispense Justice Thoroughly
By Bunni Pounds
*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.
There are times in life when something happens to us that is simply WRONG. Injustice happens. My thoughts instantly go to a family that I know that lost their one son in a car accident and then a few months later – they lost their other son. Tragedy!
Even this week we saw in the news – an apartment complex that crumbled in Florida leaving most likely over 150 people dead.
What happened to the pillars? Who was responsible for the millions of dollars in repairs that were needed that did not get done? Unjust. Tragedy.
Here at Christians Engaged – we are struggling with our own situation. Injustice.
Anything I have ever gone through is nothing compared to others who have been abused and felt like they were left with nothing.
There are real injustice on this fallen world even to believers in Jesus. In this world of sin – sin has consequences. Sin leads to pain and death. Though we have been redeemed through Christ – we still live in a fallen world and there are things that happen that are injustices that many times don’t make sense to our natural minds.
Let’s read Psalm 26 – there is a lot of comfort for us here…
“Vindicate me, O Lord,
For I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord;
I shall not slip.
Examine me, O Lord, and approve me;
Try my mind and my heart.
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
I have not sat with idolatrous mortals,
Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
I have hated the assembly of evildoers,
And will not sit with the wicked. (verses 1-5)
In the Hebrew – the word “VINDICATE” means “to dispense justice, carrying a judgment completely through, i.e., with all that is appropriate to it.”
When I think about the tragedies that many friends have suffered – that is what I want God to do – DISPENSE JUSTICE THOROUGHLY.
Here the Psalmist is asking the Lord to examine his heart and mind because he believes he has been trusting, walking in integrity, and staying away from evildoers. Even though that is true – he is still going through suffering.
Here are the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44-45 that we really don’t want to hear – “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Even though we are believers, covered by the blood, and walking with God in integrity – does not mean that bad things won’t happen?
We live in a fallen world – but the question is – how will we respond to injustices?
Here is David’s response…
I will wash my hands in innocence;
So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving,
And tell of all Your wondrous works.
Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house,
And the place where Your glory dwells. (verses 6-8)
He went to the altar of the Lord – the place where he called on the NAME of the Lord and spoke of His goodness and His justice. He brought thanksgivings to God. He told of all His wondrous works.
In the “place where” His “glory dwells” – he got new perspective on the injustices in His life.
That is where I am right now with the legal challenges that our ministry is facing. We could complain – but what would that accomplish?
We need to rejoice, because what the spiritual enemy meant for evil – God will use it for our good.
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” - Genesis 50:20
Remember Job - after all his suffering – losing his wife and children, having all his animals destroyed, losing everything of value to him and then suffering himself with boils and pain – he said a statement that sticks with all of us as we look at our own suffering.
Job 19:25-26 –” For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God.”
God is still God even in the middle of what looks like deep injustices. He still has our lives in His big hands, and we will still see Him face to face one day when he will make all things right.
Right now – we wonder why?
But one day we will see His grace as He carried us through all the pain, suffering, confusion, and death.
We read a few weeks ago – Psalm 23 – let us remember those famous words.
Psalm 23:4-5
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.”
Even during suffering – God is there. He walks with us. He is near.
Every time I see on social media or get a text from a friend that is suffering – I ask for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I ask for God to be near to them – ever present. Of course – we know He always is near to them – but I want them to be aware of His presence and His nearness.
The last point I want to make today is this – KEEP MOVING FORWARD and put yourself around the people of God when you are going through a hard time. This is not the time to be alone. It is the time to depend on the people of God as they rally around you in support – demonstrating the love of God through tangible ways.
“But as for me, I will walk in my integrity;
Redeem me and be merciful to me.
My foot stands in an even place;
In the congregations I will bless the Lord. (verses 11-12)
Yesterday after a church service where I was able to share the Word of God for Christians Engaged – I was able to go out to eat with two old friends and spend some precious time catching up. One of them handed me a $100 bill as we finished lunch – as an offering as I am embarking on this new journey of fulltime ministry.
My other friend just got diagnosed with lung cancer and is unable to work right now. We prayed and are believing for complete healing – but about 30 minutes after my first friend handed me the money – I asked his permission to sow it into the life of our other friend. I didn’t know that she didn’t have the money to pay her car insurance bill.
It was the exact amount that she needed. God is so faithful!
When we are going through a hard time – we need to let the Body of Christ minister to us. Let God show His faithfulness to us and our families – because what the enemy means for evil, even though we might not see it when we are going through the situation – God will use it for His good.
I will end with these simple words that have always kept me together for years – which I believe is the truth spelled out to us in Psalm 26.
Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Do not worry, friends – there is coming a day when God will dispense justice thoroughly for all that we have suffered. Until that day – he is faithful to walk with us, comfort us, and minister to us through the people of God.
Hold on and keep moving!
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