Remember God’s justice

Do you ever pour out your heart to God about the conditions in the world, especially the sin and injustice that we see around us? Although we often think the world is getting worse and worse, it seems that people have always been like this. Listen as David wrote about the conditions in his world.

“I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.” (Psalms 36:1-4 NIV)

Isn’t that the condition of the world that we still see today? Why do people lie, cheat, and take advantage of others? Isn’t it because they do not fear God? It seems that because they are not immediately punished they think that God is not there or that he doesn’t care.

There seem to be many who think they are above any law including the law of God. They think they can do no wrong, that they can do anything they want. How many do we see in the world who say ludicrous things about what they are doing as if that makes it right? They seem to think that if they say something loud enough and long enough that it makes it reality – or others will believe what they say is the truth.

What comes out of their mouth is wicked and deceitful. Rather than doing good they do anything they want no matter how evil it is. Even when they go to bed at night their minds continue to think about the evil they can do and get away with. Rather than think about the good they could do they are devoted to doing what they want no matter how evil it might be, no matter how many people they might harm in the process.

I don’t know about you, but when I see people like this and conditions like this in the world it angers me – or even depresses me. We get frustrated – and maybe with good reason. What can we do about all the wickedness that we see around us?

A good starting place is to remember God and know that despite how bad it looks he is still there and he is in control. This is what David reminds us of.

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast in the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” (Psalms 36:5-9)

God is there. He is faithful, righteous, just, and his love is unfailing. He is there to provide refuge for the oppressed. He gives us what we need to get through life. He gives us the light we need to see the world as it really is, to see through the evil plots and those who constantly flatter themselves. He is the fountain of life – he is the only source of real life that we can have.

What about those who are evil, deceitful, and do all the wrong that they can conceive? Remember God’s justice – he will deal with them at the right time.

“Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. See how the evildoers lie fallen – thrown down, not able to rise!” (Psalms 36:10-12)

God knows and he will act.

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Readings for next week: Psalms 35-45