2018-10-25
This is based on the thoughts and mediations of Niki Backer. And is written in light of the insight I gained listening to the discussions of leaders of various African counties, while away on camp with the Student International Fellowship (SIF), of whom Niki is a member.
This is a surprisingly violent psalm. What do we learn from it?
Many of us here have been burned and hurt by wickedness and felt the desire for vengeance.
In some sense this psalm affirms that desire. It is right to feel that to some extent. Injustice is wrong and should be thwarted.
But the psalm goes further. It uses language most violent. “May they be like the snail that vanishes even as it goes on its way. May they be like the still born child that never sees the light of day.” This is not gentle, it does not say: “Oh God, if you are willing, please slap them on the wrist and give them a warning.” No it is blood thirsty: “The righteous will rejoice when he bathes his feet in their blood”!
Here it is not enough fir them to be shown their fault. No their blood must be drained so the righteous can see it.
This is stark. But wonderful. Wickedness is very wicked, and it is right to feel zeal and anger in light of it. Moreover it is wonderful because it means that God takes wickedness seriously and will deal with it properly, which makes heaven all the more appealing. Here we are called to not play with wickedness, called to not say “wickedness is bad, but we are all human.” We are called to not say that it is not that bad. Rather we are called to say: “it is terrible, God act!”
But as we meditate on this in the actions of those cruel dictators, slowly the blame seeps down even as blood drains from the faces of the terrified. Do our children, spouses and siblings have the right to say this of us? Have we been tyrants in our homes or at work?
Now consider the original perfection of creation. “God saw all that He had made and it was very good.” If we, though evil, can see wickedness as wicked and justly call for blood, how much more the Righteous God who is utterly pure?
Surely, in light of His holiness, we are the highest degree of tyrants for we defile His good creation, deny His authority and lead others astray. Thus God can, even should, rightly call for our blood to be poured out that He may sate His great wrath by washing His feet in our blood.
This passage then is terrible. Our sins are much more serious than we would like to think. Who then can stand before this Consuming Fire, this Holy God?
Now consider the fathomless love of Jesus. Rather than justly bathing His feet in our blood, He pours out His own blood on us, to cleanse us. We are wicked, but He would rather die than let us be destroyed!
What then? Shall we take vindictive pleasure in the downfall of other? By no means! Shall we stop crying out against wickedness that it will be repaid? No! So what then?
Rejoice! First rejoice because God sees wickedness and declares it utterly wicked. He never says: it is not so bad. So rejoice and pray earnestly for our countries and families, for justice and peace. But rejoice with trembling for we are under the same judgement. Then rejoice unceasingly for we are loved with a love that will take all eternity to express. God has acted on the wicked by bearing that great load Himself. So as we pray let us forgive the tyrants even as we pray for their actions to be thwarted. Let us forgive them by charging their wickedness and ours to the account of Jesus Christ who died. Another day is coming when He will further act and set all things right. But He is patient, not wanting any to perish.
So rejoice in His justice and take solace oh troubled heart. Rejoice in His love and live in freedom!
Trust completely in Jesus, all else will perish in consuming fire, and rejoice. Cry out for justice and rejoice for it is a good prayer and it is answered and will be answered.