Psalm 94
Psalm 94
The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?
They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.
They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
They say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.
Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;
you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
For the Lord will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.
These days I crave peace. I long for a world that is consumed by love and kindness. But everywhere I look, I see pain. I see worry. I see frustration. I see fear.
And it makes me anxious. It makes me sad. It makes me worrisome to look at the world around me and see so much hatred and injustice in the world.
These worries and anxieties seep into every part of my life: I worry about the cleanliness of my house, money, food, the people I love. I worry about my job and my students. My anxieties threaten to consume me if I let them....
It is all the more important in this broken world to be still. It is all the more important to turn our eyes on Jesus and look to His power and unfailing love. It is important to rest in His faithfulness.
When we rest in our fortress He promises us safety and security. When we rest in our Savior, He promises to lead us and restore us on the path of salvation.
As I look around this world I continue to ache for Peace. I want Him to rise up and deal with those that are hateful and demeaning. I want Him to set things straight.
But who am I if not the hands and feet of Jesus? Am I not to serve in the body of Christ? Am I not to reach out in love and peace and kindness in this broken world? Am I not called to be compassionate in a world of hate?
This passage shows us that injustice is nothing new. The hurt and pain in this world is not a new experience. Sure, some of us may be able to forget about it for awhile, or perhaps remain blissfully ignorant - but evil and despair forever surround us. After all, isn't that why He came? To die for this broken world and make it new? Did He not come to this world to save it? Has He not called us to count the cost of His sacrifice and share His abundant riches?
And as I dwell in His word and be still in His Love I find peace once more. When I let the worries over this world overtake me, I fail to acknowledge the One who has overcome the world. My anxieties begin to fade away as I focus on Him and His plans for me. I no longer feel helpless or out of control. But I know that if I stand firm in my fortress He will not only rescue me, but enable me to rescue others.
As I rest in my refuge He will give me the opportunity to lead others to His shelter. He will strengthen and sustain me to share His love and grace with the world.
My anxieties quelled by the security of my Redeemer, I can move on to sharing His message with others. I can share His peace so that this world becomes a little bit brighter. I can share His compassion and help others find peace in Christ.
I do not know what the coming days bring. I do not know what lies ahead for any of us. I can long for peace or I can do something to enact change. But in order to enact change I must be attuned to my Lord and Savior. I must continually seek Him. I must dwell in His presence and be still in His peace. When anxieties of this world overwhelm me, I need to change my focus. I need to turn my gaze to Him and cast these worries on Him. For surely, He will show me the way of peace. He will show me how to share this peace with others and make the world a brighter place in His name.
The Lord is a God who avenges.
O God who avenges, shine forth.
Rise up, Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
How long, Lord, will the wicked,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?
They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
They crush your people, Lord;
they oppress your inheritance.
They slay the widow and the foreigner;
they murder the fatherless.
They say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”
Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.
Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;
you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.
For the Lord will not reject his people;
he will never forsake his inheritance.
Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?
Unless the Lord had given me help,
I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.
When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.
Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—
a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?
The wicked band together against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
But the Lord has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
He will repay them for their sins
and destroy them for their wickedness;
the Lord our God will destroy them.
These days I crave peace. I long for a world that is consumed by love and kindness. But everywhere I look, I see pain. I see worry. I see frustration. I see fear.
And it makes me anxious. It makes me sad. It makes me worrisome to look at the world around me and see so much hatred and injustice in the world.
These worries and anxieties seep into every part of my life: I worry about the cleanliness of my house, money, food, the people I love. I worry about my job and my students. My anxieties threaten to consume me if I let them....
It is all the more important in this broken world to be still. It is all the more important to turn our eyes on Jesus and look to His power and unfailing love. It is important to rest in His faithfulness.
When we rest in our fortress He promises us safety and security. When we rest in our Savior, He promises to lead us and restore us on the path of salvation.
As I look around this world I continue to ache for Peace. I want Him to rise up and deal with those that are hateful and demeaning. I want Him to set things straight.
But who am I if not the hands and feet of Jesus? Am I not to serve in the body of Christ? Am I not to reach out in love and peace and kindness in this broken world? Am I not called to be compassionate in a world of hate?
This passage shows us that injustice is nothing new. The hurt and pain in this world is not a new experience. Sure, some of us may be able to forget about it for awhile, or perhaps remain blissfully ignorant - but evil and despair forever surround us. After all, isn't that why He came? To die for this broken world and make it new? Did He not come to this world to save it? Has He not called us to count the cost of His sacrifice and share His abundant riches?
And as I dwell in His word and be still in His Love I find peace once more. When I let the worries over this world overtake me, I fail to acknowledge the One who has overcome the world. My anxieties begin to fade away as I focus on Him and His plans for me. I no longer feel helpless or out of control. But I know that if I stand firm in my fortress He will not only rescue me, but enable me to rescue others.
As I rest in my refuge He will give me the opportunity to lead others to His shelter. He will strengthen and sustain me to share His love and grace with the world.
My anxieties quelled by the security of my Redeemer, I can move on to sharing His message with others. I can share His peace so that this world becomes a little bit brighter. I can share His compassion and help others find peace in Christ.
I do not know what the coming days bring. I do not know what lies ahead for any of us. I can long for peace or I can do something to enact change. But in order to enact change I must be attuned to my Lord and Savior. I must continually seek Him. I must dwell in His presence and be still in His peace. When anxieties of this world overwhelm me, I need to change my focus. I need to turn my gaze to Him and cast these worries on Him. For surely, He will show me the way of peace. He will show me how to share this peace with others and make the world a brighter place in His name.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
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