Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.
PSALM 7:9, NIV
Not all evil people get punished justly in this life.
That’s why one of the hopeful parts of eternity is that truly evil people will get there just punishment.
I know this may sound funny to you, if it’s the first time you’ve heard it, that judgment is something hopeful, but think about it: haven’t you ever been frustrated when you see people doing obvious evil, corrupt, violent things and wondered if there’s really any justice?
Part of what encourages me about God is that no matter what men and women do in this world to pervert justice or do justice, God is just. When we do justice, however, we’re doing kingdom work.
Will evil be punished by God. According to Psalm 7, we believe vindication and judgment and punishment of evil will be done by God somehow, some time, some way. And that’s actually a hopeful thought rather than the depressing thought that once again someone is getting away with murder.
ACTION STEP
When we are fair, judge rightly according to the life of the Spirit and we read the Bible the way our Lord Jesus read it, we are walking in the image of God as just people. When we do not judge justly, when we pervert justice, when we allow the decks to be stacked against people, when we do not speak out for people, we are living unjust lives.
PRAYER
God of justice, thank you for this vision of righteous judgment in Psalm 7. Rise up when you get angry and stand against enemies of Jesus, against enemies of the good and merciful. Gather the assembly of the ethnic groups (7:7) and rule over them from above!
Greg Taylor
Greg Taylor preaches for The Journey. Greg’s wife, Jill, teaches math at Broken Arrow High School and Tulsa Community College. Greg and Jill have three adult children, Ashley, Anna, and Jacob. Greg is the author of many books, including his latest co-authored with Randy Harris, Daring Faith: Meeting Jesus in the Book of John.
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