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.
Psalm 94
I was just going to write this blog post on Psalm 94:9 (Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?), but I started reading the full chapter to make sure I knew the context of it and then the rest was so good I had to include it as well.
Context of this verse and timing on the original manuscripts suggests this was written around the exile of the Jews and the whole ‘Babylon’ thing. This is not going to be taking apart everything that happened, but more to use the encouragement and challenge of the words to challenge you today.
It is a widely held belief that God is a distant god. Many people think ‘well maybe He did create the Earth but now He is gone’ or they say ‘He is no longer paying attention’. Obviously this was also a problem back then and will likely continue to be a problem for the rest of human life. We are very quick to say God has turned a blind eye or is no longer listening when we do not get an answer or we think He is being silent.
When realistically, God is watching. He is hearing. He knows.
He sees you and He sees the problems you are facing. God knows what is happening in the world. Not in some cruel, distant way, but because He is personable. He experiences the pain with us and understands our emotions and pain. God knows about the oppression and injustice and murder and pain, not because He created but because He understood the price of our sin more than we did.
You are not alone. God is your consolation in anxiety and in fear. He is in control and He knows EXACTLY what is happening on this Earth. No one can hide from His eyes.
They have not gotten away with it. I am talking to the human traffickers and the murderers and the political radicals and to even the little kid in the candy shop taking a candy. God sees everything. He hears everything. He KNOWS. It is both terrifying and super comforting to know. Nothing passes Him by.
There will be a day where we stand in front of the All-Knowing God and answer for what we have done.
All kingdoms and empires will fall one day and no one gets points for trying. We will stand in front of Him, stripped bare of all the schemes we try to do to make ourselves seem great, and we will answer.
He will take vengeance for those who have been wronged against those who have not repented.
Your Father knows and He is with you.
Lord, may we always know your presence. Thank you for being near to us always. You never leave us nor forsake us! You are so good. Too good for me, thank you all the more for loving me even though I do not deserve it!
Father I pray for your retribution here. I pray your glory on Earth. May it flush out the dark and bring sinners to their knees in repentance. You are a Comfort to us and you are the Just God. May we experience you in your full character this week.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
It’s a short one but I think a good one. Don’t worry guys, Gods watching you this week and He’s got you.
God bless!
~ Ashley
P.S. I have to write six more blog posts and it’s already 8:33 PM (I go to bed at 9:30). Time to play ‘it’s the final countdown’.
A Light in The Darkness 