Trusting God's Timing for Justice

By Dean Collins

Reading Psalm 94 reminds us that God will deal with all who perpetuate injustice. This psalm also gives us a clear indication that transparency about how soon we want God to deal with evil and evil people in the world is also acceptable, even though it might seem harsh. It is important to remember that God already knows our thoughts and hearts, so being honest with him about them is the right and best option.

As I read through this psalm this morning, I thought about how the last half of this psalm seems so relevant and comforting but the first half of the psalm seems so severe and even violent. But then something dawned on me. The Bible was not just written to help us in our time of suffering. The Bible was written in the midst of the suffering and injustices that its writers were experiencing in their time on earth. I think this is why we can find scripture so relatable. 

The prophets, the ancient kings, the early Christians, and the apostles all lived during times of suffering and rejection. They lived through being conquered, living in captivity, wandering in the wilderness, and famine. The pages of scripture were written during great seasons of stress when fear of the future was very real. Even as the books of the Bible were being assembled in the early centuries of the church, there was still suffering and difficulties in the world. It is no wonder then that when we read about the Lord disciplining or teaching us in our times of difficulty, that we can relate so strongly to the writers of scripture. Their experiences and ours are not so different.

In some ways, the first half of Psalm 94 is similar to what we might pray when we ask that Jesus would return soon. We want to see all things restored, and we want to see evil systems and evil people held responsible for their evil. What no one wants is to be punished or held accountable for any wrongdoing or injustice that we might have been involved in or contributed to. As humans, we tend to want mercy and grace when it comes to our mistakes and vengeance and punishment when it comes to the sins of others.

In the goodness of God, he has made it possible for everyone to experience his grace and mercy, but each of us has to choose to accept it. When we come to Jesus acknowledging his sacrifice for us on the cross and choose to obediently follow him, we receive not only God’s forgiveness now, but also his Holy Spirit, who continues to guide us and help us actually live out our new identity in Christ.

There is so much good news in Psalm 94.

God will take care of correcting the wicked. It is not our job to do so.

We will be blessed through the discipline and correction of the Lord. Sometimes it is through the things that we suffer that God teaches us the most.

The Lord will not forsake his people or abandon us in our time of need.

When our foot slips, the Lord is right there to be our strong arm and help us regain our footing.

No matter how many evil people come against us or how much damage they inflict, God is and will be our refuge and rock in our time of need.

So go ahead and be honest with God today. Tell him about any evil and injustice you might be experiencing. Call upon him to deal with those who are set against you. It is his job, not ours, to bring justice to those who seek to harm God’s kingdom servants. Then make sure to continue your prayer by thanking God for the wisdom and strength he gives as he teaches us in and through our suffering. God is our refuge and help in every moment and in every situation.

Father, thank you for loving us so much that you are willing to forgive us and correct us. Thank you for being our rock and protection in times of spiritual attack. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we might gain the wisdom we need from your word, from your Spirit, and even from our suffering. We surrender ourselves to you today, trusting you to bring justice to the world in your perfect timing. Come Lord Jesus, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-15 ESV

Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels
To receive daily posts delivered directly to your inbox, complete the form at the bottom of our home page.