 |
Boots with hearty traction (or at least pull-on cleats) are our choice
for January traction. But in posing these boots for a photo,
I thought of the scripture that urged us to "walk" with care in representing
Christ--to be "shod" with the Gospel of Christ (Ephesians 6:15)
|
(Part of an ongoing
series on the 48 psalms recommended for times of “feeling down,” from
pastor-counselor David Seamands’ book, Healing for Damaged Emotions.)
We expect super-fast in our lives. Microwaves, internet
speeds, supersonic flights—any ways we can shave time off things, we want them.
But it doesn’t work that way in life’s tough places. “How long,” the
psalm-writer whines to God, “will the wicked be jubilant? (Psalm 94:3). He
feels his hope and opportunities are slipping away (v. 18). The psalmist wants
God to do something about the bad people and situations in his life—and
quickly. He’s saying, “I can’t do anything about it, God, but You can.” He
addresses God as “the God who avenges”—and that last little word is a key to
unlocking this psalm’s truths.
REVENGE VS. AVENGE
It’s human (and sinful) to exercise vengeance—to act negatively out of revenge for a
hurt. But a slightly different word, avenge, rightly describes God’s role
as our legal advocate upholding His holiness and sovereignty when we are
wronged. Long ago, He clearly stated that His role is to avenge and pay back an
enemy (Deuteronomy 32:35, quoted Romans 12:19-20). Our role when wronged is
this:
Do not repay anyone
evil for evil. Be careful to do what is
right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone. Do not take
revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. (Romans 12:17-19a)
IT’S GOD’S PROBLEM
I tend to bottle up my hurts and problems, with unwanted
results for my physical and emotional health. I echo the psalmist’s complaint:
Who will rise up for
me against the wicked?
Who will take a stand
for me against evildoers? (Psalm 94:16)
But God’s way is reflected in this quote attributed to
Martin Luther:
I have held many
things in my hands and have lost them all; but whatever I put in God’s hands, I
still possess.
The psalmist reached a similar conclusion:
When I said, “My foot
is slipping,” your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within
me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” (Psalm 94:18-19)
IT’S OUR EARTHLY HOMEWORK
One day my body demanded that I rest but my mind swirled
with thoughts of someone’s negatives toward me. “Change the channel, Lord,” I
prayed. “I don’t want to keep thinking about this.” I believe the Lord wants me
to recall just enough to keep praying for this person, but
to leave to Him the issue of avenging
for the wrongs done against me. In learning the grace of letting go, especially
of bitterness, and letting Him handle it, I experience the lesson of Hebrews
12:14-15:
Make every effort to
live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the
Lord. See to it that no one misses the
grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
The psalmist ended up with that conclusion, too, calling God
his fortress and the rock of refuge (v. 22)
I’d like God to right all wrongs and make things all
happy-and-dandy during my lifetime. But it may not happen that way. So when I
ask, like the psalmist, “How long?” and He answers, “Trust me,” I must. He sees life from eternity past to
eternity future. The negatives I may experience now are but a blip on eternity’s screen.
