We will mention a couple of important matters raised by the psalm, but these first two will not be dwelt on at length.
First, it is best avoid preaching while praying. It is generally harmful to speak to the people while pretending to speak to God. Yet it must be admitted thatothers are naturally going to learn from our prayers. It must also be admitted that many biblical writers preached during their prayers. This psalm is an example of a mini sermon being placed in the middle of a prayer.
Second, the God of the Bible is a God of vengeance. The Bible states that repeatedly and with emphasis. There are two reasons why we struggle with that fact.One is that our sense of justice is fallen and warped.The second is that our understanding of the word “vengeance” is fallen and warped.But since the Bible insists that vengeance belongs to God, expecting us to accept that fact and even rejoice in it, we ought to learn what the word really means (as used of God).
The problem of evil is the major theme of this psalm.Psalms 37, 73, and the whole book of Job, are also concerned with this problem.In the New Testament, Romans chapter 8 and large portions of 1 and 2 Peter, and the Revelation are concerned with this issue.
In this series, we have covered other psalms that touch on the problem of evil. This psalm brings us to the matter again. Evidently God has chosen to place it before us again. He must think we need to give more thought to the problem of evil.
In this brief article, however, we will concentrate on only one aspect of what the psalm has to say regarding evil. We will skip the complaint of the psalmist to God, and the warnings directed to the evildoers. We will instead concentrate on what the psalm says to the believer.
We must find blessedness in discipline. “Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law” (12). Discipline is a blessing! The writer of Hebrews evidently agreed with this. He wrote”For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Heb 12:6-7) We often fail to see discipline as a blessing. We ought to give thanks for the parents and teachers who have disciplined us. We ought, like this psalmist, to thank the Lord for his discipline.
We must go to the scriptures to find blessedness in this discipline. To continue the quotation of verse 12,”Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law.” (see also 119:49-50, 81, 114, 105; John 8:31-32; Matt 5:10-12; John 15:20)What do the scriptures say that indicate the blessedness of discipline? If we read the scriptures while fully awake, we will notice that in having trouble and trial we are sharing in the experience of the saints of all ages, and in the experience of Christ Jesus. They suffered. They were disciplined. They experienced temporal injustice at times. If we forget that and begin to expect that life should be a ‘bed of roses’ for Christians, we will be disappointed.
We must trust in God’s promises. “…to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it” (13-15).
It seems strange to some, but those Christians who believe most in heaven have done the most for the earth. On the other hand, those who do not trust God to carry out his promises, do not work in hope. They continually try to do things that are not theirs to attempt. In the end, they fail to accomplish what they ought to do. We must learn to stay within our limits and trust the outcome to the Lord.
We must not attempt to stand alone against the wicked. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? 17 If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. 18 When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. 19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. 20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? 21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. (16-22)
The devil is constantly using teamwork against the righteous. Those seeking to be faithful must take advantage of the support the Lord provides by means of the word, personal prayer, and by means of the fellowship of other believers. In our joint worship, prayer, Bible study, and service we strengthen each other for the task. We will never win if we fight alone. The Lord does not intend that we should fight evil alone. He is always with us. He is normally with us by means of the church, that group of people for whom he died (Acts 20:28).
We must leave vengeance in the hands of the God of vengeance. O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! …. 23 He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out. (1-2, 23)
The problem of evil might often be better described as the failure of faith. Our eyes are too much on evildoers and too little on God. When Christians become too focuses on evildoers, when we forget that the battle is the Lord’s battle, not our personal battle, we often make matters worse. The New Testament will remind us to leave vengeance in the hands of God (Rom 12:19). It is up to him, not to us, to deal with evildoers. He may sometimes do so via the “governing authorities” (Rom 13:1-6). Unfortunately, those authorities may often rebel against him and side with evil. But that must not change our resolve to trust him and keep on with our proper tasks.