When my friend received a traffic ticket for speeding in a construction zone, he decided to contest it in court. As he put it, he was driving below the posted speed limit when another vehicle raced past him. The police officer’s radar gun had recorded the other car’s speed. But the judge would have none of it.
I know my friend is conscientious to a fault, so I believed his story. The real lawbreaker got away while a prudent driver got fined.
This incident doesn’t rank high on the injustice scale; still, something in us bristles when we encounter the law being misapplied. We want a higher power to make things right, not reinforce the wrong.
In Psalm 58, we find David lamenting real injustice. The poet-warrior hadn’t yet ascended the throne and could do little about unscrupulous leaders. So he angrily observed: “You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land” (Psalm 58:2). Then he called down curses on them (Psalm 58:6-10). Wait a minute . . . in a psalm?!
Psalm 58 appears in the middle of three psalms bearing the superscription: “To be sung to the tune ‘Do Not Destroy.’ ” Why the tune was given that title we don’t know, but beneath the edgy emotions of all three songs is a larger principle: David will leave revenge in the hands of God, who alone can enact true justice.
The choice of the same tune is purposeful. Anger at evil is normal and good, but when we realize that we all need God’s forgiveness and protection, we “change our tune.” That’s why David could conclude his poem containing righteous anger with these words: “Then at last everyone will say, ‘There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth’ ” (Psalm 58:11).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 1 Kings 21:1-29
More:
Read Psalm 57:1–59:17 to see David’s intertwined themes of anger at injustice and complete reliance on God for protection and ultimate justice.
Next:
What angers you today and why? Do you get angry at injustice directed toward others? How does God’s righteous anger help you see His heart for justice?
Gary Shultz on April 21, 2016 at 6:01 am
As you have often commented Tim, our fuses at times are easily ignited. Usually when we get pinched and often when someone we care about gets the squeeze. (Oh, and by the way, I didn’t wake up angry, but there is still a lot of the day left.) One of the few things that cools my jets is to look at the situation through the eyes of eternity, not time. David displayed faith beyond sight, beyond self and the immediate situation. As we all know this is learned by an up close and personal walk with God, a God who sees clearly. Even with that, at times I need great focus, some “time and space” to turn off the heat. What a great testimony was David in those days, I need to be one also; HELP……… Thanks Tim
gagirllive on April 21, 2016 at 7:31 am
So true, Gary. Looking at things “through the eyes of eternity, not time” makes a huge difference in how I process injustice. It takes the edge off knowing that one day every wrong will be righted, every crooked thing made straight. Appreciate your daily insights, Gary.
godlove on April 21, 2016 at 10:44 am
Thanks Gary, that’s a nice one for me to note down mentally, it will certainly help me one of these days: “look at the situation through the lens of eternity, not time”.
gagirllive on April 21, 2016 at 7:25 am
Hi, Tim. I think there is something innate within us that cries out for justice, don’t you? Even those who claim there is no God or moral absolutes are often outraged by acts of injustice. Without even realizing it, we bear our Maker’s image…His heart for justice. I have to admit that, like David, I often find myself praying imprecatory prayers for “those evil-doers” who are seemingly getting away with their wrongs. It just doesn’t seem fair…until I realize that fair would mean that we ALL get what we deserve—God’s righteous judgement. My wanting justice for them and mercy for myself is an indication of pride. When I lay that down in repentance and thank God that he saved me according to His great mercy, I “change my tune”, as you say. Your article is a great reminder that only in Christ are justice and mercy reconciled. Wow…What a Savior! Thanks, Tim.
Tim Gustafson on April 21, 2016 at 8:17 am
Well said, gagirllive! I couldn’t agree more. We inherently KNOW that things are broken, and something inside us grieves over that, and one of those reactions can be rage. Stay angry at the evil, but live in His grace and love.
sandy229 on April 21, 2016 at 10:25 am
Yes, I agree!
samgaskill on April 21, 2016 at 10:40 am
Justice for them and mercy for myself….yes our pride peeking through for sure. Thanks for the eloquent way you put it. Only in Christ are justice and mercy reconciled! Amen! Have a wonderful day all ODJ readers.
godlove on April 21, 2016 at 10:58 am
Isn’t that so true, gagirllive? I am guilty as charged, it is so easy to get upset when we feel an “evil” person (I put evil in quotes because it’s quite subjective or relative at times) hasn’t been punished as they would deserve, quickly forgetting that we too have benefitted from God’s “unjust” mercy through His Son, who unfairly suffered for our sins and by whose sacrifice we too do not get to receive the punishment we would normally deserve for our sins. It’s time for me to change my tune too… 🙂
Tim Gustafson on April 21, 2016 at 7:59 am
Gary, I think one of the reasons I write about this so often is because I struggle with it so much. Love your counsel about looking at the situation “through the eyes of eternity, not time.” Yes! But that is hard, isn’t it? 🙂 Hey, we’re all in this together!
samgaskill on April 21, 2016 at 9:33 am
Wonderful post. A helpful reminder that we are free to forgive. Gods perfect justice is always enough. When we choose to believe this as we surrender in “humility” our rights in exchange for His justice, it can be enough. I’ve surely had to take many thoughts captive to His obedience and shelf my pride. He has never failed to help me when my surrender has been genuine. 1 John 4:19 says we love because He first loved us. Im thinking we forgive because He first forgave us. As we begin to see more fully our personal need for forgiveness, our own lack, then understanding can come in, and forgiveness for others can flow out more freely. Thank You Father for Your mercy that allows us the time we each need to see You more clearly and our true condition as well; but without the burden of condemnation because of Your love for us.
godlove on April 21, 2016 at 11:13 am
Exactly, samgaskill, we are free to forgive, for no matter how “bad” we describe what people may have done, God forgave even more when He wiped away the sins of the world through His Son. Like you rightly say, we forgive because He first forgave us and His perfect justice is always enough. Nice comment, thanks for sharing.
Tim Gustafson on April 21, 2016 at 2:04 pm
I’ve enjoyed today’s dialogue very much. Thanks for blessing us here at ODJ! I remain: Freely forgiven!
sandy229 on April 21, 2016 at 10:24 am
I know when someone does something wrong and gets away with it, they are not really getting away with it because God says, “vengeance is mine, I will repay”. We don’t need to see it happen because when we have the need to see someone suffer for what they did to us, it’s called “pride”. Pride is always our downfall. We just have to trust God and leave it in His hands. He knew this was going to happen before we were even born.
jim spillane on April 21, 2016 at 11:10 am
Good point, sandy229. Our pride shows thru when we want to see God’s justice take place in our time, not His. Depending on the particular crime,” we often want to see the wrong made right as soon as possible so that we can see the hand of God working in our time, not some distant, future time when we may not even be around. It’s as if we crave some immediate satisfaction which confirms to us that God is still on His throne.
samgaskill on April 21, 2016 at 11:56 am
Thought provoking point…”that we crave some immediate satisfaction which confirms to us that God is still on the throne.” When the injustice seems so great, our hurt can run so deep we barely hold up under its weight. We can feel a need to see “proof” that He is with us and working all things out for our ultimate good. I am reminded of John 20:29, Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” Thomas was looking for the visual proof that he might believe this wonderful thing that he’d been told…that Jesus truly had risen and was fully alive! I’m glad for the examples set before us because I surely need them. While I may not be doubting His resurrection, I do sometimes doubt He is alive and working out all things according to His perfect justice. Sometimes I too want to touch Him and see Him with my human eyes; impatient with seeing with my spiritual eyes for now. To trust in what I can’t fully see yet. Then I remember how in His mercy, God allows for our lack and supplies what we need to believe! Praise God for His word which is alive and life giving to us now. Thanks for sharing everyone. Makes me think a little deeper; keeps His message to us alive in me day by day.
godlove on April 21, 2016 at 11:17 am
sandy229, your comment made me think of the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35. God forgives us and requires us to forgive one another in return and leave every situation in His hands, trusting that He is a God of justice, both in heaven and here on earth. There IS a God who judges justly here on earth.
godlove on April 21, 2016 at 11:22 am
Great post Tim. Thanks for this thought-provoking subject today. And thanks to everyone on here for your input and thoughts. I have been highly edified by the different insights. May you all richly be blessed. Praise the Lord.