Straight to today's Psalm -- vs. 18 "I cried out, "I'm slipping!" and your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me." These words are powerful, knowing deep down that the Lord has us in his hands, always. But especially for those who have been wronged and feel no one is making things right. Sometimes, myself, I find myself having a little chat with God, about how someone needs to be taught a lesson. This discussion goes on for days, weeks often. In my younger days, I rarely could accept that God would take care of it all. I'm getting better with that regard. I am realizing that I, by myself, can't change someone else's behavior. But I can change how the "fall-out" affects others. And I can wait on the Lord to pronounce His judgement.
I pray for you, that your day is off to a good start.
Blessings,
Lili
Psalm 94
1O LORD, the God to whom vengeance belongs, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice be seen!2Arise, O judge of the earth. Sentence the proud to the penalties they deserve.3How long, O LORD? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?4Hear their arrogance! How these evildoers boast!5They oppress your people, LORD, hurting those you love.6They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans.7"The LORD isn't looking," they say, "and besides, the God of Israel doesn't care."8Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on?9Is the one who made your ears deaf? Is the one who formed your eyes blind?10He punishes the nations -- won't he also punish you? He knows everything -- doesn't he also know what you are doing?11The LORD knows people's thoughts, that they are worthless!12Happy are those whom you discipline, LORD, and those whom you teach from your law.13You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug for the wicked.14The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his own special possession.15Judgment will come again for the righteous, and those who are upright will have a reward.16Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers?17Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have died.18I cried out, "I'm slipping!" and your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.19When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.20Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side -- leaders who permit injustice by their laws?21They attack the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.22But the LORD is my fortress; my God is a mighty rock where I can hide.23God will make the sins of evil people fall back upon them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.
(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christnotes.org)
"Chapter Contents
The danger and folly of persecutors. (1-11) Comfort and peace to the persecuted. (12-23)
Commentary on Psalm 94:1-11
We may with boldness appeal to God; for he is the almighty Judge by whom every man is judged. Let this encourage those who suffer wrong, to bear it with silence, committing themselves to Him who judges righteously. These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to the sons of violence. There will come a day of reckoning for all the hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against God, his truths, and ways, and people. It would hardly be believed, if we did not witness it, that millions of rational creatures should live, move, speak, hear, understand, and do what they purpose, yet act as if they believed that God would not punish the abuse of his gifts. As all knowledge is from God, no doubt he knows all the thoughts of the children of men, and knows that the imaginations of the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil, and that continually. Even in good thoughts there is a want of being fixed, which may be called vanity. It concerns us to keep a strict watch over our thoughts, because God takes particular notice of them. Thoughts are words to God.
Commentary on Psalm 94:12-23
That man is blessed, who, under the chastening of the Lord, is taught his will and his truths, from his holy word, and by the Holy Spirit. He should see mercy through his sufferings. There is a rest remaining for the people of God after the days of their adversity, which shall not last always. He that sends the trouble, will send the rest. The psalmist found succour and relief only in the Lord, when all earthly friends failed. We are beholden, not only to God's power, but to his pity, for spiritual supports; and if we have been kept from falling into sin, or shrinking from our duty, we should give him the glory, and encourage our brethren. The psalmist had many troubled thoughts concerning the case he was in, concerning the course he should take, and what was likely to be the end of it. The indulgence of such contrivances and fears, adds to care and distrust, and renders our views more gloomy and confused. Good men sometimes have perplexed and distressed thoughts concerning God. But let them look to the great and precious promises of the gospel. The world's comforts give little delight to the soul, when hurried with melancholy thoughts; but God's comforts bring that peace and pleasure which the smiles of the world cannot give, and which the frowns of the world cannot take away. God is his people's Refuge, to whom they may flee, in whom they are safe, and may be secure. And he will reckon with the wicked. A man cannot be more miserable than his own wickedness will make him, if the Lord visit it upon him."
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