Let the Psalms Guide You Away From the Frustration of Injustice
Don’t you hate it when cheaters win?
It is built into us. Whether it is a ball team, a political candidate, or a business deal, our sense of righteous indignation rises to great heights when we watch others glory in the ill-gotten the spoils of victory.
Suffering injustice is commonplace for God’s people. Abel suffered injustice at the hand of his brother. Joseph did too. Esau’s blessing was stolen by Jacob. David suffered horrible injustice at the hands of Saul. Peter was thrown in prison for his faith. The Judaizers lied about Paul. Paul was beaten and left for dead. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. As far as we know, ALL of the Apostles suffered injustice for Christ. And of course, Jesus suffered injustice at the hands of His own countrymen. Church history is filled with similar stories.
Every believer will suffer injustice. While it should not surprise us, that truth does not take away the anger, fear, desperation, and sense of helplessness that victims feel. So how should we respond?
Spend a lot of time in the Psalms
One great strategy for dealing with the pain of injustice is to follow God through the Psalms.
So many of the Psalms are intended to lead our thinking through the treacherous swamp of suffered injustice. Psalm 10 is a good example. The first few verses express thoughts and emotions that persecuted people everywhere understand.
Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire;
He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord.
The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;
God is in none of his thoughts.
His ways are always prospering;
Your judgments are far above, out of his sight;
As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.
He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
I shall never be in adversity.”
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
I love how Psalms like this one start by expressing what I am thinking and feeling and then lead me to what I should be thinking and feeling. The bulk of the Psalm describes the wickedness and perceived prosperity of the oppressors. However, at the moment when all seems lost and helpless, the call goes out to God.
Arise, O Lord!
O God, lift up Your hand!
Do not forget the humble.
The Psalmist renews his confidence in God’s ability and desire to defend the righteous and judge the unrighteous. God sees all. God in His justice will deal with every sin eventually. He ends the song with these incredibly encouraging words.
The Lord is King forever and ever;
The nations have perished out of His land.
Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear,
To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
Our hope is in the very nature of the God of heaven. God is in control—that is true. God, can deliver His people—that is also true. However, it is so much more than just that. God HAS to make this right because it is built into His very nature. Justice might be delayed, but God’s justice is never discarded.
Someday, God is going to fix all this. That is a biblical guarantee.
What you wrote in your blog is very true and thought provoking. I hope what you wrote will happen soon as justice will prevail and and as it says in John 8:32 that the truth will set you free. If this doesn’t happen now then I would say that God has different plans and I hope and pray that we will be raptured before then.