Introduction: Who is correct – the person who addresses God as ‘The God of Love’ or the one who addresses Him as ‘The God of Vengeance’?
1 O LORD, God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, shine forth! – Is God able to be addressed this way? Or is it is a blasphemous misunderstanding? Is it ‘Bible bashing’ and all ‘woe and doom’ sort of stuff?
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;
repay to the proud what they deserve!
3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?
4 They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O LORD,
and afflict your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the sojourner,
and murder the fatherless; – Here we have six things named, which I have underlined that all of us and the vast majority would see as bad! I heard a very, to me, meaningful phrase the other day. Are you, am I, a ‘Plank eyed saint’? It obviously is based on the parable which Jesus told in Matt 7: 4 – ‘Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?’ I don’t go around killing people, but am I never proud nor arrogant and can I say that I am good in all my thoughts and actions – may be I could even be described as ‘wicked’?
7 and they say, “The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
8 Understand, O dullest of the people!
Fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see? – You might say rhetorical questions!
Obviously asked because they are so ridiculous! But is the ‘speck’ in some eyes the fact that they treat God as if He doesn’t see or hear or is unable to rebuke? Or maybe the speck is a plank in my own eye!
10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—
11 the LORD—knows the thoughts of man,
that they are but a breath. – people’s thoughts are but a puff of wind compared o the solid reality of the Truth of Who God is!
Comment: I have made what is obviously a statement made on a national level into a personal matter. But while I am not involved in national affairs, my behaviour makes up a part of what my nation is! And besides God’s Judgement falls on all levels of society! I am responsible for my behaviour! Praise God His steadfast Love and Grace is universally offered as well.
Matt 7: 3-5 – Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Prayer: Please give me a passionate desire to be sanctified as well as saved, My Lord, my God.