Tuesday 27 December, 2016

Scripture: “…God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day…”

My initial reaction to this Psalm, and particularly the quoted verse, is that it’s very intense. God displays his wrath every day. Wow! Do I think of God in this manner? Do I know God to be like this? Do I want God to be like this?

The context of this Psalm teaches me. The Psalmist is under false accusation and attack and seems in danger for his life. I sit here, in my place of privilege and peace, and I have no apparent “need” of a wrathful God. But if God does not act with righteous judgement then what hope has the Psalmist got of justice against his falsely accusing adversary?

I “need” God to be God, because there are all sorts of seasons to life. I need a just and an actively wrathful God, not because I am vengeful or he is, but because there are so many injustices in the world, and I have neither the power nor the awareness to set them straight. But He has, and is, “everyday.”

God, let me not limit you to my needs. That is such a self-interested way to view you, and it also neglects the fact that there are so many people in this world who need your righteous judgement on their behalf, because they are suffering deep injustices. Lord, I thank you that you are passionately (I feel wrath is passionate) putting this world right through your righteous judgments!

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh