stephen R Harrison

Could you stand by and watch a guy beat his wife? What would you do if you knew your neighbors were abusing their child? How would you respond if a bully was domineering your kid at school every day? There’s something about personally witnessing injustice that invokes the desire to personally act justly within us. Micah 6:8 says God has shown and requires that we “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God”. The combination of these balance and define the others as God shows us what justice and mercy are as we walk in relationship with Him. If we do not gain our definitions of justice and mercy from the Lord, we will corrupt them and seek vengeance and withhold mercy. To be honest, those feelings spring up in me when I hear about injustices such as rape, murder, and child abuse. As a husband and father, my first inclination toward the wicked perpetrator when thinking about what I would do if these happened to my family leans more on the “do worse to them than they did to others” mentality. However, I’d like to think I would wait for and seek proper justice in God’s timing and pray for Him to avenge.

When we see injustices like I mentioned, we should not stand by and permit them to continue. We must, however, respond the way God intends. This is the heart of the psalmist in Psalm 94. He knew, “The Lord is a God who avenges” (v. 1). While he was certain this was God’s nature, he prayed for it to happen swiftly (v. 2-3). When terrible things happen to innocent people, I pray the offender will be brought quickly to justice. In his prayer to the Lord, the psalmist lists the wicked offender’s crimes. They are proud and joyful over their wrongdoing (vv. 3-4). They crush God’s people (v. 5). They murder innocent widows, foreigners, and orphans (v. 6). They act like God does not care about these people and they can get away with it forever (v. 7). These kind of wicked and blatant actions of those who show no remorse in oppressing the innocent should upset those who seek to practice Micah 6:8, causing them to pray to God!

While it may seem like God is absent when good people suffer and wicked people prosper, He will repay those who do evil (Romans 12:19). The psalmist calls the wicked fools (v. eight) because they assume they will get away with everything. God hears and sees everything (v. 9). He will bring discipline and punishment (v. 10). Their wicked plans are futile (v. 11). The Lord loves His people and “gives them relief from days of trouble until a pit is dug for the wicked” (v. 13). It’s the “until” part, the “when will God intervene” part, we tend not to like. We must remember that He does not reject or forsake those He loves (v. 14) and He will bring justice (v. 15).

When we feel like giving up (v. 17-18) and are anxiously awaiting justice (v. 19), we must remember the Lord gives help, support, and consolation. The wicked and their evil schemes will not last forever (vv. 20-21) because, “the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.” When those who permit and advocate the murder of children through abortion and seek to advance their wicked ways, we don’t seek to kill them. We pray, stand up for the innocent preborn, seek just laws to protect their valuable lives, and provide compassionate care for moms who choose life over abortion and loving homes for children saved from abortion. We must pray to the Lord and trust His love for us and contempt against evil. We must not seek vengeance but justice. We must pray for mercy for those being persecuted and do our part to be the compassionate hands and feet of Jesus in their suffering.

Question:

1. What injustices do you see in this world?
2. What are you praying and doing to bring justice and mercy?
3. Are you quick to seek vengeance or wait on the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord, help me trust You when I see the innocent suffering. Help me to pray for justice and mercy. Help me act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You. Help me defend the widow, poor, and the orphan. Give me peace and restraint so I do not seek personal vengeance and take matters into my own hands. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.