– God Is The Judge
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Numbers 25 and Psalm 109 (NIV)
(Kevin Tong, Core Team Member, SGM)
READ:
When I read Numbers 25 & Psalm 109, the verses that caught my attention were:
Numbers 25:
v4-5: The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.” So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.”
Psalm 109
v4-5: In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. They repay me evil for good, hatred for my friendship
v26-28: Let them know that it is your hand, that you, Lord, have done it. While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice
OBSERVE:
If I am to be honest, both Numbers 25 and Psalm 109 are passages which are full of rage and anger. In Numbers 25, the Lord’s anger burns against Israel for their sexual immorality with Moabite women and spiritual immorality with their foreign gods. In Psalm 109, the Psalmist cries out in anger to God at his ill treatment by others, calling down judgement on his enemy and accuser.
What can we learn from this? Someone once very wisely told me that justice and anger are on a spectrum, and it is a fine line that we have to tread. We may often feel a strong sense of justice and/or anger rising up within us and desire to correct whatever wrongs have been committed. However, I think the Psalmist in Psalm 109 does well when he cries out to God and asks for His help, knowing that justice and judgement ultimately lie in God’s hands. We should not take matters into our own hands unless God clearly instructs us to carry out His justice, as in Numbers 25.
APPLY:
There have been times when people have repaid me evil for good and hatred for my friendship. When I feel a strong sense of injustice, when I feel I have been wronged or others have been wronged, I will not take justice into my own hands. Like the Psalmist David, I will cry out to God for help, knowing that He is the Ultimate Wise Judge who will judge the earth, for all the nations belong to Him (Psalm 82:8). Only a perfect God can judge the earth perfectly. If He chooses to use me as an instrument, may I be obedient to Him, but otherwise I will not take matters into my own hands.
DO:
“Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:13) I am so glad that judging the world is not my job but God’s. As a follower of Christ, I will:
- not take justice into my own hands, neither will I repay evil for evil
- trust that God is the ultimate Ruler and Judge
- rejoice! For God will come to judge the world in righteousness and His people in faithfulness
- be thankful for Jesus Christ, who took on all the sins of the world that those who believe in Him may not perish but have eternal life
PRAY:
Dear Lord, there is so much injustice, unrighteousness and evil in the world right now. We live in a world that is just crying out for justice. Lord, I thank You that one day You will come to judge the world in righteousness. When others wrong me, grant me a spirit of forgiveness, that I may not take judgement into my own hands. Lord, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Saviour you sent, You beloved Son, who has come to take away the sins of the world and bear all judgement on Himself. Hallelujah! Amen.
