Righteousness Is Sweet
BRD REFLECTION 2025
Song of Songs 8:5-14 and Psalm 11 (NIV)
(Wee Yeun Ling from Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Psalm 11 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
The psalm starts in verses 1-3 with a despairing note about the wickedness that the righteous face. The psalmist cries out “How can you say to my soul…” (v1) suggesting that no one understands what he is going through. “What can the righteous do?” (v3) suggests hopelessness and a cry for the wickedness to be stopped and not go unpunished. The psalmist goes on in verse 4 not to offer any solution to wickedness, but to simply proclaim that the LORD (Yahweh) is in His holy temple and the LORD’s throne is in heaven.
APPLY:
In my daily life, I may not face physical arrows but I have faced injustices where the perpetrators have gone unpunished. The question of wickedness going unpunished is an eternal dilemma. When I see wickedness unpunished, it is easy to wonder if God knows my suffering.
The psalm starts out searching for an answer to earthly wickedness. But as I read verse 4, I am reminded to worship the LORD when I face injustice. As I worship the LORD, I am reminded of His holiness and His heavenly kingship. He hates the wicked and will render punishment in His time (v5-6). Psalm 11 calls me to look to God’s character and to trust in His holiness, sovereignty and righteousness.
Rather than question my suffering or wonder if the wicked will face justice, I am to look to Him and be righteous like Him. I am reminded to be holy, for He is holy (Leviticus 11:44). In seeking to be righteous like Him, the reward of beholding His face (v7) far outweighs my thirst for earthly justice against the wickedness I face. A familiar phrase often heard is “revenge is sweet”. But God calls me to a better way, to walk in His righteousness.
DO:
I will:
• Look to God and remember His Holiness, rather than despair over wickedness.
• Worship the LORD and remember His Holiness and sovereignty.
• Focus on walking in His righteousness, rather than thirst for wickedness to be dealt with, trusting that God will deal with wickedness in His time.
PRAY:
Lord, I need not despair over the unfairness or injustices I face. You are holy and I will worship You and exalt You as King over all. Help me to walk in Your righteous ways and may Your presence bring me peace to journey in righteousness as Your disciple. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
