“Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” – Psalm 7:9

The evil of the wicked will come to an end. It may seem out of control and all-pervasive, but it is really quite limited and terminal.

God feels indignation every day and prepares for reckoning with the ready invitation and admonition to repentance. The psalmist says this with "matter-of-factness" and, a touch of glee. Why? Does he like the idea of judgment, justice, reckoning, and retribution? You bet he does. He is sick and tired of getting pushed around and he wants God to act.

His great comfort in such a moment comes from believing that God feels his indignation at injustice as much or more than he does and that God is getting ready to straighten things out if folks don't change.

God does it better, more fairly, and more decisively than people do. He waits longer and more patiently than we would sometimes like. He ultimately uses the cross as a magnet and focus of His wrath and a place of repentance.

The emotions and indignation of the psalmist, who represents each of us, are validated by the assurance that God enters into our very human experience of anger at injustice. In fact, those feelings of humans are a dim and imperfect reflection of what is perfect and balanced in His own holy character.

The evil of the wicked will come to an end. Be patient.

 

Picture: A 1902 cartoon depicts a police officer whose eyes are covered with a cloth labelled "bribes",