~Old Testament Scenarios~
Psalms
"Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"
Psalm 10:1 (NIV)
"The Cry of Injustice"
You only have to watch the 5:00 news to say with David, "How long Oh Lord, how long?" Injustice is an affront to everything we know to be good. At times it seems criminals have the upper hand. What we used to know to be clear lines between right and wrong have almost become gray areas. Have you been unjustly accused or victimized? Does it seem like the wicked go unpunished and even get promoted? Yet you continue to live out a life that reflects the holiness of Christ and seem to get overlooked? Do you find yourself asking God why He stands so far off?
David is the author of both Psalms 9 and 10 and they should probably be read together as one. These two Psalms deal with the opposition of ungodly people towards those who were following after the Lord. It is a cry of help for God to rise up and defend them. So often, I find myself reminding God that I am His beloved and need Him to intervene for me. That kind of dependency is something our Lord delights in.
These are Messianic Psalms as they looked forward to their Messiah, who would be ultimately complete in His judgment. His righteousness would silence all the wicked taunting from the ungodly once and for all. Jesus did come, but many missed His first coming as the gentle sacrificial lamb. No-one will miss the second coming of the One and Only Messiah. Every knee will bow to His authority as He establishes order and vindicates our cry for the injustice throughout the generations. With the first coming Jesus didn't come as judge but to show us the Father’s heart for the lost. He became the perfect, spotless sacrifice for a sinful world. By His blood, we are completely redeemed and can have fellowship (now and eternally) with the Father. What remarkable grace!
David knew his Lord intimately and called out to Shophet, God's Hebrew name for Judge. This is God’s character as the perfect righteous King to come and arise and be there for His beloved children. Let each of us encourage one another in our weariness of living in this dark world.
It is easy to get distracted, become weary, and even tempting for us to want to give up...BUT, we ARE the chosen few who have been called to fight in this battle. The battle is the Lord’s, and we are on the Lord’s side, so hang in here. Begin each day putting on the "whole armor of the Lord" (Ephesians 6) to fight the battles that come our way. When we hear ourselves questioning God, just as David did when grieving the loss of his infant son, we must learn to be patient with God’s timing in our life. The Lord is always up to some kind of purpose, working on our behalf as well as those around us. In ancient times, and still today in some countries, trumpets would sound the battle cry before an army would go into battle. Let our battle cry be the same words that David used just a few verses down from the ones where he was questioning God… "The LORD is King forever and ever. Nations have perished from his land. The LORD hears the desires of the humble and will strengthen them. He vindicates the orphan, the oppressed, so that no man will ever cause terror again" (paraphrased).
This is your day; God has given it to you. What will you do with it? Will you rise up in the strength of the Lord and move forward with the grace and power He freely gives each of His children?
"But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)