TLIC Psalms. April 23. You Have Done It.

Read Psalm 52:5-9. ⁵But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. ⁶The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, ⁷“See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” ⁸But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. ⁹I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

What are we supposed to do about the wicked that surround us, and worse yet those who have harmed us or our community? You recall David is talking about Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s hitman that has murdered priests at the Tabernacle. David is demonstrating for us what trust in God looks like in at least two ways.

First, there is the reliance of God to exact revenge on Doeg – God will break you down forever (Jewish tradition says Doeg died from leprosy). David does not force God’s hand by taking matter into his own. Second, he decides to trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. Thanksgiving, patience, and community are the markers of this faith (v9). David plants himself in the house of God amongst the godly.

Paul reminds the Christian of similar truths in Romans 12 when he says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” The downfall of the wicked is sure. Why? Because they seek refuge in their own destruction, and because God’s wrath will come upon those who hurt others for their own gain, either in this life or the next.

To live is Christ is to reject all self-serving schemes and to live instead in the loving embrace of Jesus, planted in his sanctuary waiting on his timing for justice to come.

You: Are you actively planning or fantasizing about getting revenge on someone?  

You in Christ: How does trust in God free us from hatred and revenge fantasies?

Christ in you: How might you surround yourself with Christ’s congregation rather than “seek refuge in your own destruction?”

Pray: Father, in Christ I am planted in you. In your love and justice. Help me to patiently wait on you for vengeance, rather than seeking it on my own. Amen.