Read Psalm 83:9-13. 9Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, 10who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground. 11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, 12who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.” 13O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
Asaph recalls the victories of God from the book of Judges. Gideon’s victories over Midian sparked by the 300 with lamps and pitchers. Also Jael’s tent peg to the temple of Sisera bringing to an end the terror of King Jabin.
God always wins in the end. Maybe not the way we would predict. Who could have foreseen a civilian woman killing a fierce commander? Who would have guessed that a trumpet blast would cause an army to massacre itself? Who could have ever envisioned salvation through the death of God on a cross? No one.
Jesus became like chaff so that everyone might have the opportunity to become his possession, his pasture. God wants everyone to become his own, but he will also defend his own against everyone who seeks to harm them. The cross of Christ was the only way for God to do both of these – judge and forgive. Punish and possess.
To live is Christ means we can leave all of this up to God. Vengeance is his, never ours. Like Gideon of old, ours is to take up the “sword of the Lord,” which is the word of God, using it to pierce the soul and spirit, revealing the thoughts an intentions of the heart.
Prayer. Jesus, I leave vengeance up to you. You will punish, I don’t have to. You forgave, I can also. Help me to use your word to point to you. Amen.
To Live is Christ 