A day is appointed by God’s providential will and timing that he will repay the wicked. Having assurance of this promise, David encourages the saints to, “refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (v8). We are exhorted to wait on God for he will avenge us. This Psalm doesn’t just make a declaration, but it offers details of God’s disposition towards wicked in contrast to the righteous. For example, David says that evildoers have no future, for God will cut them off. Dissimilarity, the righteous (likened to the meek) shall inherit a future and delight themselves in abundant peace (v11). Additionally, these truths in the next section of this Psalm should strengthen our hope.
The Lord holds the wicked in contempt (v12-13). He despises their ways. Though they scheme in hidden rooms and rage against God and his people, David declares, “…but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming” (v13). God not only knows their end, but it is he who administers their destruction. In all of human strength and ingenuity there is found no power to withstand our God. Neither can they stop his purposes (cf., Ps 2).
The Lord will ensure their weapons of attack shall not prosper (v14-15). The arsenal they deploy to take down the righteous, shall become instruments of their own demise, thus David says, “their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken” (v15). Considering their end, we should understand why God commands us not to envy their power and possessions. We should imitate the attitude of Moses who was raised in the knowledge and prosperity of the Egyptians, but yet Hebrews says that the choose, “…rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin (26) He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the rewards” (Heb 11:25-26). David adds, “Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.” Why should we trust in these truths? Again, consider their end, “For the arms of the wicked shall be broken…” But towards us, “…the Lord upholds the righteous” (v17).
Be encouraged my friends. Though we suffer for his name in this life, our hope in God will never fail. It will never put us to shame (Rom 5:3-5). He has promised us a future, so we can trust him with our present. We can give those who persecute us into his hands to deal with. Because the battle is His. He will repay! Hallelujah!!!!
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D.
www.springoflivingwaters.com