Whenever we watch news reports on TV or read newspapers or other online news it seems we are confronted with stories of injustice. People taking advantage of others, the rich over the poor, business owners over their workers and customers, medical companies over the sick, and one nation over another. This can become rather discouraging when we see bullies of all ages and types continually prospering. When will this ever end, we ask. Will what is right ever prevail? Our psalm for today is a psalm of praise to God for the day when Jesus will return and bring judgment to this world.
The majority of this psalm is one of praise to God. Everyone is called upon to sing forth unto God. We are told to praise Him with all sorts of instruments, from the harp to the trumpet (vs. 1, 4-6). In addition, all of the natural world is instructed to praise God, as well. The mighty ocean waves are a praise to Him, along with the rivers and hills (vs 7-8).
Why all of this praise? We all know that God is always deserving of praise just for who He is. In addition, He is worthy of praise for all that He has done for us, for mankind in general, and for each of us specifically. There is, however, a specific reason the psalmist gives us for the praise to God in this psalm of his. The reason is found in verse 9, the key verse of our psalm. This verse reads: “For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity.”
Jesus is coming back to the earth again. The world may scoff at that, saying that Christians are just dreaming, weaving fairy tales, and deluding ourselves with wishful thinking. However, this is a promise that is repeated numerous times throughout Scripture, and we can rely on it with certainty. The first time that Jesus came to earth was to be God’s sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world. When He returns a second time it will be as the victorious King and Judge. It is this second coming that our psalm today is speaking of.
At this time, when He returns, Jesus will judge the world. God appointed Jesus to be the Judge of everyone who has ever lived (Acts 10:42). Everyone, all nations and rulers, and all people, from the richest to the poorest, will be judged by Him, and they will all be judged with righteousness and equity. Nations will not be judged based on their military power or size. The wealthy and powerful will not be shown favoritism. All will be done righteously and fairly.
What does this look like in our own lives? Have any of us suffered oppression of any type? Perhaps in the workplace from an unjust and unfair boss. There is no recourse, no other jobs due to a bad economy, and you are forced to take his bullying. Maybe there is a ruthless landlord, and you just cannot afford to move to a better place. Perhaps you are stricken with a chronic illness needing special medication, and the giant pharmaceutical company has raised the price of your medication to such an astounding amount that you just cannot afford the medication anymore.
There is injustice and unfairness everywhere we turn, and often there isn’t much we can effectively do about it. Our psalmist promises, though, that there is reason to praise God, as He will judge everyone with both equity and righteousness. If He doesn’t bring us relief at this time, we can trust Him that He will in the future. No one, neither nation or people, will have any excuse when that day of judgment comes. God has made known His salvation and His ways to everyone (vs. 2). No one can say that they just didn’t know about Jesus and His truth.
God is victorious over evil, and this will be clearly shown that day. All those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior will also be victorious with Him when He brings justice to this world. For those who are His children, this is not a day to fear, but one that should bring rejoicing and praise, as our psalmist today declares.
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