Today’s Readings:
Psalm 58; Jeremiah 2:23-37; Hebrews 13:7-24
“Justice – do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly? 2No! You plot injustice in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land. 3These wicked people are born sinners, even from birth they have lied and gone their own way. 4They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen, 5ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers, no matter how skilfully they play. 6Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O Lord! 7May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands. 8May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun. 9God will sweep them away, both young and old, faster than a pot heats over burning thorns. 10The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. 11Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God, surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.” (Psalm 58, NLT)
There is no new thing under the heavens they say. The situation in ancient Israel when David wrote this psalm is exactly the same situation in the world today, especially in our nation Nigeria. There is a break-down of law and order, evil has taken over everywhere, unspeakable wickedness everywhere and lack of honesty and integrity. In this prophetic lament psalm, David, out of frustration, called on God to judge the corrupt judges in order to allow the righteous people continue trusting in God. David is angry over God’s seemingly lack of judgement on the wicked; in the same vain, he asserted that God is God who judges the earth. (2Chronicles 19).
The wicked devise evil right from birth, and there is no evidence of good in their hearts (v. 3). Imagine a hand full of armed agents of darkness going into the church and killing innocent, unarmed people, both young and old. Can anyone fight for God? The questions raised in this psalm is very similar to the questions raised in the Book of Job – Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked continue to prosper? Prophet Habakkuk also raised similar question in the Book of Habakkuk – “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere” I cry, but you do not come to save. 3Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. 4The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.” (Hab. 1:2-4).
Evil goes on like a running tap and no one dares talk, but the psalmist at the end of the psalm assured that the score would be evened out at the end of it all. God is the righteous Judge who will reward the faithful and bring vengeance on the wicked. As believers awaiting the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should not be discouraged, we should not be tired of praying to God. He hears our cries and our supplications for others and our nation Nigeria, the bloodshed and evil notwithstanding. Let us learn to tow the path to victory and understand the fact that, in life, suffering covers a wide range of human existence and experiences. The Scripture is neither idyllic nor escapist and has not given us easy answers to the question of suffering. The Bible assured us of suffering, but the supremacy, the sovereignty of God abounds in the same suffering. It is only Sovereign God that can bring out meaning out of the worse suffering.
As an individual, as a family, as a nation, we can suffer various affliction ranging from mental to physical torment from others, oppression, persecution, terrorism, stealing, vandalism and abject poverty. Many suffer from hardship, situations and from inhumanity to man (1Thess. 3:4; 2Corin. 1:6). In most cases, suffering seem to follow obedience to God after the order of the sufferings of the Israelites (Acts 7:34). The climax of all these suffering is demonstrated in the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the different ways His disciples died .(Acts 11:19). Like the words of the Philosopher, Solomon who had seen it all, the end of the story is – “Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us all for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
My loving Father and my God, thank you because in all my suffering I find solace, respite in Jesus Christ.
Father, empower and encourage me to endure suffering for your cause, in Jesus name.
Father, anoint me to preach the Gospel of Truth to the world, in Jesus name.
Father help me, to live daily in the dominion over all the works of your hand, and in the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ to pull down strongholds, to cast down argument and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, in Jesus name.
Father, uproot anything You have not planted in Your Church that is hindering the move of Your power in the world, revive and restore your Pentecostal power to the glory of Your holy name, in Jesus name.
Father, manifest yourself as a Mighty and terrible God in the situation of our Nation, Nigeria, in Jesus name.
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