Lesson Recap
God Is Just Psalm 9
As mature adults we have a lot of life experience. That means that we have experienced unfairness along the way. For example, have you ever traveled along a road and encountered a sign indicating a need to merge into one lane? You obey the sign and merge only to sit and watch as others speed past to the front of the line to avoid the wait. How does that make you feel? Some other forms of injustice include loss, betrayal, injustice and others. You can probably recall a news story or life experience in which a person who was treated unfairly took matters into their own hands and administered "justice" in the form of vengeance. How did this scenario end? How did it take away from God's plan to resolve the unfairness in His own way and according to His own timing?
As Christians, how should we deal with injustice? What is God's role in righting wrongs? What is His timetable for doing so? God knows about and responds to every injustice His people suffers. We all have wrongs God wants us to leave with Him. The aim of this lesson was to encourage us to have confidence in God's concern and action because He will ultimately make right every wrong.
Psalm 9 fits well in between Psalm 8 and 10. In psalm 8, we see much praise for God for who He is and what He has done. Psalm 10 expresses concern over the injustice the wicked commit against God's people. Psalm 9: 1-8 praises God for ruling the earth with justice. In vv9-12, God will not forget His or abandon His children, and will rescue us from all forms of injustice in vv13-16. True to His character, God will respond to His peoples needs in vv17-20.
God Rules 1-8
What might be some of the wonders or wonderful works of the Lord that David refers to in v1? V3 mentions the routing of David's enemies, although they are not named. David's enemies retreated, stumbled, and perished when the Lord became involved with his defense. 2 Samuel 8: 1-14 is a good example.
Look at the contrast made between the enemy (v6) and the Lord (v7). In the first verse David's enemy is not named but, in context, seems to be a nation rather than an individual. Even nations are temporary, falling into ruin and passing out of human memory. In v7, David testified "the Lord reigns forever." While earth's nations rise and fall, God is constant, eternal, and unchanging.
V4 implies that we are to leave judgment to God. The following verses are examples of others more direct: Deut 32: 35, Ps 94: 1&2, Rom 12: 17, Heb 10: 30. God wants us to wait and allow Him to carry out judgement because as humans, we are not able to view matters and persons from God's knowledge and perspective, only from our own fallible judgments. See v8.
God Remembers 9-12
This Psalm gives hope to people suffering injustice. David, in v9 described the Lord as a refuge, a rock or high place that afforded safety and protection from enemy attack for the oppressed who are physically crushed, spiritually burdened, and / or mentally violated by the abuse of power or authority in time of trouble, times of distress when people feel their negative circumstances pressing in on them and may greatly need help. David praised God for His trustworthiness and for not abandoning those who seek Him. Those suffering injustice are assured that God remembers them and their plight, and will seek an accounting for the afflictions they have suffered.
According to v11, David relates worship and witness as he basically told them to let their public and private worship affect their public witness. How does your private worship affect your public witness? What comfort does v12 provide?
God Rescues 13-16
This part of the Psalm is unmistakably a prayer. In v13, David requests that God protect him from death. In v14, David says he made this request so he could give full public credit to the Lord and praise Him in public. When we ask God to rescue us it is for relief, not so much that I might have an opportunity to praise Him. Why is this?
V16 says the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands, and in v15, their foot caught in the net they have hidden. And this is under God's control. What might this mean? At times, God brings justice by letting perpetrators suffer the natural consequences of their actions. Such method can include, but are not limited to, the human judicial system. Remember the Apostle Paul telling us to obey the laws of the land and that all governments are ordained by God. Yes, God uses the science of medicine to heal and the judicial system to administer justice. But He is not limited to those means.
David did not know when God would judge, but he knew God would and left judgement in His hands. Since God is in control, what does that leave for us to do?
Conclusion: When I am mistreated, I will resist the temptation to seek vengeance. I will let God bring justice to wrongdoers. I have full confidence in His judgements and timing for righting wrongs.
New Email
There is a new class email address that will be the new default. It is thespotspot01@gmail.com. Make sure to add us so that we don't end up in your spam folder!
Quote of the Week
"Every day, you are to offer your life to God for His service. You do not serve Him in your spare time or with your leftover resources. The way you live your life for God is your offering to Him." - Richard Blackaby
SPOT Bowling Party
Watch this space (well the blog, not just this entry :)) for upcoming details about an afternoon of bowling. We are trying to nail down some pricing, but we should have details soon!
Snacks
- 8/12 Phillips
- 8/19 LaRowe
- 8/26 Perry
- 9/2 Stanfield
Prayer Requests
- Janice's sister Kathryn had a brain tumor removed today.
- Zenobia's dad is having difficulty with balance and speech. His cognitive level is declining. Catscan shows normal aging of 84.
- Lesa's job search.
- Kevin is dealing with pain due to the aftermath of shingles. He is being sent to a pain management specialist.
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