Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers. 3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. 4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear. 5 They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see them?" 6 They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. 7 But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. 8 He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. 9 All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. 10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!

The idea of immediate justice from God for all wrong doers sounds, at first, like a really good idea. This would stop all those around us who are not doing what is right. This would quickly put an end to those who are unfair to us and mistreat us. In fact, it might even change our entire society in a very short time. However, after further consideration, it may not be such a good idea. Since each of us does our share of wrong and each of us offends God (much more than we realize or even care to admit) we might be on the top of the list of his vengeance.

This may be why Jesus said that we need to be so careful in our judgment of others since we will be judged in the same way we judge our fellows. He also said that we must not try to take a speck of sawdust from someone’s eye while we have a plank sticking out of our own eye. It is with this in mind we remember that each of us will stand before our God and give an account for the deeds done in the body. It is then that all (that means those we consider the very best to those we consider the very worst of mankind) will confess the name of Jesus as Lord. So it is fitting that we all praise God for his infinite wisdom that is seen in his mercy which is prompted by his love and demonstrated to us by his marvelous grace. O what a savior!

Lord God, I give you my heart this morning in a re-commitment of my love for you. I ask that you fill me with your Spirit that I may indeed be filled with your love. Give me wisdom to know and use this love toward you and toward those around me. I pray for strength to love my enemies and to do them good and not evil. Give me faith enough to never seek my own revenge but to allow you to judge and avenge. I ask for your peace in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we trust him and live for him today.