Gloria - Psalm 35

17 How long, Lord, will you look on?

Rescue me from their ravages,

my precious life from these lions.

22 Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.

Do not be far from me, Lord.

23 Awake, and rise to my defense!

Contend for me, my God and Lord.

24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;

do not let them gloat over me.

This is a pretty heavy psalm. Justice is theme we hear much about in the world with the “social” prefix where the emphasis is helping the less fortunate at best and at worst just virtue signaling. I have always been confused why in a naturalistic/survival of the fittest world view, that would occur…but we’ll leave that to someone else somewhere else. In many churches, especially in reformed ones, justice comes up only as a reference to the Law, and how unworthy we are under its just judgment, as the cause and predecessor to Jesus’ coming. I do stand with Paul in Romans 7 in saying it is good and necessary, but can this really be the only real justice that the Bible has to say anything about? Of course not! David is feeling unjustly put upon and he is appealing to the one he knows is the ultimate arbiter of justice, God. Under psalms like this you get a sample of what the less fortunate have to say when they appeal to God. Do we think because they may or may not be of “the faith” that God doesn’t hear them or that we shouldn’t be concerned with them? Of course not. Those that are victims of sexual assault, systematic and in person racism, and the poor/orphaned should be our concern. Many in the church just claim that if we wave the gospel wand over them, everything will be ok. That is the equivalent of James 2:16 where he says:

If one of you says to them, 
"Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,"
but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

This plea of the oppressed included in scripture should be convicting to us in our search to reach the world. It must include not only a desire to see their spirit restored and made alive, but that their bodies and lives be restored as well. David says:

27 May those who delight in my vindication

shout for joy and gladness;

may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,

who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,

your praises all day long.

Whether we are well or that in need, we should work to help each other and seek the elevation and wellness of those around us, and even more [like 1 Peter 4:8-11] for those in the body of Christ. We are to praise to glorify and worship Him when they are restored; glorifying Him out loud, visible and seen/heard by those around us.  Augustine says it well when he says:

See how I have made a discourse something longer; you are wearied. 
Who endures to praise God all the day long? 
I will suggest a remedy whereby you may praise God all the day long, if you will. 
Whatever you do, do well, and you have praised God.

How much more is the Lord glorified by serving and helping the poor, oppressed, orphan, widow, and those put upon by racism and sexual abuse, than just building a house well or doing good at your job? Let us seek to elevate those around us hurt by systems, people and themselves, and do it to the glory and praise of our Father in heaven.

In Christ,

paul

music for the week (as usual: no claim of being not "offensive" but it is really good):