At first sight this looks like a Psalm a modern western person would want to pass over. We are not usually comfortable with talk of vengeance - especially in church.

And yet this Psalm rises from an oppressed people. Like many of the other Psalms in this Book, one can imagine it fitting the people of Israel before the exodus.

The cry is not so much a plea for personal vengeance as it is for God to act to help his own people, especially the weak and vulnerable such as the orphan and widow.  And to act for the sake of his own reputation - they say he does not see.

But the Psalmist knows God sees alright. And that God will act against wickedness.

People who are threatened and suffer wrong look for someone to stand up for them, and the Psalmist knows that the LORD has already looked after him. Indeed he would be dead by now if the LORD had not helped him. And he also knows that although people in power may claim God's backing, he is never the ally of wickedness or injustice.

Is there ever an end to evil? In the end will it bring everything to a dark and terrible end? History suggests that it will difficult to eradicate and that so far no real progress has been made.

The Bible has another point of view. We may struggle and suffer and be unable to overcome evil, but God is able to. That is why we call out to him.

And we also call out to him because we believe in justice. We believe that evil should be overthrown, and that evil doers should be punished. Which brings us back to the question of vengeance.

Why should God wipe them out? Is it because they are our enemies? Is it because they are God's enemies? Or is it just because they are wicked?

That is the bit some have trouble with. Why does not God just leave them alone? Why do they need to be punished?

Put simply, if no one punishes wickedness, then wickedness rules. Why stop yourself killing widows and backpackers and orphans if no one else is going to stop you?

But does it need to be punished? Can't it just be stopped and the evil doers reformed? Possibly that may work for some, especially if one took away any ability they had to disagree with the reforms. But what if evil doers do not want to stop, and do not want to change?

A discussion like this that is confined within the boundaries of human society, may end up in a debate about what is good for the group, and how much the group is willing to tolerate.

But the Psalm is not written in that closed world. It is written within God's world, where a holy and just God expects humans to live in his world according to his way, a way of justice and love and holiness. It is because of that world view that the Psalmist expects and calls on God to right the wrongs, to remove the wrong-doers, to punish the guilty.

It offers hope to all those who long to see a world, and their own lives, freed from wickedness and oppression. Indeed it is only with the LORD that any hope is to be found.

Dale

Is it a good thing to be known by God? “O Lord you have searched me and known me.”, said David.  Lots of us think it is a good thing that God knows who we are, recognises us, knows our name as it were.  But some are less sure about God knowing everything about us. Most of us prefer to keep some parts of our life (or our past) secret.

It is a foolish idea, as David recognises. Where can one go where God isn’t? What thoughts do we have that God does not know before we can put them into words?  It is possible to read this Psalm from the point of view of one’s guilt and embarrassment, and so feel a bit apprehensive about what God knows.

But I think David has a different angle. He begins the psalm by reminding God that he has already searched and known David – from as long ago as the time he was in the womb. And he ends the psalm by asking God once again to search him and test his thoughts. Presumably David thinks God’s knowledge of him is a good thing, helpful even. Helpful at least to being led in the everlasting way. Helpful to get rid of wickedness.

But what is so important to David that he takes so long reminding God (or himself) of how wonderful God’s knowledge of him is?  Perhaps David’s concern is the part of the psalm that we think is out of place. David appears to be surrounded by bloodthirsty people. People who are not just after David’s blood but who more importantly are really against God himself. Wicked people who hate God.

David has put himself in God’s place and sees these people for what they are really doing – speaking against, and opposing God. So he wants to be rid of them. Well, he wants God to get rid of them. He hates them from God’s point of view.

Many western Christians give a high cringe rating to this part of the psalm. In fact many feel the psalm would be much better without it. But only as a piece of pietist poetry. As it stands it is a piece of realist poetry.  When you read it, do you think David is comfortable with his pure zeal against the wicked? Or is he unsure? When we feel like skipping this bit of the psalm, are we also comfortable with the deletion? Or if we affirm it, are we comfortable with our own attitude to those who wickedly oppose God?

I think that is why David calls on the person who knows him best to help him know what is really in his heart - is he thinking in the right way, or not? Who can he ask who can see into his heart and know both what he thinks and whether it is right?

Dale