“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud” (Psalm 94:1,2).
TEXT — Psalms 94:1-11
Message
There are different forms of agitation and protest in different parts of the world against perceived acts of injustice, particularly those directed against the poor and less privileged. There are different forms of maltreatment being meted out to the poor, minority groups, women and girls, and people of different religious beliefs. Feeling so marginalised and unable to stand up against the oppressors themselves, people take to protest and other forms of social disobedience in order to call the attention of the world to their plight in pursuit of justice.
Rather than cry out for human help and support for vengeance and justice, the psalmist cries out to God. He laments the endless oppression of the wicked and their boastings. They feel they are untouchable and no one can hold them to justice. They do not even have any reverence for God as they despise and mock Him. But the psalmist believes God is righteous and just, and will certainly avenge the poor.
The psalmist provides us a model to follow in responding to the different forms of oppressions and injustice that the believers face in the world today. Many believers are being oppressed in their places of work. They are denied their rights, promotion and other benefits just because they will not dance to the tune of the ungodly demands of their bosses. In situations like these, the best thing to do is to cry out to God.
God is the final Judge and He only is to be looked up to for vengeance and justice. It is therefore inconsistent with the New Testament spirit for the Christian to be involved in destructive protests or other forms of civil disobedience in his demand for justice. A Christian does not become bitter nor desires personal revenge. Whilst he prays, he also does not wish his persecutor evil.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
