The book of Psalms is a treasure chest for me as I do my best to articulate feelings and emotions regarding this life of following Jesus and loving His people. This is hard and holy work. The brutal honesty of the psalmist is refreshing with poetic cries for justice for the oppressed, marginalized, and forgotten ebbing and flowing with songs of joy, celebration, and delight in our Lord. What a breath of fresh air to find language in the Word of God to describe our own struggles as we wrestle with life, faith, and our relationship with God, the Church, and this world.
The psalmist David speaks with great lament as he pens what reminds me of a modern-day conversation discussing political systems, spiritual abuse, and social injustices. Perhaps our own prayer journals are littered with lyrics that could be pulled from this very psalm. “Where are you in this, God?” “Why do you let bad people win?” “Why do you feel so far away?” “When will you bring judgment on evil?” “Where is your justice?”
What begins in David’s frustration with the wicked and God’s seeming silence, ends with a prayer for God to intervene. Yes, evil peoeple will celebrate their own works, contradict the judgment of God, make light of God’s commands and judgments, proudly despise their enemies, persecute in cunning and manipulative ways, and lead with hypocrisy, treachery, and malice. It is inevitable that we will see these injustices in our own lives or at the very least watch others suffer with great sorrow from afar, and we will want to shake our own fists in anger.
Yet David demonstrates that we can lament with great honesty and intercede with an even greater hope that our God is going to show up in the most hopeless situations on the behalf of His people.
May we wake up every single morning with holy indignation “to bring good news to the poor….to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1). What a gift the book of Psalms offers us in teaching us how to surrender our anger for intercession as David did in asking God to show up right then and there, to appear for his people (Psalm 10:12). He doesn’t stop there! He then asks God to intervene and put a stop to the wicked schemes of the enemy (v.15). We have that same power and same Christ in us.
Leave a Reply
39 thoughts on "A Prayer for God’s Justice"
♥️
❤️❤️
❤️
♥️
Hallelujah…thanks be to GOD…so be it! I love you PaPa..Jesus..MaMa..and all the family of Christ
Amen
Bring redemption, Lord. Bring redemption to the millions of Christians around the world imprisoned and beaten because of their faith. Show yourself powerful. Bring it to pass because of your mercy and heart for justice. Show us your glory, Lord.
I reread Psalm 10 again this Saturday morning because it was not done with me – what stuck with me is what could be considered a warning about the power of our inner dialogue and thought life in leading us astray to believe lies about God, without bringing these misconceptions to God and with godly counsel. We see that the wicked person boasts in their desires and does not leave room for God in their thoughts (vs 3-4), arrogance leads to them to believe that what they’ve established is untouchable (vs 6), they think that their sin won’t be noticed (vs 11), or if noticed, they won’t be held accountable (vs 13). The repetition of “he says to himself” followed by lies and deception really got to me. There’s almost a sense of bitterness to it from the perspective of the wicked person. Another warning. And David would come to know full well the slippery, destructive slope of acting on desires without seeking counsel (Psalm 51). But God does not leave us without guidance in battling our thoughts – 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 12:2, and Philippians 4:8.
MERCY – beautify said. Thank you and Amen.
♥️
I love the book of psalms! I am such a feeler, and I can do relate to wrestling with some deep emotions while walking on this earth. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with all of these feelings. But I love to know that God can handle all of my emotions. They don’t make him uncomfortable or angry. I can be frustrated and angry about the way things are and still believe that God is good. I don’t need to seek justice, for God will meme justice happen when the time is right.
@MICHELLE P: car fix expense to be covered, and the prophetic word to come to pass. Love your advice to Taylor the other day.
@LINDA IN NC: grace to break your lease early, moving out and improvement for your husband’s condition.
@KRISTINE LOUGHMAN: safety, good sleep and fun for your adventure weekend with 14 girls. You’re so brave.
@MARGARET W: comfort for your kids and strength for you during the loss of the pet
@RHONDA J: grace for safe travels as you visit your son’s family up north, no pain and wonderful bonding times. May God bless this time greatly to build up, comfort, encourage, nurture and restore. Hugs.
@CATHERINE MCVEY: healing from cancer, grace for treatment.
@SHARON JERSEY GIRL: for Arian’s accommodation and job, and families to turn around to show compassion, support to her in such rough times.
@FOSTER MAMA: for discerning God’s voice from Satan’s, strength/grace to overcome- more than a conqueror, amen to commanding evil thoughts to get out of our head. Resist the devil and he will flee. More stamina and resilience. Hugs.
…and other she’s… I am lifting you and your dear families in prayers.
Happy Friday she’s, I love the submitting our holy indignation to the Lord every day. Every day is a posture and an intentionality. How long can we wear ourselves out being angry? Amen Natalie (thank you!!). There has been injustice within family relationships, workplaces, and churches that I have witnessed the Lord came through. The Lord is good to both the godly and the ungodly. He pursues us and also the ungodly. Indeed we were them before we became righteous through faith. And faith is by grace- that undeserving favor/goodness of God. How merciful and long suffering God is toward us and the ungodly, which God is misunderstood as slacking but He isn’t (2 Peter 3:9). I am guilty of that. I struggle most days waiting for the wheel of justice to turn. God’s patience will always surpass my human patience. Lord forgive me. May we know the heart of God, the thoughts of God that are higher than ours… “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness O people…..! Why should you die?” (Ezekiel 33:11). God did not let the wicked in the city of Nineveh die but send the prophet so that they might repent and live. And Jonah was so angry when God spared them. Oh the goodness of God can make me weep. May we have his heart, and be slow to anger. For any wicked people in our society, circles, that have caused pain, indignation, injustice, may we pray this prayer and release that holy indignation to the Lord to achieve peace… “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Praying over your requests as I read them. The Lord hears our prayers ladies. Happy weekend. Be blessed dear sisters.
Charlie God for clear results
Great news Charlie!
This Psalm today has really hit home with me. It’s so hard to wait on God. Psalm 10:1 especially caught my eye as I feel like I’ve – not so much as said it to God, as I have thought it in my heart concerning my sister Arian’s situation. She is staying in the apartment that was temporary, but is not making the income needed to pay the rent and the bills. Some in my family are showing no compassion, no sympathy and no respect to my sister who cared for my dad and all his affairs for 12 years, right up until he passed away last Oct. She’s applied to jobs but hasn’t heard back, her car keeps breaking down, she’s having to pay for storage for all of her belongings… I think -“where is the justice”, why is my family being so uncaring, when will God send help?? But then – the psalmist adds this bit to the end: “The Lord is King forever;…You hear Lord, the desire of the afflicted, you encourage them, and you listen to their cry…” (Psalm 10:16-18) This gives me hope. God, we wait on You.
@Margaret W, @Kristine Loughman, @Linda in NC, @Michelle Patire @Rachel M – continuing to lift your requests to God. @Charlie – praise God for the good report!
Hugs and prayers on this rainy (in NJ) Friday. Even in the dark, rainy days – may the Son continue to shine!
This Psalm is so fitting to today’s world. It reminds us not to be discouraged, but to turn to our Lord in prayer.
“What a gift the book of Psalms offers in teaching us to surrender our anger for intercession, as David did….” Wow! Lord help me surrender!
Yes, Cheryl et al God’s got this. Lisa, simmer down and do your part!
This study has me sobbing healing tears most days. Thank y’all for being on this journey with. It’s quite a ride!
Love, love
Lisa z
Me, too!!!
Amen Cheryl Blow!
Praying in agreement and lifting ya’ll up! Praise the Lord, that He is in charge of ALL things, nothing is not seen by him, or allowed without being used for our good! Our Lord is Sovereign! I will praise him in the good and in the bad, and rely on him for my daily manna, which is Jesus Christ! You are good, and I worship and Praise you! Amen
wow this psalm spoke to my heart in a new way today. the devotional too encouraged me just the way ive been praying for encouragement. praise God for His justice, praise God for His nearness, praise God for His faithfulness.
No matter what is going on in our world, God sees and takes note of it and in His time He will make things right. Our job is to trust His Sovereignty and to make a difference where we can. We can shine God’s light in dark places!
I woke up early to la ightning and thunder
SEARCHING – I thought the same thing! This psalm reminded me of our discussions as we studied Jeremiah in Sunday School. Love your prayer! ❤
CHARLIE – Praise God! What joy!
RACHEL IN TEXAS – Praying an appt. opens up quickly and that your results are good!
CATHERINE MCVEY – I haven’t found your post detailing what you learned at the appointment Tuesday, but I see responses and join in those prayers!
MICHELLE – ❤
LINDA IN NC – Prayers for favor with management and for minimal confusion for your husband. I know of a couple who recently went through the same thing with great results. Praying things sell quickly and that you have the help you need. Is there family who can help you?
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN – How adventurous!!! Prayers for safety and sleep!
Have a great weekend, SHES, and be careful in the heat!
I know I can relate to the devotion today.
Amen
Reading Psalm 10 today for the first time in a while – and my first thought was that this could be straight from today’s headlines, especially up through vs 11.
Praying today for the nonbelievers and the rebellious that know the truth and have turned away – that their eyes would be opened to the truth of God and the lies of Satan, that they would turn from the evil and cling to the Lord, that they would pray the words from yesterday Scriptures – recognizing & admitting their sin, that the Lord would create in them a clean heart.
When I think about specific people entrenched in evil or denial, and whether their lives could be turned around and redeemed – I think of Paul and his encounter with Christ, and the answer is a resounding YES. We serve the awesome, one and only Almighty God, and nothing is impossible for Him.
praying for:
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN – great Girl Scout weekend
FOSTER MAMA ❤️
RHONDA J – pain relief for you, success in jail ministry
MARGARET W – your children
RUTH LONG – that you will be able to push those hurtful words out of your mind and cling to God’s truth and love for you ❤️
TANYA NEVITTHUNT – removal of intrusive thoughts, replacing them with prayer, scripture, uplifting music
CATHERINE MCVEY – for your healing, pain relief, comfort through the biopsy, chemo and radiation treatments ❤️ Thankful it was caught early
RACHEL IN TX – getting biopsy results, praying they are clear
LINDA IN NC – Grace and understanding from management, smooth transition for husband
MICHELLE PATIRE – speedy car repair and financial provision
HEIDI – did you see there will be SRT Grace Weeks coming up? Right after Ezra, just for you ❤️
CHARLIE – praise for the clear biopsy
ALLISON M – I’m in that area occasionally, searchingsrt at yahoo if you’d like to reach out
KELLY (NEO) Thank you for reminding us yesterday of “little” sins as well as omission
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – love visualizing that our sins are blotted out, permanently, covered by the blood of Jesus, Lamb of God.
CHARLIE – praise for the clear biopsy
CEE GEE – great words for the singles yesterday. My husband and I met through “random” circumstances. Surprised to learn we had a lot of the same friends and could have met countless times in previous years.
To quote TINA ❤️, But God! Praying for all to trust in His timing ❤️❤️❤️
Satan, like a prowling lion, waiting for someone to devour, as the Word says. We don’t fight with flesh and blood, but the dark, unseen forces of this world… I was just really equating this psalm to Satan and how he tries to deceive man into thinking God doesn’t care. He targets Christians and tries to get them so disillusioned that they don’t shine the light of Christ. He can’t take us, but he can try to create a hard heart of unbelief or prideful piety.
Yet, Christ has overcome. Satan is defeated and will be thrown into the lake of fire. We will live in glory, the paradise of the Lord, forever. Satisfied by His presence. The whole earth groans for this, daily.
Thank you for your encouragement @CeeGee- I appreciated your sentiment about your son and how there are good, faithful young men out there living for Christ. :) May your family be blessed.
I am wrestling with the Lord, yet trying to trust Him to do a miracle… Eventually. My car will be in the shop longer. The part is coming from out of state and the grand total of repair is going on a credit card, because God knows I don’t have the income to pay the expense. I can’t work without a car, so I will not have an income until it is repaired. I know I am doing God’s will. I know that He is testing my patience with finances. He knows I freaking hate debt and watch finance videos in my free time, lol. It’s like He is testing me in the very thing I am diligent in.
I believe He gave me a prophetic word last year about providing a great income in the future, but it has not happened, and here I am watching car repair debt climb. GOD IS FAITHFUL – even though Satan tries to use my circumstances to tell me otherwise. I can see him taunting me and this Psalm is a comfort that the enemy will be put in his place. Lord, help my unbelief.
God bless us, Shes. Thinking of a bunch of you. This seems to have been a summer that has tested a lot of us. Let us not grow weary in seeking God.
Charlie – praise God!!
Still waiting on mine, they’ve had the results sinces Wednesday but will not tell me over the phone – which is so frustrating especially if the results are clear. This doc offices is always SO busy and behind schedule. So I’d need to find childcare for likely about 2 hrs. :( hoping the call today.
@Charlie, praising God with you!
Thank you, Kelly (Neo) and everyone who is lifting us up to the Lord. I would ask for prayers of favor and grace with the management here as we ask to break our lease. My husband’s neurologist gave us a letter yesterday to give to them basically saying it was no longer safe for him to live here. NC law seems to be in our favor but I don’t want them to feel I’m threatening them. With their approval we can begin moving Sept 1 which is overwhelming to me! I’m at peace because our God is in control. The doctor did remind us this can cause a worsening of his confusion. That is a concern of which I was aware.
Sweet sisters I know there are others dealing with similar concerns as caregivers. Only through God’s strength in us can we persevere! Friday blessings and prayers for each request.❤
Just popping in to say that my biopsy was clear– no cancer. Thank you, Jesus! And thanks for the prayers, friends. Psalms have been the perfect reading companion for me during these weeks of anxiety.
What an awesome God that we can pour out our hearts, whether anger and lament or love and gratitude. Thank You Father!
I know that I can relate to the anger that was felt at the start of this psalm, but I love that it turned into prayers and trust in God. He will show up even when we question or feel frustrated with the world around us. I pray that I can work on trusting him and turning to him in every moment. Thank you God for this day and reminder ❤️
❤️❤️❤️
I know I can relate to the anger that was felt at the start of this psalm but I loved that it turned into prayer and reminds us how good God is. He is always working even when we may not see it. Thank you God for this day ❤️
Ooh I gotta say, I agree with the devotion today. It feels good to finally have a psalm full of “punish the bad guys!” Maybe because it’s the natural echo of what’s so often in my judgmental heart. But sometimes you just want people to get what’s coming to them! But then I remember…what’s coming for them is God’s grace. And as an extension, my grace. As much as I long for justice, I have to equally long for mercy.
Happy Friday She’s. I’m taking my daughter’s Girl Scout troop on an overnight adventure to our big city aquarium. 14 fourth grade girls spending the night with the whale sharks! So needless to say, I’ll take your prayers for safety and sleep!
The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to [those who are] bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
What a beautiful, wonderful Scripture! Let’s remember we have a God that is powerful and does this! Thank You. Lord!
I know this isn’t the main Scripture today, but since Natalie included this, and I really like this hopeful, powerful Scripture, I looked this up on the Enduring Word online commentary. So good! One of the reminders from the commentary was this: If Jesus, the Son of God and God the Son, perfect in both His deity and humanity, needed the Spirit of the Lord GOD, how much more do we.
Amen! God, please help us to walk in Your Spirit today in all we do and say. Amen!
Loved “surrender our anger for intercession”
God truly wants us to surrender all our negative feelings for intercession!
HEIDI – how is your niece?
LINDA IN NC – praying you geat a great price for your car and all other items. Praying you can have a smooth transition into the new place.
MARGARET W – praying your children will make room in their pain to let God in to walk them through the loss of their father.
TANYA NEVITTHUNT – keep reminding yourself and Satan when throws your sin back into your thoughts the TRUTH of who you are in Jesus.