The Sheriff

Psalm 94:8-15

8Think again, you fools!

When will you finally catch on?

9Is the one who made your ears deaf?

Is the one who formed your eyes blind?

10He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you?

He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?

11The LORD knows people’s thoughts,

that they are worthless!

12Happy are those whom you discipline, LORD,

and those whom you teach from your law.

13You give them relief from troubled times

until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14The LORD will not reject his people;

he will not abandon his own special possession.

15Judgment will come again for the righteous,

and those who are upright will have a reward.

Nowadays we think of judgment as a bad thing. Surfing the TV talk shows, we come to the painful conclusion that the only Bible verse anyone cares about is Matthew 7:1: “Stop judging others.” Even when Christians talk about God as judge, we are quick to temper this by recognizing his mercy. That is not to say that this is not based on good New Testament theology. We are sinners, deserving the Judge’s death penalty, but through Christ’s death we can receive a pardon. Kneeling at the holy rail, you never boast of your own holiness. No, you throw yourself on the mercy of the Judge.

But the Psalms have another perspective on judgment. The people of God welcome God’s judgment because it’s true and right—unlike the decisions of the corrupt leaders they know. The world is like the Wild West without a sheriff. Good people long for a Wyatt Earp to come in, guns blazing, and restore order. And it’s up to him to determine how it gets done.

At first glance, Psalm 94 seems very heavy—all this talk about punishment from God. But look deeper into it. “The Lord will not reject his people.” Judgment comes along “for the righteous.” Those who live right get rewarded. Those evil crime bosses who think they can get away with murder have another think coming. God sees their deeds and will see that justice is done. The sheriff has arrived, and law-abiding citizens can rejoice.

Arm of the Lord, awake, awake!

Thine own immortal strength put on;

With terror clothed, hell’s kingdom shake,

And cast thy foes with fury down.

CHARLES WESLEY

Bible Networking

Reread verse 14, and then turn to John 10:28. These are mighty words of encouragement to all believers.

Notable Quotable

“God sees the sorrows of life are very good for us; for as seeds that are deepest covered with snow in winter flourish most in spring; or as the wind by beating down the flame raiseth it higher and hotter; even so, when the Lord would increase our joy and thankfulness, he allays it with the tears of affliction.”

H. G. SALTER