The God Who Crushes

Read: Psalm 72

Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. Psalm 72:4

IN WORD

Some passages of Scripture disturb us. They call for judgment against enemies—something Jesus emphatically did not do even while He was being condemned and crucified. Old Testament prophets write of vengeance, and psalmists pray for the punishment of those who hurt them. These aren’t dominant themes in Scripture, of course, but they are there. And they don’t seem very merciful.

God is merciful, to be sure. But in His mercy, He opposes evil. We would do the same, reacting harshly to anyone who threatened our spouses or children. When people we love are being harmed, we do whatever it takes to stop the one who harms—not because we are aggressive but because we defend. Likewise, God doesn’t crush enemies because He is full of hate; He crushes them because He is full of love.

Later verses in the psalm make this clear. This picture of a good king and a fulfilled kingdom takes a hard line against injustice. Neither the king’s purpose nor God’s is to crush; it’s to deliver the needy, take pity on the weak, and rescue the oppressed and afflicted (verses 12-14). When the time is right, He takes decisive action against evil forces. That’s what His Kingdom is like.

IN DEED

Kingdom people should be filled with a fiery attitude against evil—not a preachy “thou shalt not” at every hint of misbehavior, but active defense of the defenseless. It isn’t our job to crush the oppressor—God tells us to leave vengeance to Him (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). We are to be merciful. But in our mercy toward those who suffer injustice, we can’t afford to be passive toward those who inflict it. Being quiet in the face of evil is tantamount to aiding and abetting the enemy. In most kingdoms, that’s treason. In God’s, it’s a forgivable offense that needs to be corrected. We need to remember who we are: representatives of the King in a hostile environment. Seek to make things right.

ADDITIONAL READING: Luke 18:6-8

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. . . . Not to speak is to speak; not to act is to act.

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER