Take some time this evening to read Psalm 37.  It doesn’t matter my friend which perspective you embrace – whether you read it from a viewpoint of personal vindication that you long for or from a viewpoint of humble self-conviction – a sobering reminder of the wickedness we all carry with us as human beings.  Psalm 37 says it all!

“Don’t worry about the wicked.  Don’t envy those who do wrong.  For like grass, they will soon fade away.  Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.  Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  Stop your anger!  Turn from your rage!  Do not envy others – it only leads to harm.  For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.  In a little while, the wicked will disappear.  Though you look for them, they will be gone.  Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in prosperous security.” – Psalm 37: 1-2, 7-11 NLT

I only shared a few verses from this wonderful psalm for now, but I’m begging you to take out your Bible this evening and read the entire chapter.  It has become one of my favorite psalms through the years – especially during the times in my life when justice seemed absent and elusive.

I personally find great comfort and peace in knowing that God sees everything.  He understands the motives and the hearts of everyone involved – in ways that we cannot fathom.  He TRULY knows the details better than we do and there isn’t one single act of injustice that has occurred on this earth that slips past Him unnoticed or passes without accountability.

The Psalm also comes with personal conviction, knowing there are consequences surrounding my thoughts and actions.  Psalm 37 serves as a personal wake-up call – a reminder that my own sins are seen by a righteous, just God and the devastation that can result when I fail to follow His principles for living.

“For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice.”  – Psalm 11:7 NIV

“The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please Him.”  – Proverbs 20:23 NIV

“For the Lord is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him!”  – Isaiah 30:18 NIV

“You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’  Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away.  A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off with a ransom; a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you.”  – Isaiah 47:10-11 NIV

“But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming.”  – Psalm 37:13 NIV

 Whoever is at fault cannot escape.  God sees and will ensure justice is done.  None of us are immune to this – including me.  Praise God for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness, but so often the consequence of our wrongdoing remains and continues to linger in our lives.  

He sees the cheating husband and the child who has been abused.  With clarity, He sees the wife who has selfishly walked away from her family – taking all the family wealth and inheritance for herself and her new lover.

He sees the businesswoman who acted selfishly – throwing her peers under the bus to save her own job.  He sees the company that foolishly spends their employee’s retirement fund – leaving nothing for the many years of hard work and dedication.

He sees the unexpected death of a child caused by health or an accident that seems so unfair and unjust.  He even hears the whispers of gossip or lies told in a group about someone else, and He vows that none of it will go unanswered or unsettled.

I used to think that justice was something God had to answer to – a standard that He needed to uphold.  But the truth is that nothing is above God.  So, when it comes to justice, take comfort that GOD IS JUSTICE!  Justice is an inherent aspect of God’s character.  It’s not above Him; it doesn’t dictate to Him.  It is Him!

So tonight, whether you feel disenchanted or overwhelmed with relief, whether you say guilty or not guilty or you’re just not sure, you can rest assured in this fact – God is a God of justice.  All will be made right in the end.

Maybe you’ve been abused, mistreated, or unfairly stricken.  Maybe you think you’ve pulled off a great scam unnoticed or ran around behind someone’s back without getting caught.  If you have, read Psalm 37 tonight and know with confidence that God has the final say in everything.

God bless!