“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before your presence.
For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.
You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
you have blotted out their name forever.
The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
their cities you rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.
But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Sing praises to the Lord..!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted…
The Lord… has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands…
Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail;
let the nations be judged before you!
Put them in fear, O Lord!
Let the nations know that they are but men!”
“His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high…
The Lord is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.” Psalm 9:1-12,16,19-20; 10:5a,16-18
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
The psalmist’s resolve to exult in the deeds of the Lord was borne of much memorable experience with Him and mature faith. God had maintained his just cause. He saw and heard, and had already executed justice. He reigned as sovereign King over nations and cities. His presence was David’s stronghold, a tangible promise that fueled confidence that He who kept him now would one day resolve all injustice. David’s grateful amazement looking back would carry him in hope in days to come.
For us in a dark, convoluted, and often unfair world, the concept of justice may be gloomy at best. Seasons and years go by with unsolved crimes, unhealed hurts, unfixed brokenness. We may not see justice served in our situation and day, but because of God’s great love and faithfulness we can trust it will be. Because He mercifully maintains the cause of His children, we can rest in His keeping. (Psalm 140:12-13; Lamentations 3:22-23)
We can also rejoice in the perfect justice served by Jesus that applies the cross to us. Because of His death on our behalf, the saved live free from the curse in hope of redemption won. The only doom we face is that of those who’ve refused to acknowledge their sin and His righteous penalty paid.
In what new ways can we rejoice in our Lord’s justice? Will we exalt Christ for achieved freedom and eternal hope? Whom will we tell of justice applied, and to come?
Lord, may I never stop marveling at Your exquisite justice so mercifully served, and promised.
As the rain and snow 