The Better Way

As a young lad I was a bit mischievous. It earned me the moniker Dennis the Menace. Consequently, when things happened in the classroom, my name often came up, sometimes with just cause, others times not. For example, it wasn’t me who pushed Judy into the mud puddle; it wasn’t me who erased the demerit points in Mr. Magnuson’s record book; and it wasn’t me who ?Nevertheless, I was accused.

The psalmist, too, knows what it was like to be falsely accused. He pleads his innocence before God, inviting God to examine him, knowing that God would find no guilt. He throws himself into God’s hands, reminding God that God is the saviour of those who seek refuge, confident that he is the apple of God’s eye. He gets a bit testy as the psalm goes on, asking God to execute justice upon his false accusers and upon their children and their children’s children.

I’m not sure that is the best way to handle things. To entrust our cause to God’s hands-yes. To seek revenge, even through God’s hands-no. Better to pray for and forgive our false accusers, as Jesus did us.

Lord Jesus, fill my heart with forgiveness not revenge. Amen. — DAB