The Punchline

Is God an angry and vengeful tyrant? In this psalm, there’s a lot of smashing and breaking of weaponry. War machinery is crushed, princes and kings lose spirit and live in fear. Okay, Lord, you’ve got our attention. Now what?

It’s time to listen to God’s judgment and consider what it means. Who are the oppressed? The poor, the sick, the troubled, orphans, widows, addicts, people in prison, First Nations. These are just some of the many people that God wants to lift up. We are to be God’s instruments of peace and healing in the world.

Too often, we feel the compulsion to judge others. Can we not see that it is God alone who can judge, and that the judgment is upon the oppressors, not the oppressed? We might need to be shaken from our comfort zones, to take a stand against injustice and oppression. “Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them ?” (verse 11)

God of consolation, show us your compassion for the weak and lowly. Help us to be your hands in service. Amen. — DAK