The Christian Response to Injustice
Psalm 37v1-11
Part 4 - Psalm 37v5-6
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This Psalm tells us how to think and act in the midst of all the injustice we see around us. In the first four verses, we've read that we should not fret about it, not be envious of people who appear to prosper by evil means, but to trust in the Lord and do good. instead, we should take delight in the Lord. Whatever is happening, we can always rejoice in His greatness and love. The Psalm now says:
Psalm 37v5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.
We face many decisions in life. In this wicked world a bad decision can cost us dearly. Pray through them all. Pray "Your will be done" (Matthew 6v10). Submit your desires and your ideas to God. Ask God to lead. Ask Him to overrule. Ask Him to prosper you in your obedience. And then trust Him. If we truly commit everything to God, then He will not stand idly by. He'll lead us and protect us.
1 Peter 5v7
Cast all your anxiety on him [God] because he cares for you.
Psalm 23v4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
We have this promise: if we will commit our way - our future - to God, if we will trust Him, ask Him to lead us, and refuse to solve our problems in ungodly ways, then
Psalm 37v6
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
Many times, godly people are falsely accused of various sins, usually by non-Christians but sometimes even by our brothers and sisters in Christ, sadly. Sometimes we're unjustly accused. Sometimes we're rightly accused, because sometimes we're guilty.
Many of us have been hurt in church. Sometimes Christians criticise, exclude or gossip about their brothers and sisters. Even Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was falsely accused by His countrymen, betrayed by Judas, and denied by Peter. It should ever be. May we never be unkind to each other, or tell stories about one another. May we always seek to protect and support each other.
When we're mistreated, the wisest course of action is to do what verse 5 tells us, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him." If, instead, we get involved in some sort of fight with the people who've abused us, we may end up being tempted to sin ourselves, and slander our accusers, or get unrighteously angry, or ignore our responsibilities, because we're so obsessed with the injustice committed against us.
If you've been hurt, and I'm sure you have, I suggest you let God vindicate you. May God make your righteousness shine like the dawn. May He make your vindication like the noonday sun. That is, if you've been treated unjustly, may God cause your innocence and your value to become obvious to everybody.
And we all sin sometimes. Even if you did do or say the wrong thing, may your love for God and your commitment to Biblical ethics be evident to all. May you be vindicated as a true, though imperfect, child of God, as we all are.
God will get involved in your situation. Often, a Christian who's been hurt, slandered, or excluded will be vindicated on earth. Sometimes, that only happens on the Day of Judgement but, in my experience, it often happens much sooner than that.
I've been criticised, ostracised and lied about by church members and church leaders. It always hurts, deeply, but I'm still here, still working for the kingdom of God. I hold no grudge. I harbour no bitterness.
When these things happen, I try not to respond. When Jesus was accused, as Isaiah 53v7 says, "as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." That's a good example for us. Sometimes I've been vindicated in the eyes of a church, and sometimes I haven't. The truth will be revealed on the Day of Judgement, and that's good enough for me.