" Who Will Stand Up ? "

 

Psalm 94:1-23 "O LORD GOD, to WHOM vengeance belongeth, show THYSELF. Lift up THYSELF, THOU JUDGE of the Earth: render a reward to the proud. LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph ? How long shall they utter and speak hard things ? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves ? They break in pieces THY people, O LORD, and afflict THINE heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the GOD of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise ?

HE that planted the ear, shall HE not hear ? HE that formed the eye, shall HE not see ? HE that chastiseth the heathen, shall not HE correct ? HE that teacheth man knowledge, shall not HE know ? The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Blessed is the man whom THOU chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of THY law; that THOU mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off HIS people, neither will HE forsake HIS inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers ? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity ?

Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; THY mercy, O LORD, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me THY comforts delight my soul. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with THEE, which frameth mischief by a law ? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the LORD is my defense; and my GOD is the ROCK of my refuge. And HE shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our GOD shall cut them off."

     The battle continues to rage between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light, between truth and error. No middle ground exists between the work of GOD and that of the god of this world. The question asked in this Psalm still demands our individual answer today: "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?" (v.16 pictured at top of post). One would think that every believer who hears this challenge would immediately respond, "I will !" Sadly, this was not the case in the days of the psalmist, nor is it today. Why ? While many  believers are willing to stand up for the truth of GOD, they are unwilling to stand against evildoers and the workers of iniquity. It is, of course, very unpopular today to be "negative" about anything. Unsaved people are usually only mildly affected by talk of Heaven, but they often become irate upon any mention of Hell. Popular religious leaders receive much praise because of the fact that they never say anything "unkind" about any individual or group. This kind of non-confrontational policy may appeal to people, but it also deprives believers of the warnings they desperately need in order to avoid the clever schemes of evildoers, both within and without the church.

     In verses one and two, the psalmist addresses GOD as the "JUDGE of the Earth"; in verses 3-11, he decries the wickedness and blindness of evildoers and sets forth GOD's edict regarding the wicked. In verses 12-15, we see GOD's patient discipline of HIS own. In verses 18 and 22, the LORD gives HIS precious promises to those who will unequivocally say, "I will !" to the questions in verse sixteen. What is your answer ? MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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