2005-08-14 - It Just Isn't Fair

Psalm 9, Part 1

Dad was going out to the show with his son Peter. Little Paul, who was five years younger than his brother, was pouting. "It isn't fair! Paul always gets to go to the show with Dad."

"But Paul," said his mother, "This movie is for older children. You'll get to go next time."

"Well it just isn't fair. I don't want to go next time. I want to see this picture. It isn't fair!'

Sam had been waiting for two years to get the promotion. Sylvia had only been with the company for three years compared to his ten. "It isn't fair," he said to his fellow worker. "I worked harder than anyone that job was mine."

"But Sylvia has brought in substantially more business than you have," noted his coworker.

"That had nothing to do with it," he replied, "She only got the job because she's a woman. It just isn't fair!"

Suzanne was dying, at the age of thirty two. She was a believer and couldn't understand why God would allow this to happen. She was leaving behind a husband and three small children. "God, it just isn't fair." "It just isn't fair!" "It just isn't fair!"

Introduction: It seems that everybody is looking for justice, for life to be fair. And while some people bring on their own problems, others truly are not treated fairly and do not receive justice. One of the great desires of human beings is that life be fair. We rail against the injustice we find in the world. We demand justice. Fortunately for us, God treats us with mercy, because we have accepted the Lord as our Savior. The justice that should fall on us fell instead on Christ. Therefore, we can receive mercy.

Nevertheless, we still desire justice from others. The hope and promise of this psalm is that a day is coming when Christ will exercise justice on the unrighteous of this world. With the promise of justice comes the warning of judgment, and the injunction to us to warn mankind that it had better learn to "fear the Lord" now, or face His judgment later.

In this study examining psalm 9, we will look at both the form and context. Next, we will survey the passage itself, and finally, we will examine what it has to say to us.

There are primarily three points that we find in the text:

• First, God is just and will bring justice.

• Second, justice means vindication and care of the righteous, and judgment of the wicked.

• Third, the response to the working of the Lord should be one of praise.

We will next examine our desired response:

• First, our hope comes from the knowledge that God is in control and will bring justice,

• But second, we are not to demand that God does so now.

• Finally, our response to God should always be one of praise, whatever the circumstance.

To be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org