December 11, 2018 -- Psalm 94:1 -- The God of Vengeance

O Lord, God of vengeance;

God of vengeance, shine forth!

(Ps. 94:1 NAS)

The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,

But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

Proverbs 11:6 NKJV

What a stark title for God: the God of Vengeance. His very Name and His presence is a warning. The unfaithful will be caught by their lust. The God of Vengeance will not show mercy to the wicked, who are defined as those who follow their own lusts.

It is one thing to appear to be righteous, so that the people around you think you walk with integrity. It is entirely another thing to be faithful, in word and deed, in one's heart and secret thoughts.

Christ is our Righteousness. Proverbs 11 continues: "But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered". It is knowledge of Christ, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, which brings deliverance. Only when God looks on us and sees Christ and Christ's righteousness can we ever be delivered.

God of Vengeance, thank You that You have provided the way of deliverance. By Your Spirit bring Your penetrating light and truth to the deepest places of our lives so that seeing the revealed ugliness of the sin deep within us, we will urgently confess our need for Jesus Christ. Let us then be those who bear fruits of righteousness and win souls for Christ. Amen.