Justice on the Way
TRANSLATION
(16) Yahweh is king forever and ever. The nations perish from his land. (17) The desire of the oppressed you hear, Yahweh. You will strengthen their heart. You will attend (to them) with your ear, (18) to do justice to the fatherless and to the oppressed, so that no human, who is of the earth, may ever terrify (them) again.
OBSERVATIONS
In these final three verses of Psalm 10, the psalmist again used three key terms which he had employed previously in the psalm: “the oppressed” (vs. 17 & 18), “do justice,” and “the fatherless” (vs. 18). These verses were set in the future when God’s kingdom would be established on the earth. In Yahweh’s coming reign justice will prevail, and those who have long been the victims of oppression will find the protection and rest for which they have yearned.
OUTLINE
In his future kingdom:
I. Yahweh will rule over the land. (16)
II. Yahweh will establish a perpetual reign of justice. (17 & 18)
IDEA STATEMENT
In the future kingdom, Yahweh will establish a reign of peace and justice over the whole earth.
APPLICATION
The back page of an old edition of InterVarsity’s HIS Magazine carried the following banner: “Joy is the flag that flies over the castle when the king is in residence.” What an inspiring thought! Joy should prevail in the lives of all who have enthroned Jesus as Lord. In like manner joy will one day prevail over the whole earth because the Savior will be enthroned as universal sovereign.
The future reign of Messiah was foretold in both the Old and New Testaments. Isaiah gave us this description: “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it” (Is. 2:2). The Apostle John in the Revelation foretold a one thousand year reign of Christ on the earth when he comes the second time in triumph (Rev. 20:4-6).
In the meantime, we who belong to Christ live by faith, waiting for that great day when the one who rules in our hearts will establish his universal reign on the earth. Our present lives should reflect the reality of that future day. The more we live in obedience to him now, the greater will be our capacity to glorify him as we serve him in that future kingdom and throughout eternity.