Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. —Psalm 139:19-20
Today we want to make David’s statements a little more understandable, so let’s look at them through the eyes of modern situations. Might we cry out, “Oh, Lord, that you would slay the Nazis who slaughter Your chosen people, the Jews;” or, “Oh, Lord, that you would slay the members of ISIS who are killing your chosen people, the Church, and others!” or “Oh, Lord, that you would slay the members of Boko Haram, who are kidnapping and using little girls as sex slaves!” or “Oh, Lord, that you would slay those who are advancing evil in this world in defiance of Your great Name.” Suddenly David’s words don’t seem so horrible when we hold them up against modern atrocities.
Listen, any assault on life is an affront to God, who is the Creator of life. We have both the right and the responsibility to be indignant when it comes to unchecked evils! Warren Wiersbe said, “We could use a little more holy anger today. Christians sometimes are too bland, too complacent, and too comfortable.” And the apostle Peter wrote: “This is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth;’ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet 2:18-24).
There is so much contained in these verses, but let’s highlight two things from them for now. Yes, we are to endure injustices in this world as Jesus did; and we are to commit ourselves to “Him who judges righteously.” This reminds us that God is sovereign and that no sin goes unpunished. For those who have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, Jesus bore the punishment for their sins; those who reject Him as Savior and Lord will be punished for theirs. No sin goes unpunished. That would be an injustice, and God is not unjust.
And to return to our mention yesterday of the “two Gods” concept in the Bible, check this out: “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:11-16). Judging and making war are acts of righteousness when the One doing so is God himself, or when we must defend the world from evils. The One judging and making war in righteousness during the Tribulation (the 70th week of Daniel) is the Word of God, which is Jesus.
So, “easy-breezy” Jesus and angry, wrathful Jehovah are false and heretical concepts of the sovereign God. Righteous indignation on our part must be benevolent toward our personal enemies, but indignant about those who are God’s.
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