Those of us who have faced abusive leadership in the home or workplace know the ever-present desire for validation and vindication. We want others to stand beside us, seeing our hurt, and for the abusive individual to be judged—in either God’s court or human courts.
Like the writers of many of the psalms in Scripture, we can go a long time waiting for either of these outcomes.
King David knew the hatred of men. He spoke of a close friend whose
speech was smooth as butter,
Psalms 55:21 (ESV)
yet war was in his heart;
his words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.
That one who was intimate with him—he shared in “sweet counsel” with him—was deceptive and hateful.
I am sure that David wanted immediate wrath. He wanted justice done. And yet, he wrote a psalm that pushes pause.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
Psalms 37:7-9 (ESV)1
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
Be still.
Fret not.
Refrain from anger.
Wait for the LORD.
It is evident in the psalm that the victim of the wicked will have his day. “. . . there is a future for the man of peace.” But, “transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.”
Vindication will come, but now is a time of patience and stillness. We are called to refrain from the debilitating curse of stewing in anger and trust the LORD, who will judge with righteousness.
Not an Easy Task
But of course, saying it does not make it so.
Whoever wrote Psalm 119 knew this:
How long must your servant endure?
Psalms 119:84 (ESV)
When will you judge those who persecute me?
How long? When?
There is no need to beat yourself up over the feelings of hurt, distrust, and impatience. God’s people have from time past suffered the same feelings of dispair. Some of that hurt is encapsalated in God’s Word as an example to us.
Where to Turn
The same writer of Psalms 119 tells us in every verse (except one) that we turn to His Word—in New Testament fulfillment, Jesus—for the healing of those hurts and the patience to endure.
My soul melts away for sorrow;
Psalms 119:28 (ESV)
strengthen me according to your word!
I am melting. But I am God’s child. I am blessed with all the heavenly blessings (Eph. 1:3).
Though I do not feel it at the moment, I know it to be true because Jesus told me so. I can rest in His promise, though I cannot see ten feet in front of me.
Even though the board of directors ignores my plea to bring accountability to the CEO. Even though the church elders do not see the abuse the pastor is heaping upon his flock. Even though the judge fails to take into account the damage my husband has been inflicting upon my soul.
Jesus loves His little children . . . and His justice will prevail.
Be still.
Fret not.
Wait on the LORD.
For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
NOTES
- For those of you interested in further study in Psalm 37, this is a very good article on the Hebrew of Psalm 37 passed on by a friend of Pearls and Swine: https://tyndalehouse.com/explore/articles/reading-the-psalms-in-hebrew/ ↩︎