S232P5 – Just Psalms: equity breeds equity
Psa. 17:1-3
Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
Initially, her circumstance was not the result of her doing. She was a model employee who did her job well, but that brought the scorn of those who did not perform as well as she. It started with her hearing rumors of others complaining about her work. Eventually, her boss was calling her into the office to discuss complaints about things which were not even true. She decided that the best thing to do was fight fire with fire and start her own rumor mill to attack those who had attacked her. Things escalated quickly after that, and before she knew it, her job was on the line because of this behavior. She had not dealt justly with her problem but acted in the same deceptive manner and now was crying out to God for relief and justice.
God demands certain things from those who follow him. It is no surprise that Jesus taught us to pray for God’s forgiveness and expect only the measure of forgiveness which we extend to others. In this life, we reap what we sow. If we do not deal fairly with others, we cannot be so hypocritical as to expect God to bring us justice. It is like the two thieves who conspire in a robbery with a plan to share the loot. When the first thief makes off with everything leaving his accomplice empty-handed, the accomplice cannot cry out at the unfairness of it all. When we deal unjustly with others but then ask God to exact justice on our behalf, we leave ourselves holding the bag. We cannot expect to reap something other than what we have sown.
David has not requested more than what he has done himself. He could have taken matters into his own hands, but he did not. He could have cursed and badmouth his oppressors, but he did not. Instead of exacting vengeance by playing their game of deceit, he instead acted in a noble manner. That is why he feels he has the right to seek justice from the Father in his circumstance. He justifies his request for a just result by showing that he himself has been just. If we love God’s justice, we will not only seek it but we will cause it. Otherwise, we cannot expect it. Father, make us people who live our lives demonstrating the very justice which we ask You to bring when we have been oppressed.