We give thanks to you, O God,
we give thanks and call upon your name.
We recount your wonderful deeds.
“When I reach the appointed time,
then I will judge with justice.
Though the earth and all who dwell in it may rock,
it is I who uphold its pillars.
To the boastful I say: ‘Do not boast,’
to the wicked: ‘Do not flaunt your strength,
do not flaunt your strength on high.
Do not speak with insolent pride.’ “
For neither from the east nor the west,
nor from desert or mountains comes judgment,
but God himself is the judge.
One he humbles, another he exalts.
The Lord holds a cup in his hand,
full of wine, foaming and spiced.
He pours it; they drink it to the dregs;
all the wicked on the earth must drain it.
As for me, I will rejoice for ever
and sing psalms to Jacob’s God.
He shall break the power of the wicked,
while the strength of the just shall be exalted.
Reflection
The Psalmists, it seems to me, have a laser-like focus on what the world should be like even as they existed in the world as it is.
In our reading today the Psalmist gave thanks to God and recounted the wonder of divine action – the most wonderful being God’s judgement. I find myself sighing “if only it were really like that.” Ex President Assad sits safely with his wealth in Russia away from any prospect of a trial. Mr Mugabe lived peacefully in his luxury villa and died after receiving the best care his ill gotten gains could buy in a private clinic not in a prison cell for his many and manifold crimes. Mr Putin won’t face justice this side of the grave and whilst Mr Trump has faced justice he still was reelected. I’m not at all sure being the first felon to be elected as US president was quite the achievement he wanted. As I write commentators are stirring up debate about another inquiry into child sexual abuse whilst Professor Alexis Jay, who chaired the last public enquiry, suggests implementing her recommendations might be more effective than another inquiry. God is judge but those who speak with insolent pride are not silenced and, far from drinking the dregs of divine justice, the techbros pour their money and resources into making the virtual world a worse place.
The Psalmist of course has an unshakeable trust in God’s justice and righteousness and seems content to wait for God to act. I suspect most who believe realise that we also have to act. It’s not just about waiting for God to make the wicked drink from the cup of justice but about having laws and institutions which are resilient, value the rule of law, and where the law itself is just.
We, like the Psalmist, need a laser-like focus on what the world should be and how we help create justice.
Prayer
O God who breaks the power of the wicked,
who upholds the pillars of our rocking world,
grant us justice and the strength to ensure that
our laws, institutions, and parties
uphold justice too. Amen.