Banishing the Crooked
Psalm 125
Verse 5 But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be on Israel.
It is easy to want blessings for doing good and we don’t argue with the idea that the evil need to be paid for their wickedness as well. God created us with a sense of His character of justice.
Justice is a common talking point in our society but what does it really mean? Justice has been softened over the centuries. While it used to hold the firmness of making sure that good received good and evil received punishment, many people now think of it as a means of being treated fairly. In God’s eyes justice hasn’t changed.
God cannot coexist with sin. This is non-negotiable with Him. He hates sin. It is such a contrast to His holy nature. Like oil and water, sin and holiness cannot blend. God knows His created beings can’t be perfectly holy as He is all on their own but doesn’t give them the excuse to live evil lives. God extends His grace to those He has called and we should be so grateful that we desire to live a pure life for Him.
There are those who desire to live a life that please themselves. They don’t care about God or His ways and these are the people that God is saying He will banish. He won’t allow them the same benefits as those who He has chosen and that are living under the redemptive blood of Christ. No, not everyone is going to heaven when they die. Those that are evil will be banished to a God-less eternity.
This justice of God is yet another reason to praise Him as we come to worship. It is this knowing that God is not giving us what we deserve but that He will give those that are evil exactly what they deserve. What this means to us is that we can spend eternity with God. He will live among His people because they will not be living among the evil men of the world.
This psalm is also a reminder that God’s people weren’t only going up to worship Him in Jerusalem but that this journey was nothing more than a reminder of how we will all travel to worship Him in His presence for the entirety of eternity. A place that is pure, free from the touch of evil. The place of His undeniable holiness.
Making It Personal
How do you view justice? Do you deserve God’s justice? How can you show God’s grace today?
Making It Personal Kids
Do you like to get what you deserve when you have disobeyed? What does it mean to you that Jesus died so you don’t have to get what you deserve? Do you have someone that you can act like Jesus to by not giving them what they deserve?
Closing Prayer
Father, we praise You for Your sense of justice and we worship You for calling us out of depths of evil. Teach us how to live holy like You so that we can reflect You to the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.