ODJ: unfair

June 30, 2015 

READ: Psalm 37:1-20 

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes (v.7).

Which of these two questions causes you to squirm the most: Why do seemingly honourable people suffer? or Why do the people who do bad things prosper? I wrestle with both of them. For instance, it makes we wonder why people who strike unethical deals and cheat on their contracts seem to get away with their schemes and even prosper, while people who are seeking to live for Jesus struggle to pay their bills.

Psalm 37 has some answers for life’s tough questions. It’s one of the many ‘wisdom psalms’ in the Bible (others include Psalms 1,14,25,34,49,73), which address the issues and doubts that can arise in life. These psalms are ancient songs that provide wisdom for how to process life’s questions and confusion even when things aren’t going well (v.30).

David, in Psalm 37, deals with the unfairness and injustices of life. He looks ahead and warns of the bitter future for those who choose to live life apart from God. “For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither” (v.2). David wants us to understand that there will be accountability in the next life when we chose to live for self in this one. Those who do so “have no future” (v.38).

By contrast, the life rescued by God is able to focus on His ultimate justice instead of life’s apparent inequities. David encourages the child of God to be still in His presence, wait patiently for Him to act and continue to live in Him and His grace (vv.3-8,27).

Why? Because He “holds them by the hand” (vv.23-24). What great encouragement when we feel life is unfair! Not only is God with us, but He promises that we can find salvation and shelter in Him (vv.28-29).

—K.T. Sim

365-day-plan: Matthew 5:31-48