Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Justice is a huge theme in our world today.

There is evil happening all around us.

There are school shootings, domestic violence, people’s identities are being stolen… The cry for justice has never been louder.

This is the reason why there is so much debate on things like gun control and immigration

And because the cry for justice is so deep within our society it makes up the basis of the things that we watch on TV and in movies.

I don’t know if you have ever seen any of the Marvel Netflix shows or seen any of the thousands of Avenger movies but every superhero ever dons their spandex and capes because they hear the cry for justice and they are the only ones that can deliver.

I remember in 2004, the first Punisher movie came out and my dad took me to see it.

As a fourteen old kid, when Frank Castle’s family was murdered right in front of him… I was disturbed.

I honestly don’t know what my dad was thinking taking me to that movie (ha ha).

I remember when the Punisher goes and gives John Travolta what’s coming to him… the satisfaction that I felt.

Man they deserved it!

It made me want to go and destroy some bad guys myself!

This is right around the time I got into martial arts so that makes sense.

I’m sure each of you have felt something like this before.

Maybe it was something that you saw on TV or a movie where justice is served for the bad guy.

Or maybe it’s something on the news.

You know, when some creep picks up little kids and he’s finally caught.

We want justice.

What about when there is injustice within the church?

When people who wear the jersey of God’s people… they claim to be one of us and many times they are leaders within the church…

Just a couple of weeks ago they arrested a pastor in Winter Haven for sexual battery with a child.

A 12 year old girl.

This kind of stuff happens all the time.

There are wolves wearing sheep clothing among us.

Ultimately, we can never see justice executed perfectly.

Because we ourselves deserve condemnation and judgement.

It is the LORD and him only who is the perfect judge.

He is the one we cry out to when there are injustices in the world.

This is where we find the Psalmist this morning in .

So if you have your Bibles go ahead and grab those and turn with me there.

This was written during a time that the people of God were under the leadership of evil men.

People who were part of Israel but they weren’t God’s people.

They were evil doers… wicked men… and he cries out to God for justice.

For the Lord to make it right.

This is the Big Idea for our time together this morning: When God’s people cry out for his justice to manifest itself in the world... Wickedness may prevail for a season but God will vindicate the righteous in his own time.

God will bless his people but false followers will only receive judgement and rejection.

So if you are in in your Bibles look at me in verse one… and if you are using a Bible app I will be reading out of the CSB.

BIBLE VERSEPsalms 94:1-23 (CSB)

1Lord , God of vengeance — God of vengeance, shine!

2Rise up, Judge of the earth; repay the proud what they deserve.

3Lord , how long will the wicked — how long will the wicked celebrate?

4They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.

5Lord , they crush your people; they oppress your heritage.

6They kill the widow and the resident alien and murder the fatherless.

7They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it.

The God of Jacob doesn’t pay attention.”

8Pay attention, you stupid people!

Fools, when will you be wise?

9Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see?

10The one who instructs nations, the one who teaches mankind knowledge — does he not discipline?

11The Lord knows the thoughts of mankind; they are futile.

12Lord , how happy is anyone you discipline and teach from your law

13to give him relief from troubled times until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14The Lord will not leave his people or abandon his heritage,

15for the administration of justice will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16Who stands up for me against the wicked?

Who takes a stand for me against evildoers?

17If the Lord had not been my helper, I would soon rest in the silence of death.

18If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your faithful love will support me, Lord .

19When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy.

20Can a corrupt throne be your ally, a throne that makes evil laws?

21They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

22But the Lord is my refuge; my God is the rock of my protection.

23He will pay them back for their sins and destroy them for their evil.

The Lord our God will destroy them.

PRAYER AND TRANSITION TO POINT I.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Let’s Pray…

Lord, you are the judge of the earth.

In you there is perfect justice.

You see the wickedness in this world and in your perfect timing you will make it all right.

We ask that you make all of us sensitive to your Spirit this morning.

That you would come and be our teacher in these next few moments.

Convict us of sin and grant us repentance.

Make us strive for holiness in this life.

Make us look more like Jesus.

And it is in his name that we pray… Amen.

You can be seated.

There are four sections in this Psalm that I want us to look at together this morning.

And this is the first section…

1 Point I: The Frustration of God's People (vs.1-8).

EXPLANATION

It can be incredibly frustrating when wickedness prospers… And it does prosper.

Just look at the news… It’s all bad news.

It can be tempting to just give up hope in this life and just be like… “well, it’s just the world that we live in.”

Look at verse 1 again…

1 Lord , God of vengeance — God of vengeance, shine!

He begins by calling out to the God of Vengeance.

This is an important observation and it is that the Psalmist recognized that the justice that he was looking for... the vindication that he was looking for.. could only come from the Lord.

Vengeance is repaying evil they deserve.

God says in ...

35 Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay.

In time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.

It belongs to the Lord.

When you are wronged by someone in or out of the church... it is not our job to make these people pay.

Paul says in ...

19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,,al says the Lord.

20 But 

If your enemy is hungry, feed him.