BOOMERANG - PSALM 10:1-2

1 LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide in times of trouble? 2 In arrogance the wicked relentlessly pursue their victims; let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

BIG IDEA: WE REAP WHAT WE SOW!

THERE IS A UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE THAT STATES “IN ESSENCE,” WHATEVER YOU SOW OR GIVE OR RELEASE, THE SAME WILL COME BACK TO YOU...

JESUS AND PAUL BOTH SHARED THIS PRINCIPLE WITH US...

IN FACT, EVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THIS PRINCIPLE WAS REVEALED: PROVERBS, PSALMS AND THE PROPHETS SUGGEST THAT OUR ACTIONS HAVE UNAVOIDABLE REACTIONS...

AS WE STUDIED PSALM 10 ON THIS PAST SUNDAY, THE PSALMIST IN HIS DESCRIPTION OF WICKED PEOPLE MAKES A SUBTLE, BUT DIRECT REQUEST TO THE LORD: let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.

AWWWW, THIS IS “WHAT I NOW CALL” THE BOOMERANG EFFECT - WHEN THE TRAP I SET FOR YOU CATCHES ME...

NOW BELOVED, THIS ISN’T ABOUT REVENGE OR EVEN RETALIATION...

IT’S A SIMPLE PLEA TO THE LORD TO ALLOW THE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE THAT HE ESTABLISHED TO HAVE IT’S WAY ON THE WICKED...

I’M REMINDED OF PROVERBS 1, WHERE SOLOMON INSTRUCTS HIS SON:

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

don’t be persuaded.

11 If they say—“Come with us!

Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.

Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

12 Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,

whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder.

14 Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share the loot”—

15 my son, don’t travel that road with them

or set foot on their path,

16 because their feet run toward evil

and they hurry to shed blood.

17 It is useless to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;

they attack their own lives.

19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.

THIS IS THE “BOOMERANG EFFECT,” GETTING SNARED IN THE VERY TRAPS YOU SET FOR OTHERS...

AS WE WITNESS THE UNAVOIDABLE EVIL ON OUR SCREENS, WE HAVE TO BE REMINDED THAT GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED - WHAT IS SOWN WILL BE REAPED - WHAT IS RELEASED WILL BE RETURNED...

WHAT WE MUST PRAY IS THAT THE LORD’S WILL BE DONE IN THESE SITUATIONS AND SCENARIOS...

REMEMBER:

WICKED FOLKS BELIEVE THEY’RE ACCOUNTABLE TO NO ONE - EVEN GOD!

3 FOR THE WICKED ONE BOASTS ABOUT HIS OWN CRAVINGS; THE ONE WHO IS GREEDY CURSES AND DESPISES THE LORD

4 IN ALL HIS SCHEMING, THE WICKED PERSON ARROGANTLY THINKS, “THERE’S NO ACCOUNTABILITY, SINCE THERE’S NO GOD.”

A SECOND WAY OF THE WICKED IS:

WICKED FOLKS INFLICT HARM UPON OTHERS TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE!

2 IN ARROGANCE THE WICKED RELENTLESSLY PURSUE THEIR VICTIMS; 8 HE WAITS IN AMBUSH NEAR SETTLEMENTS; HE KILLS THE INNOCENT IN SECRET PLACES. HIS EYES ARE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE HELPLESS...

WICKED PEOPLE ARE HEARTLESS AND RELENTLESS...

SO WE MUST REMIND OURSELVES THAT WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY DO WILL NEVER BE OVERLOOKED BY A JUST GOD!

HERE’S OUR PRAYER TO THE LORD:

MAY THE HEART AND ACTIONS OF THE WICKED BE EXPOSED (DON’T LET THEM HIDE BEHIND FAKE POLICY OR LOYALTY)

MAY THE SCHEMES OF THE WICKED ENTRAP THEM (REAP WHAT THEY’VE SOWN).