How does Psalm 35:17 inspire trust in God's timing for justice? Opening the Text “How long, O LORD, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.” (Psalm 35:17) David’s Cry: Honest Yet Hopeful - David speaks with raw urgency: “How long?” - He still calls God “LORD,” acknowledging covenant faithfulness even while feeling forgotten. - The image of “lions” highlights real, present danger; yet David asks the One he believes can truly intervene. Waiting and Justice: Lessons from Verse 17 1. God sees, even when He seems silent. • “Will You look on?” assumes God is already watching, affirming His omniscience (Proverbs 15:3). 2. Rescue is certain, timing unknown. • David does not beg for possibility but for immediacy—sign of confidence in eventual deliverance (Psalm 34:19). 3. Personal value to God. • “My precious life” underscores that the sufferer matters to the Lord (Matthew 10:29-31). Why God Delays: Four Biblical Insights - Preservation of righteousness: He may be giving the wicked time to repent (2 Peter 3:9). - Display of divine wrath in full justice: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay” (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). - Growth in faith: Waiting refines trust (James 1:3-4). - Perfect alignment with His larger plan: “The vision awaits its appointed time… it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3). Living Psalm 35:17 Today • Acknowledge the pain—lament is biblical, not faithless. • Keep addressing God by His covenant name; relationship fuels endurance. • Anchor hope in God’s proven track record (Psalm 37:25). • Refrain from taking matters into your own hands; commit your cause to Him (Psalm 37:7-9). • Watch for partial deliverances along the way—signposts that final justice is on schedule. Points to Remember - God’s justice is never late, only later than we wish. - A waiting season is not a wasted season; it is God’s workshop for faith. - Psalm 35:17 invites honest questions without surrendering confidence in the Judge who always arrives right on time. |
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