When was the last time that you stopped and really thought about all the evil and suffering in the world? When was the last time that you took a moment to ponder the many terrible things that happen in the world? When was the last time that you truly felt the weight of a broken and sinful world?
Despite our tendency to shy away from questions like these the Bible does not. Instead the Bible deals with the issues of suffering, pain, wickedness and injustice with uncomfortable, often horrifying honesty. Books like Lamentations make us squirm as they describe and deal with suffering at length. Many of the Psalms are devoted to dealing with suffering and evil in the world. Even the New Testament authors deal with the topic head on, describing how suffering can be used by God for our benefit (Romans 5:1-5, Romans 8:28) and that we ought to face suffering with joy (James 1:2-3).
Solomon takes this same head on approach to wickedness and injustice in this passage. He candidly states exactly the problem: "In the place of judgment, wickedness was there. In the pace of justice - wickedness was there." How true is this observation even today!? In the place where there should be justice, kindness and mercy there is wickedness and immorality. Around the world there are judges who pervert justice, government officials who take bribes and even church leaders who abuse their power for evil and injustice. In these places where there should be justice, kindness and mercy there is wickedness and injustice.
Asaph discusses a similar issue in Psalm 73. Asaph is lamenting the injustice of righteous, God following people suffering while the wicked seem to prosper. Asaph doesn't shy away from this terrible truth. He doesn't respond to the issue with mere platitudes or with wishy, washy hope that maybe God would fix these issues. Instead he tackles the full terrible truth of this injustice head on. He spends time dwelling on and lamenting the state of the world. He doesn't leave it at that though. He hints at the answer to this problem and cries out to God, the only sufficient answer to evil and suffering.
Just like Asaph, we ought to spend time lamenting the evil and suffering in the world. It is so easy to shy away from these things or to sweep them out of our minds with cliche's or platitudes but God does not ask or command us to do this. Instead we do as Solomon, Asaph and Jesus all do, we confront evil, injustice and suffering head on and we cry out to God that He would work. Spend time today lamenting the terrible evil and suffering in the world and pray that God would work these things for the sake of His kingdom and the good of those who love Him.
Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today's reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
- Praise God that He is a merciful and compassionate God. Praise Him that despite the terrible suffering and evil in the world that He chose to live as one of us and suffer and die that we might live with Him. Pray that He would give you a heart of mercy and compassion towards all those who are suffering and broken in this world.
- Praise God that He speaks through His word to His people. Praise God that His people all over the world were able to meet together yesterday to worship Him and to study His word. Pray that the message preached at your church yesterday would sink deep into your heart and the hearts of all those who heard so that lives would be changed and that His people would live wholly for Him.
My Additional Prayer Points.
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