Trusting God in the Face of Injustice
This week’s lectionary theme revolves around trusting God—a struggle as old as humanity itself. From the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, we were easily deceived into doubting God’s trustworthiness. That same battle continues today, especially when we see evildoers prospering. Our instinct is to take matters into our own hands, to fret, to become consumed by indignation. But Psalm 37 calls us to redirect our focus—to trust God and let Him deal with the wicked.
We all experience righteous (and sometimes not-so-righteous) indignation when we witness wrongdoing. Evil doesn’t always look like the extreme horrors of murder or human trafficking. It often manifests in greed, pride, selfishness, and lust—sins that corrode humanity just as profoundly. The psalm reminds us that when we see injustice, our response should not be to rage or seek revenge, but to trust God’s justice.
What We Are Called to Do
The Bible repeatedly instructs us:
- Do not fret.
- Do not judge.
- Do not return evil for evil.
- In your anger, do not sin.
- Love and pray for your enemies.
- Do not take revenge.
We are not equipped to bring about justice in the way God is. It’s like siblings trying to discipline one another—something that never ends well. Discipline is a parent’s job, just as judgment belongs to God. If we look at Psalm 37 through that lens, it becomes clearer: our role is to trust God, not to take justice into our own hands.
A Shift in Desire
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Early in my faith journey, I interpreted this as, “If I obey God, He’ll give me what I want.” But as I matured, I realized a deeper truth: God changes the desires of my heart to align with His.
At first, this interpretation felt like a stretch. But the more I reflected, the more it made sense. When I see evildoers prosper, my natural desire is for them to suffer the consequences. But would God really grant me such a vindictive wish? No. I am called to love my enemies, to desire their repentance, not their downfall.
The Danger of Acting on Anger
Psalm 37 warns us multiple times against following the path of anger. Why? Because anger consumes us. When we act on it, we risk becoming part of the very evil we despise.
Yes, we should be angry about injustice. But we are not equipped to handle it as God does. Nowhere in this psalm does it say that our anger is sinful—it warns that acting on it leads to sin. That’s a hard truth. It goes against our instinct to retaliate. Yet, we are called to something greater: to trust God’s justice.
Overcoming Evil with Good
Romans 12:17-21 echoes this teaching:
“Never repay evil for evil. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Never take your own revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ Instead, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Jesus showed us the ultimate example of loving our enemies. The cross itself is God’s justice—death conquering death. We cannot carry out cosmic acts of redemption, but we can meet the basic needs of those who wrong us. We can feed them, give them water, and extend kindness. It is God’s mercy that leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4). We, too, were once enemies of God until He showed us grace (Romans 5:10).
Verse 22 carries a double meaning. First, by responding to evil with love, we refuse to be overcome by it. Second, by acting in love, we overcome the evil within ourselves. If we act on our desire for revenge, we become consumed by bitterness and are thus overcome by evil. But by choosing love expressed in kindness, we overcome the evil within and further reflect God’s vengeance.
Final Thoughts
Psalm 37 reassures us that evil will not prevail. The wicked may flourish for a time, but their downfall is inevitable. Our job is not to obsess over their fate but to trust God’s justice. We are called to focus on our own hearts, to reject the lure of anger and vengeance, and to overcome evil with good.
This is a hard teaching—but it is the way of Christ. And in the end, those who trust God will inherit the land and find true peace.