There are two readings for today.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 83
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. [Psalm 83:17-18]
This is a prayer for revenge, a plea that God would make their oppressors suffer the very misery they did to Israel.
This is a sincere and honest prayer, and God allows it to be included in His sacred writings.
This reminds me that God does not ignore our pain or our cries for justice.
God understands the little abused girl who cries out for God to punish her abuser, His heart breaks for her pain and He will act.

But how do we fit this prayer for revenge with the example of Jesus: Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. [Luke 23:34]
Or when Paul warns against seeking revenge [Romans 12:19-20]?
How I see this is as follows: the cry for justice is good and necessary, but it also makes redemption or restoration impossible.
If God ONLY imposed justice, and if we ONLY got what we deserved, then no one would survive.
We are not able by ourselves to overcome evil, and the cry for justice is real and legitimate – we should not stop seeking justice.
But more than justice, we all need mercy, including the abused little girl, and the abuser, and the one’s plotting against Israel, and the one’s plotting against Jesus.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. [Psalms 130:3-4]

God welcomes the painful, tearful cry for justice, but He also sees that we need more than justice, we need mercy, we need forgiveness, we need help.
Thankfully Jesus look at all of us as He suffers for our crimes, and says “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
And the interesting thing about this, is that it is precisely this justice and mercy that lets people know that God really is God, and that He really is good.
It was the remarkable, merciful example of Jesus that led the Roman guard to recognize Him.
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” [Mark 15:39]
This is the result of witnessing God’s justice and mercy on the cross, what the psalmist was praying for.
Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. [Psalm 83:18]

PRAYER:
Lord, my heart breaks for the abused ones, and with pain I cry for justice… but also for mercy. Thank You that we all have a chance to come to our senses and to repent of our sin, and to receive Your mercy.