Craig Thomas

The eleventh set of eight verses is labeled "KAPH" (vv. 81-88).  Let’s consider two nuggets of wisdom from this section.  First, a common theme in the Psalms appears in this section as the psalmist pleads for comfort from God due to his sufferings at the hands of his persecutors (v. 84).  Persecution is the common fate of "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:12).  So, the question is not "if" but "when" one seeking to be faithful will experience such trials.  Nobody desires such circumstances, but we need to have the attitude of the apostles when they were beaten for their stand for Christ.  Luke records that after they were shamefully beaten for speaking in the name of Christ they went on their way "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41).  This fiery trial did not deter or stop them!  Luke goes on to tell us "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." (Acts 5:42).  They understood it was not their place to take vengeance for their persecution but to leave that for God (cf. Rom. 12:19-20).  They trusted God in His good time would exact perfect justice on their behalf.  So, must we!

The psalmist is anxious and impatient in this regard as he calls out in v. 82 ("When will You comfort me?"); v. 84 ("When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?"); and finally he calls out in seeming frustration in v. 86:  "They persecute me wrongfully; Help me!"  God's vengeance is meted out according to His timetable not ours!  For example, the martyred saints in Revelation 6 call out to God for vindication in verse 10:  "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"  God did ultimately judge their Roman persecutors, but it took several centuries for that judgment to be completed (see Rev. 19).  Likewise, we too must exercise patience and wait on God's perfect vindication from those that persecute us.

The second nugget of wisdom is related to the first.  As the psalmist waits for the Lord's vindication what does he do?  Does he plot evil against his persecutors?  No!  He maintains his hope by looking to God's word (v. 81), he does not forget to observe God's law in his life (vv. 83, 87, 88), and he asks the Lord to "revive" him according to the Lord's "lovingkindness" (v. 88).

It is critical for us to remember that even in the depths of the fiery furnace of affliction God will not forsake us!  (cf. Heb. 13:5-6).  God did not abandon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace (Dan. 3:19-30).  Neither will He abandon us!  We need to cultivate a strong faith like Meshach and his friends by doing as the psalmist did.  He looked constantly to God's word!

" 31 What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?  It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns?  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

'For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.'

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:31-39)