It Isn’t Fair!

“He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:8-9

Any of us who had siblings growing up know the feeling of unfairness. We always felt like the other guy got better presents, bigger pieces of cake, more of the candy bar, easier chores. Everyone else got later bedtimes, more privileges, and less punishment. Poor me. All I got was hand-me-downs and crumbs, AND I had to walk to school in the snow, barefooted.

We are very sensitive to whether we are being treated fairly. We want to be given what everyone else seems to have been given. We want to know the secrets that everyone else seems to know. We want to possess at least as much as the person next to us possesses. We deserve reasonable happiness; we deserve to receive what we have worked so hard for.

As I read the Psalms, David repeatedly asks the Lord to avenge him. Punish his enemies for the trouble they have caused him. Avenge the oppressed. Indeed, David was sorely tried, far more than most of us living today will ever experience. He was running for his life, hiding in caves, constantly watching over his shoulder, and unfairly accused by his own son. On top of that, the king was trying to kill him.

The Bible makes it clear that a Judgment Day is coming, where the wicked and unrighteous will finally be judged and sentenced. We’re told to wait for that day instead of taking matters into our own hands and trying to enforce an early judgment of our own choosing.

But we want it now. Is it fair for another person to hurt me so deeply, and not be reprimanded? Is there no justice on this earth, when someone is oppressed and unfairly treated right now? When someone is careless with their words and shoots a verbal barb at me, and it sticks, and I complain to the Lord, will He not arise on my behalf, as David so often requested?

The Lord stilled my complaints with this: Is that how I want Him to treat me? The instant I am not careful with my words, the very time when I hurt another, when I am thoughtless, or even when I am ignorant and just act according to my flesh without considering others, do I wish He would execute swift justice?

No. I would expect a merciful God to give time for the Holy Spirit to work a mighty work of repentance in me. I want a chance to make it right. I want to be able to make amends and work on restoring the relationship I almost ruined.

God is not willing that any should perish. He wants me to participate in His work of restoring those who have hurt me, by praying for and loving my enemies. This benefits me. And as He delays His judgment, it benefits my enemy.

If I require immediate justice for my enemy, then that will be what I get, too. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:2).

Lord, may we be found full of mercy, grace, and forgiveness for those who have hurt us, for this is Your example to us. Give us a heart like Yours. Amen.