Bible Commentaries

DISCOURSE: 501

GOD’S INDIGNATION AGAINST THE WICKED

Psalms 7:11-13. God judgeth the righteous; and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death.

IN one psalm, David begins, “The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice:” in another, “The Lord reigneth; let the earth tremble [Note: Psalms 97:1; Psalms 99:1.].” Either exhortation is suitable, according to the persons who are more especially addressed. The godly may well rejoice, that He, whom they serve, has all things at his command: and well may the ungodly tremble, that He whom they offend is able to vindicate the honour of his insulted Majesty. To the oppressors and oppressed, this truth is of equal moment. The oppressed David, reflecting on it with delight, said, “My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart [Note: ver. 10.].” But the oppressor may expect this Almighty Being to espouse the cause of his people, and to execute upon their enemies the vengeance they deserve.

In the words before us we see the conduct of God,

I. In his moral government here—

The righteous are the objects of his tender care—

[The Jews were governed by judges for above four hundred years [Note: Acts 13:20.]: and the term “judging” was used as importing government and protection. In this sense David uses it in another psalm, where he says, “O let the nations be glad, and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth [Note: Psalms 67:4.].” Now, there is not any benefit which the most wise or powerful monarch can bestow on his subjects, which God will not impart to his obedient people. Particularly will he shield them from every oppressor, and keep them safely under the shadow of his wings. His care of Abraham and the Patriarchs, in all their pilgrimages, and in all their perils, well illustrates this; as does more especially his constant and miraculous interposition on the behalf of David, amidst the bitter persecutions of the unrelenting Saul. The deliverances vouchsafed to God’s saints of old are still continued to his Church and people; though, from their being less visible, they are, for the most part, overlooked. But God is still “a wall of fire round about them [Note: Zechariah 2:5.];” and “whosoever toucheth one of them toucheth the apple of his eye [Note: Zechariah 2:8.].”]

The wicked, on the contrary, are the objects of his merited displeasure—

[He is not indifferent about the actions of men, as too many suppose. He marks the conduct of the wicked; and “he is angry with them every day.” Of course, we are not to suppose that God really feels those strong emotions which we call anger and wrath: such expressions are applied to him only in a figurative sense, in order to teach us what will be his dispensations towards us. But we do right to use the language of Scripture: and, in conformity with that, I say, that he views with indignation the impiety of those who cast off his fear, and walk after the imagination of their own hearts. Whether their actions be more or less decent in the eyes of the world, it makes but little difference in his eyes, so long as they live to themselves, instead of unto him. He looks for them to repent, and “turn to him:” and for this event he waits with much long-suffering and forbearance, “not willing that any of them should perish, but that they all should come to repentance and live.” If they would turn to him, he would lay aside his anger in an instant, and receive them to the arms of mercy. But, whilst they continue impenitent, he meditates nothing but to display towards them his merited indignation. With a view to their excision, “he whets his sword, and bends, with an unerring hand, his bow for their destruction.” Could we but see with the eye of faith, we should behold the arrow, now already on the string, pointed at their hearts; and nothing remaining, but that the string be loosed from his hand, to bring them down, and to cast them into everlasting perdition. For them, too, he is preparing the instrument of death, even of everlasting death: as it is written, “Tophet is ordained of old; for the King it is prepared: he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood: the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it [Note: Isaiah 30:33.].” Happy would it be if a thoughtless world would consider this: for, whether they will reflect upon it or not, “their judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not [Note: 2 Peter 2:3.].”]

This equitable discrimination will be rendered visible to all,

II. In his judicial proceedings at the last day—

Then will he approve and reward the righteous—

[Here they are traduced, and loaded with all manner of obloquy: but there, “He, that trieth the hearts and reins [Note: Psalms 7:9.],” will appear in their behalf, and vindicate them from the calumnies with which they have been aspersed. He will bear testimony to those secret principles of faith and love whereby they were enabled to live to his glory; and then shall “their righteousness shine forth as the noon-day.” All that they did for him in this world was misinterpreted, as proceeding from pride, or vanity, or hypocrisy: but he will acknowledge them as “Israelites in whom was no guile;” and, in the presence of their now prostrate enemies, he will exalt them to thrones and kingdoms for evermore.]

But the wicked he will then consign to merited shame and punishment—

[It is remarkable that the day of judgment is called, by St. Peter, “the day of the perdition of ungodly men [Note: 2 Peter 3:7.].” Yes, here, for the most part, they escaped punishment: but there they shall all, without exception, meet a just reward. Wheresoever they have fled to hide themselves, “his right hand shall find them out;” and to his attendant angels he will say, “Bring hither those that were mine enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, and slay them before me.” Hear how God contemplates the judgments that await them: “To me belongeth vengeance and recompence: their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste …. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh [Note: Deuteronomy 32:35; Deuteronomy 32:41-42.].” True it is, that these judgments have a primary reference to this world; but they shew how inconceivably awful must be the vengeance which he will execute on the ungodly in the world to come. Who can think of these judgments and not tremble? for “who knoweth the power of his anger?” and “who can dwell with everlasting burnings?”]

See, then,

1. The importance of ascertaining your real character—

[If you will inquire who the wicked are, to whom this fearful doom will be assigned, you will scarcely find one: all hope that they are in a better state. But God will not judge us by the standard which we have fixed for ourselves, but by that which he has established for us in his Law and in his Gospel. To what purpose, then, will you deceive yourselves now, when you will so soon be undeceived, and reap the bitter fruits of your folly? O! turn to the Lord without delay; and never rest till you have received in your souls the favourable tokens of his acceptance.]

2. The blessedness of having God for your friend—

[If he be your enemy, the whole world cannot protect you from his avenging arm. But if he be your friend, who, or what, can harm you? As for man, he cannot touch a hair of your head without God’s permission: and if he be suffered to assault you for a time, you shall have an ample recompence in the eternal world. Realize the idea, that God is governing the world, and will judge it in the last day; and then you need not fear what all the confederate hosts of earth and hell can do against you.]