Tell it like it is. That’s what God wants us to do, not to pretend everything is OK. David makes a complaint to God, sharing his trouble about the way his enemies act with impunity and arrogance. They say whatever they like, hurtful and unjustified words that wound and scar (v 3). Social media is full of such uninhibited slanders, ambushing the unwary and causing untold damage. Are these not cause for taking our anger and perplexity to God in prayer? And every time we use words to tear down rather than build up, our sorrow needs to turn to repentance.

David complains, but as he works through his complaint it begins to dawn that he is not informing God of anything. There is no such thing as impunity in God’s universe. Everyone is accountable and God will even allow people to cause their own downfall by their excesses (v 8; see also Romans 1:24–26). Eventually those who have put no control on their tongues will also have to acknowledge Jesus as Lord (v 9). David finally arrives at a perspective that will enable him to persevere even in the face of opposition. Being godly is not fruitless. It is the way of rejoicing and protection.
 

O make me understand it, / help me to take it in; / what it meant to thee, the Holy One, / to bear away my sin.’¹

Here we have another ‘lament psalm’ that very definitely begins with a ‘complaint’ (v 1). This complaint is repeated many times in Scripture, not least in Jeremiah 12:1 ‘You are always righteous, Lord … Yet I would speak with you about your justice: why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?’ Throughout the ages, believers and would-be believers have struggled with the question as to how a good and all-powerful God can let such terrible things happen. There are many answers that can be given, but few of them seem to convince one who has not yet personally encountered the living God. In this instance the psalmist wrestles not with a question from outside but with his own incomprehension and upset. It is good to know that this kind of questioning is affirmed rather than criticised! 

The writer reflects on the fact that eventually these perverters of justice will be given their comeuppance by our just God: the ‘when?’ is left unanswered. ‘All people’ (v 9), both the boasting unjust and the questioning psalmist, will see this happening. The implication here is that it won’t be in the way that either party really expected! ‘All people will fear’, but only the righteous ‘will rejoice’ (v 10)! We are often overwhelmed by particular circumstances, but once our focus moves away from what is happening to God himself, then our perspective changes. Whether or not the situation has changed, and there is no promise here or elsewhere that the timing of God’s arrow against injustice will be soon, God is still there as our refuge. We can’t rejoice in our circumstances, but we can ‘rejoice in the Lord’ (v 10). When the answer is eventually revealed, we will be able to ‘glory in him’.

Give voice to any ‘complaint’ against God that you, or others, now have. Reflect on what you know of God and how you might ‘take refuge in him’ (v 10).

¹ KAM Kelly, ‘Give Me a Sght, O Saviour’, 1944