Psalm 37:12 “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;”
[There will always be hatred for those who follow Jesus. The wicked will seek to eliminate anything that stands in their way, and we certainly are a thorn in their side, so we should expect opposition, hatred and attack. And we see this in many areas today with the Taliban, ISIS, militant Hindus Buhdists, and various governments attacking followers of Jesus.]
Psalm 37:13 “but the Lord laughs at the wicked,”
[“but” is a wonderful word here, bringing hope of justice, protection and deliverance. God is not intimidated by the anger and plots of the wicked: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” (Prov. 21:30). He is completely in control and will easily limit their actions to what He will use for good.]
“for he knows their day is coming.”
[Here is the key: God will competently bring judgment against those who oppose Him and attack His children. He stands outside of time, seeing the future as well as the past. He knows what He will do to thwart the plans of the wicked, judging them at the right time and in the right way. We can rest in this certainty of God’s power, plan and purpose.]
This is the same insight that Asaph came to in Psalm 73 where he wrote, For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
“When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!”
In the midst of a tumultuous world filled with injustice and uncertainty, we can rest in our God, knowing that He will bring justice at the right time!
