Finding Refuge in God's Justice Amid Injustice

Devotional

Day 1: God is just, so talk to Him

When faced with injustice, our first response should be to turn to God in prayer, not to ourselves or our circumstances. David models this by seeking refuge in God, addressing Him personally and relationally, and trusting not in God's benefits but in God's very person. We are reminded that God is not a distant force but the ultimate refuge, always present and willing to listen. No matter how overwhelming the situation, we can approach Him honestly, knowing He is our deliverer and protector, never failing in His coverage or care. [01:01:37]

Psalm 7:1-2 (CSB)
Yahweh my God, I seek refuge in you; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me or they will tear me like a lion, ripping me apart with no one to rescue.

Reflection: When you face a situation that feels unfair or overwhelming today, will you pause and honestly tell God exactly how you feel and what you need, trusting Him as your ultimate refuge?

Day 2: Be honest with God about your danger

God already knows everything about our circumstances, so we are free to speak plainly and honestly with Him about the dangers and fears we face. David does not downplay his peril or hide behind religious clichés; instead, he describes his situation vividly and truthfully. We are encouraged to move beyond "bumper sticker theology" and bring our real emotions and struggles to God, knowing He is not offended by our honesty but welcomes it. God is not only able to handle our raw prayers—He desires them, because He sees, hears, and understands us completely. [01:09:31]

Psalm 7:2 (CSB)
Or they will tear me like a lion, ripping me apart with no one to rescue.

Reflection: What is one fear or struggle you have been minimizing or hiding from God? Will you bring it to Him in prayer today, speaking as honestly as David did?

Day 3: God is just, so remember that He knows you

When falsely accused or misunderstood, it is tempting to defend ourselves before others, but David shows us a better way: entrust your reputation and your heart to the God who knows you fully. Instead of mounting a public defense, David appeals to God's perfect knowledge and justice, even inviting God to judge him if the accusations are true. This radical trust is possible because God sees all, knows all, and judges justly. Even when others misunderstand or misrepresent us, we can rest in the assurance that God knows the truth about us. [01:19:43]

Psalm 7:3-5 (CSB)
Yahweh my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice on my hands, if I have done harm to one at peace with me or have plundered my adversary without cause, may an enemy pursue and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

Reflection: Is there a situation where you feel wrongly accused or misunderstood? How can you entrust your heart and reputation to God today, rather than seeking to justify yourself before others?

Day 4: Jesus is the perfectly righteous King who stands for us

Unlike David, who could only claim situational innocence, Jesus alone is perfectly righteous and blameless in every way. He endured false accusations and injustice, yet entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly, becoming a curse for us so that His righteousness could be credited to us. In all the moments when we cannot claim innocence, Jesus stands in our place, representing us before God with His perfect obedience. This is our hope: that even when we fall short, Jesus' righteousness speaks for us and secures our acceptance before God. [01:28:54]

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel unworthy or unable to stand before God? How does knowing that Jesus’ perfect righteousness covers you change the way you approach God today?

Day 5: God’s justice is compassionate, gracious, and faithful

God’s justice is not only about judgment but is also marked by compassion, grace, and steadfast love for His people. For those who trust in Christ, God’s justice means forgiveness, faithful love, and the assurance that He is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Even as He judges the wicked, He extends grace to those who rest in Jesus’ righteousness. This truth invites us to worship, to rest in His faithful love, and to remember that His justice is always for our good and His glory. [01:37:34]

Exodus 34:6-7 (CSB)
The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

Reflection: How does knowing that God’s justice is full of compassion and faithful love encourage you to trust Him more deeply with both your failures and your desire for justice in the world?

Sermon Summary

In a world where injustice is not just possible but inevitable, it is both comforting and challenging to remember that God is perfectly just. Our longing for justice is not a flaw but a reflection of being made in the image of a just God. Yet, as we look around, we see that justice is often denied or delayed, and sometimes we ourselves are the victims of unfairness, slander, or outright harm. Psalm 7 gives us a window into how to respond when injustice is not just an abstract concept but a personal reality.

David, facing false accusations and real danger, models for us a way to find refuge in God’s justice. He does not first turn to self-defense, public relations, or even to his own inner resources. Instead, he turns to God—personally, relationally, and honestly. David’s prayer is not sanitized or filled with platitudes; he speaks plainly about his fears and the threats against him, trusting that God is not only able to hear but also willing to act. This is not a distant deity but Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God who knows and cares for his people.

David’s honesty in prayer is a rebuke to our tendency to minimize our struggles or hide our pain behind theological slogans. God’s omniscience means we can be completely transparent with him—he already knows, and he invites us to bring our real selves before him. When accused unjustly, David does not rush to clear his name before men but appeals to the God who knows his heart. He is willing to let God be the judge, even to the point of saying, “If I am guilty, let the consequences fall on me.” This radical trust is rooted in the conviction that God’s justice is not only perfect but also personal.

Yet, David’s example also points us beyond himself. He was not always innocent, and neither are we. Only Jesus, the true King, could stand before God and men with absolute righteousness, enduring the ultimate injustice for our sake. His perfect obedience and sacrificial death mean that, even when we cannot claim innocence, his righteousness speaks for us. In Christ, we find both the justice and the mercy our hearts crave.

So, when injustice comes—whether in the world or in our own lives—we are invited to seek refuge in God’s justice: to pray honestly, to trust that he knows us, and to rest in the righteousness of Christ, who is our ultimate advocate and refuge.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s justice is our ultimate refuge in a world of injustice. When we are wronged, our first response should be to turn to God in prayer, not to ourselves or to others. He is not just a distant judge but a personal, covenant-keeping God who invites us to bring our real fears and needs before him. [57:50]
2. Honest prayer is an act of faith, not weakness. David models a raw honesty before God, refusing to hide behind religious clichés or minimize his pain. Because God knows everything, we are free to speak plainly about our struggles, trusting that he hears and understands even what we cannot articulate. [69:31]
3. God’s knowledge of us is both comforting and humbling. When falsely accused, David appeals to the God who knows his heart, rather than seeking vindication from people. This trust in God’s perfect knowledge frees us from the endless cycle of self-justification and allows us to rest in his verdict, not the world’s. [79:43]
4. The call to entrust ourselves to God’s justice is not a call to passivity, but to faith. There are times to defend ourselves, but often the most Christlike response is to “take it to the Ref”—to let God be the judge. Jesus himself modeled this, entrusting himself to the One who judges justly, even when he suffered the greatest injustice. [86:01]
5. Our hope is not in our own innocence, but in Christ’s righteousness. David could only claim situational innocence; we, too, are often complicit in the world’s brokenness. But Jesus, the truly righteous King, endured injustice for us, so that his perfect record could be ours. In him, we find both justice and mercy, and the assurance that God’s verdict over us is “forgiven and beloved.” [88:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Announcements and Training Update
[10:12] - The Call to Equip Every Believer
[15:30] - Introducing the Docomos Program
[22:40] - Romans 8 Preaching Series Announcement
[29:55] - High Standards and Realistic Expectations
[38:37] - Encouragement for the Congregation
[45:46] - Reading Psalm 7
[49:30] - The Universal Longing for Justice
[52:48] - David’s Experience of Injustice
[57:50] - Finding Refuge in God’s Justice
[61:37] - God as Our Ultimate Refuge
[69:31] - Honest Prayer in the Face of Danger
[71:23] - God Knows Our Hearts
[79:43] - Responding to False Accusations
[86:01] - Entrusting Ourselves to God’s Judgment
[88:54] - Christ, the True Innocent Sufferer
[91:03] - Closing Prayer and Communion
[94:44] - The Lord’s Table
[97:34] - God’s Compassion and Faithful Love

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 7 (ESV) —
> 1 O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
> 2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.
> 3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,
> 4 if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause,
> 5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah
> 6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.
> 7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.
> 8 The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.
> 9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!
> 10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
> 11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
> 12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
> 13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.
> 14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.
> 15 He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.
> 16 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.
> 17 I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 7:1-2, what specific dangers does David mention, and how does he describe his need for God’s help?
According to verses 3-5, what accusations is David facing, and how does he respond to them before God?
How does David describe God’s character in verses 9-11, and what does this reveal about his understanding of God’s justice?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say about David’s approach to prayer when he is wronged?

Interpretation Questions

Why does David choose to bring his case before God rather than defend himself publicly or seek vindication from others? What does this show about his trust in God?
The sermon points out that David is radically honest in his prayer, even willing to accept consequences if he is guilty. What does this level of honesty and vulnerability before God teach us about faith?
The pastor mentions that only Jesus could stand before God and men with absolute righteousness. How does this truth shape the way we approach God when we are not innocent?
The sermon says, “God’s knowledge of us is both comforting and humbling.” In what ways can God’s perfect knowledge be a comfort, and in what ways can it be humbling or even unsettling?

Application Questions

When you experience injustice or are falsely accused, what is your first instinct—to defend yourself, to seek support from others, or to turn to God in prayer? Why do you think you respond this way?
The sermon challenges us to be honest in prayer, not hiding behind religious clichés or minimizing our pain. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to be more honest with God about your struggles or fears? What would it look like to pray honestly about it?
David is willing to let God be the judge, even if it means facing consequences. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to let go of self-justification or the need to clear your name? What would it look like to entrust those situations to God’s justice?
The pastor said, “Sometimes the most Christlike response is to ‘take it to the Ref’—to let God be the judge.” Can you think of a recent time when you were tempted to fight for your own vindication? How might you respond differently in light of this teaching?
The sermon reminds us that our hope is not in our own innocence, but in Christ’s righteousness. How does this truth affect the way you view your failures, your need for forgiveness, and your relationship with God?
The pastor shared that God’s justice is not a call to passivity, but to faith. Are there situations where you need to take action, and others where you need to wait and trust God? How do you discern the difference?
Reflecting on God’s perfect knowledge and justice, is there someone you need to forgive or a situation you need to release to God’s hands this week? What step could you take to do that?

Sermon Clips

If you are a Christian, it's not a matter of whether you have a ministry. The question is, what is your ministry? And part of my job is not necessarily to—this is one of the reasons that I don't like being called a minister per se, because for most people what they hear is, oh, he's the guy that does ministry. No, Ephesians 4 makes it clear—actually, lots of places in the New Testament make it clear—if you're a Christian, you're a minister. Now, some of us are very public and upfront with the ministry we do, but if you're a Christian, you are a minister, and God's word says my job is essentially to equip you to do the work of the ministry. [00:28:26] (40 seconds) #EveryChristianIsAMinister

Justice is a good thing. There are, of course, people who mystify it. There are people who will call things justice issues that aren't—that's a whole other conversation for another time—but the reality is, justice is a good thing. But let's be real for a moment: as good as justice is, does justice always happen in this world? I mean, it would be great if it did, but sadly, in a world as fallen as ours, it's not just the case that injustice happens. In fact, I'm going to say you should expect injustice to happen. [00:50:51] (43 seconds) #ExpectInjusticeWithFaith

When we are confronted by injustice, what should we do? How should we respond to injustice? Actually, I might need to revise my own question here for a moment. For a moment, let's not talk about what you should do. Let's peel back a second. Let's peel a layer for a moment here: what should you believe in the moments when injustice visits you? That's what I think Psalm 7 is going to help us to understand. What should we believe in the moments when injustice knocks on our door or kicks the door down more likely? [00:53:55] (41 seconds) #BelieveInGodsJustice

Might I suggest that if God knows everything, maybe we could, I don't know, by some stretch of the imagination, maybe we could just be honest about the dangers we face and how we're feeling in the moment. David speaks plainly about the danger he is in because, catch this, David knew that God saw, that God heard, and that God understood. He didn't have to put on airs and graces with God precisely because he knows that God listens. [01:09:35] (36 seconds) #PrayWithHonestyToGod

Can I encourage you? It's my way of application. Can I encourage you? Be honest in prayer. Listen, God doesn't have feelings. You're not going to hurt. You ever thought about that? God, the classical teaching about God tells us that God is without bodies, parts, or passions. He doesn't have feelings like you do. If I say the wrong thing to you, your feelings get hurt. God's feelings can't get hurt. Now, again, that's not a license for you to be disrespectful and irreverent in prayer, but it is a license for you to be honest in prayer. God can take it. And besides, who better to speak to anyway? God is just, so talk to him and talk honestly to him. [01:10:13] (46 seconds) #InjusticeLeadsToPrayer

Injustice ought to point us to God in prayer, because God is just, and so we can talk to him. And since God is just, lesson number two this morning, remember that he knows you. God is just, so remember that he knows you. [01:11:23] (18 seconds) #GodKnowsYouDeeply

David doesn't look at the person who's saying these words. He doesn't look at the people who might be listening to them. David looks to heaven and says, this dude doesn't know me, but God, you do. [01:23:01] (15 seconds) #TakeInjusticeToTheRef

Isn't it good to know that there's somebody for whom that's never the case? He never had injustice on his hands. He had never done harm to one that was at peace—in fact, he did good for his enemies. The reality is, outside of Jesus, if God knows you to this degree, these words are not good news—they're terrifying words. A God who knows everything is, for some—think about this, if you're a criminal, the last thing you want is for the police to be on your case. All of us before the bar of divine justice are criminals. None of us can appeal to God, if we're honest, and say, "Look at me, I haven't—I am completely innocent." You might be situationally innocent, but only one person truly is, and he models for us what it is to be able to say these words not just in a relative sense but in an absolute sense. [01:30:18] (72 seconds) #GodKnowsAllIsGoodNews

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