Longing for Justice: God's Judgment and Mercy
Summary
Psalm 28 gives voice to the deep ache we feel when confronted with injustice—whether in our own lives, in our communities, or in the world at large. David’s urgent cry for deliverance from evil is not just a personal lament, but a model for how to bring our pain and longing for justice before God. He pleads for God to hear him, to not be silent, and to not let him be swept away with the wicked. At the heart of this prayer is the conviction that God’s judgment is not only real, but necessary—a moral necessity in a world marred by evil.
David’s prayer is driven by two fears: the silence of God and the reality of death and judgment. He lifts his hands toward the sanctuary, expressing utter dependence on God, who is both his rock and his refuge. The psalm reminds us that God is not distant or indifferent; He hears the cries of His people and is actively engaged in their lives. David’s lament turns to praise as he celebrates God’s faithfulness, strength, and saving power—not just for himself, but for the whole community.
The reality of God’s judgment is sobering. Scripture teaches that God punishes sin in multiple ways: through the brokenness we experience in this world, through death, at the cross, and ultimately in the final judgment. The pain, decay, and injustice we see are not always direct punishments for specific sins, but they are evidence that things are not as they should be. God sometimes gives people over to their own desires, allowing the consequences of self-worship and rebellion to unfold. Death itself is a sign of God’s judgment, a reminder that we were made for life with Him, but have chosen our own way.
Yet, the story does not end with judgment. In His love, God sent Jesus to bear the penalty we deserve. Jesus, the only truly righteous one, willingly died as our substitute, so that all who trust in Him might be forgiven and receive new life. The cross is the ultimate demonstration of both God’s justice and His mercy. There is a day coming when all wrongs will be set right, when Christ will return to judge and renew the world. Until then, we are called to entrust ourselves to the God who judges justly, to cry out for His justice, and to live as people shaped by the hope of the gospel.
Key Takeaways
- The ache of injustice is a sign that our hearts long for a world set right, and this longing is not misplaced. God’s judgment is a moral necessity, ensuring that evil does not have the last word. When we encounter injustice, we are invited to bring our cries and questions honestly before God, trusting that He hears and cares. [04:56]
- God’s judgment is not arbitrary or vindictive; it is rooted in His holiness and goodness. He sees beyond outward appearances to the motives and actions of every heart. This means we can entrust ourselves and our situations to Him, knowing that He alone judges with perfect justice and mercy. [05:52]
- The consequences of sin are both immediate and ultimate. Sometimes God’s judgment is seen in the unraveling of our lives and relationships when we pursue our own desires apart from Him. The emptiness, anxiety, and brokenness that result are not just random misfortunes, but warnings that life apart from God leads to ruin. [13:00]
- The cross of Christ is the intersection of God’s justice and love. Jesus willingly took the punishment we deserve, dying in our place so that we might live. This is not just a theological idea, but a reality that calls for a personal response: to turn from self-reliance and trust in Christ alone for salvation. [17:59]
- The hope of final judgment and renewal empowers us to persevere in the face of injustice. We are not left to despair or to take vengeance into our own hands. Instead, we are called to cry out for God’s justice, to commit ourselves to His mission, and to encourage one another as we await the day when Christ will make all things new. [26:55]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:47] - David’s Urgent Cry for Deliverance
[01:28] - The Plea for Justice and God’s Response
[04:56] - The Ache of Injustice and the Necessity of Judgment
[05:52] - God Hears and Judges Justly
[09:59] - The Unfolding of God’s Judgment in Daily Life
[13:00] - The Consequences of Choices and the Reality of Sin
[17:59] - The Cross: Where Justice and Love Meet
[22:22] - The Final Judgment and the Nature of Hell
[23:16] - God’s Judgment: Past, Present, and Future
[24:41] - Living Without Fear Because of Christ
[26:55] - Responding to Injustice and Living as Disciples
[28:00] - Commitment to Worship and Community
[29:00] - Prayer and Preparation for the Lord’s Supper
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 28 – Crying Out for Justice and Trusting God’s Judgment
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### Bible Reading
Psalm 28 (ESV)
> To you, O Lord, I call;
> my rock, be not deaf to me,
> lest, if you be silent to me,
> I become like those who go down to the pit.
> Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
> when I cry to you for help,
> when I lift up my hands
> toward your most holy sanctuary.
> Do not drag me off with the wicked,
> with the workers of evil,
> who speak peace with their neighbors
> while evil is in their hearts.
> Give to them according to their work
> and according to the evil of their deeds;
> give to them according to the work of their hands;
> render them their due reward.
> Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
> or the work of his hands,
> he will tear them down and build them up no more.
> Blessed be the Lord!
> For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
> The Lord is my strength and my shield;
> in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
> my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
> The Lord is the strength of his people;
> he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
> Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
> Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
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### Observation Questions
1. What are the two main fears that drive David’s prayer in Psalm 28? ([04:56])
2. In verses 3-5, what does David specifically ask God to do regarding the wicked?
3. How does David’s tone and focus shift in verses 6-9 compared to the earlier verses?
4. According to the sermon, what does David’s act of lifting his hands toward the sanctuary represent? ([04:56])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does David plead so urgently for God not to be silent? What does God’s silence represent for him? ([04:56])
2. The sermon says that God’s judgment is a “moral necessity.” Why is it important for David—and for us—to believe that God will judge evil? ([04:56])
3. How does the reality of God’s judgment, both now and in the future, affect the way believers should respond to injustice? ([26:55])
4. The sermon describes the cross as the intersection of God’s justice and love. How does understanding Jesus as our substitute change the way we view God’s judgment? ([17:59])
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### Application Questions
1. The ache of injustice is described as a sign that our hearts long for a world set right. When was the last time you felt this ache? How did you respond—did you bring it honestly before God, or did you try to handle it on your own? ([04:56])
2. The sermon warns that sometimes God’s judgment is seen in the unraveling of our lives when we pursue our own desires apart from Him. Are there areas in your life where you see the consequences of self-reliance or self-worship? What would it look like to turn those areas over to God? ([13:00])
3. David lifts his hands in dependence on God. What is one practical way you can express your dependence on God this week, especially when you feel overwhelmed by injustice or suffering? ([04:56])
4. The cross is described as the place where God’s justice and love meet. Have you personally responded to Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and new life? If so, how does this shape your daily life? If not, what holds you back from trusting Him? ([17:59])
5. The hope of final judgment and renewal is meant to empower us to persevere and not take vengeance into our own hands. Is there a situation where you are tempted to “get even” or lose hope? How can you entrust this to God’s justice instead? ([26:55])
6. The sermon calls us to commit ourselves to God’s mission and to encourage one another as we wait for Christ to make all things new. What is one step you can take this week to encourage someone else who is struggling with injustice or suffering? ([26:55])
7. The psalm ends with praise and thanksgiving. What is one thing you can thank God for today, even in the midst of pain or uncertainty? ([24:41])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray honestly about the injustices they see or experience, to entrust themselves and their situations to God, and to thank Him for His justice, mercy, and the hope found in Christ.
Devotional
Day 1: God Hears Our Cries for Justice
When faced with injustice and evil, we are invited to pour out our hearts to God, trusting that He is not deaf to our pleas but is our rock, strength, and shield. David’s urgent prayer in Psalm 28 models a faith that does not ignore the pain of injustice but brings it honestly before the Lord, lifting hands toward His holy presence and depending on His steadfast love. Even when God seems silent or distant, we are encouraged to persist in prayer, knowing that He listens and cares deeply for His people. In times of grief, anger, or confusion over the brokenness of the world, you can confidently entrust your burdens to the God who hears and responds. [05:52]
Psalm 28:1-2, 6-9 (ESV)
To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary... Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Reflection: When you witness or experience injustice today, will you take a moment to honestly cry out to God, naming your pain and trusting Him to hear you?
Day 2: God Judges Justly and Sees the Heart
God’s justice is not limited to outward actions but penetrates to the motives and desires of the heart. While people may speak peace with their neighbors, God discerns the evil that may reside within. He distinguishes between good and evil, rewarding each according to their deeds, and calls us to entrust ourselves to His righteous judgment rather than seeking vengeance ourselves. In a world where injustice often seems to prevail, you are invited to rest in the assurance that God sees all, knows all, and will ultimately set things right. [04:56]
Psalm 28:3-5 (ESV)
Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. Give to them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more.
Reflection: Is there a situation where you are tempted to take justice into your own hands? How can you entrust this to God’s perfect judgment today?
Day 3: Sin’s Consequences and God’s Judgment in the Present
The brokenness, pain, and suffering we see in the world are not random but are signs of God’s judgment against sin—both in the world at large and in the choices we make. God sometimes allows people to experience the bitter consequences of their own desires, giving them over to what they pursue apart from Him. This is not always a direct punishment for a specific act, but a reflection of a world that is not as it should be because of humanity’s rebellion. You are called to recognize the seriousness of sin and the reality that living apart from God leads to emptiness and destruction, urging you to turn to Him for true life. [09:59]
Romans 1:24-25 (ESV)
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Reflection: In what area of your life are you experiencing the consequences of self-reliance or misplaced desires? What would it look like to surrender this area to God today?
Day 4: Christ’s Sacrifice Delivers Us from Final Judgment
Though all have sinned and are subject to God’s judgment, the good news is that Jesus Christ willingly took our punishment upon Himself at the cross. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we deserved, offering Himself as our substitute so that we might be forgiven and receive new life. This act of love means that those who trust in Christ no longer need to fear death or final judgment, but can live in the freedom and hope of His salvation. You are invited to rest in Christ’s finished work, knowing that He has conquered death and offers eternal life to all who believe. [24:41]
John 3:36 (ESV)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Reflection: Have you truly received Christ’s sacrifice for you? If so, how does this assurance change the way you face fear, guilt, or the reality of death today?
Day 5: Responding to Injustice with Faith and Mission
Because God is both just and loving, and because Christ has secured our salvation, we are called to respond to the injustice we see by entrusting ourselves and our world to God in prayer and by committing ourselves to His mission. Rather than being paralyzed by the evil around us, we are to gather in worship, encourage one another, and invest our time, talents, and treasures in making and growing mature disciples. As you experience the brokenness of the world, let it move you to deeper prayer, greater gratitude, and active participation in God’s redemptive work. [26:55]
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Reflection: What is one practical way you can join in God’s mission—through prayer, encouragement, or service—when confronted with injustice or suffering this week?
Quotes
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