“O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render punishment to the proud. 3 Lord, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph? 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. 5 They break in pieces Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, “The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand.” 8 Understand, you senseless among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.” Psalm 94:1-11 NKJV
Father and Lord,
Sometimes we turn to Your Word not for comfort or to learn or to receive understanding but because we have questions and concerns. I love this Psalm because it puts into fluent and succinct words, what I have felt after hearing, watching or reading the news. And we wonder where You are amidst all the war and death and iniquity. Iniquity, not a word we use much now but it absolutely fits today’s news- a severe lack of justice, profound immorality, wickedness, or a sinful act.
We stand in a dilemma knowing You are God, judge and wise and yet seem to be standing aside and we do not understand Your patience. You remind us that our thoughts are futile. We do not see the whole picture. So we keep on asking, keep on trusting. The end of the Psalm says, “But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought on them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; the Lord our God shall cut them off.” Psalm 94:22-23 NKJV.
We know that one day there will be a day of judgement and as Jesus said a seperation of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). But it seems so long away and so many suffer and die in war now. Lord God, help us and those who can to end present iniquity.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 28th April 2026
This prayerful Brazilian hymn was composed by Rodolfo Gaede Neto (a pastor and theology professor) and published in 1988 in Portuguese. An English translation was published in 2004. A choir in Lincoln, Nebraska sings the English lyrics in this video from a church service:
For the troubles and the sufferings of the world,
God, we call upon your mercy:
the whole creation’s laboring in pain!
Lend a ear to the rising cry for help
from oppressed and hopeless people.
Come! hasten your salvation, healing love!
We pray for peace,
the blessed peace
that comes from making justice,
to cover and embrace us.
Have mercy, Lord!
We pray for power,
the power that will
sustain your people’s witness:
until your Kingdom come,
Kyrie eleison! (Lord have mercy)
Lyrics: Rodolfo Gaede Neto