Psalms 94:3 - Homiletics

The saint's perplexity at the triumph of sin.

"Lord, how long?" etc. This question, which the inspired psalmist, in the anguish of his spirit, could not help putting, is not one of those which are solved by the lapse of time. Rather it grows more urgent. Thousands of years have rolled by since these words were written, and still the awful mystery confronts us which St. Paul so forcibly describes— sin reigning unto death . It is true that in each particular case "the triumphing of the wicked is short"—at least, compared with eternity. True, also, that nothing can shake the truth of the promise, which runs through the whole Bible, that, come what may, "it shall be well with the righteous"—eternally well—and that " all things shall work together for good to them that love God." Nevertheless, when we think, if we could wield absolute power with unerring knowledge, how eagerly we should make short work with injustice, cruelty, tyranny, lawless crime, we cannot but marvel at the spectacle, prolonged age after age, of our heavenly Father "making his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sending rain on the just and on the unjust." The psalmist assumes the fact as unquestionable, and reverently, yet urgently, appeals to God, as the Judge of the earth How long is it to be suffered to continue?

I. First, HERE IS THE UNDENIABLE FACT , WHICH WOULD ASTONISH US INFINITELY MORE THAN IT DOES , IF WE WERE NOT SO FAMILIAR WITH IT . "The wicked triumph."

1 . They do so every day, often for long years, in two ways—when they are strong enough, by defying justice; and when they are crafty enough, by evading justice. It is the former of these which especially awakens the indignation and distress of the psalmist. He sees might, which ought to be the servant of right, become the ally of wrong; and justice poisoned at its fountain. It is the spectacle which meets us on every page of history. Joseph a slave and an exile in the dungeon, while his brothers are peacefully feeding their flocks in Canaan, and his wicked, false accuser is dwelling in a palace. Pharaoh blaspheming on the throne, and God's people bleeding and weeping under the lash. Saul in his court, and David hiding in dens and caves. Nebuchadnezzar at the height of earthly glory, and God's faithful servants in the fiery furnace. Herod worshipped as a god, and James slain with the sword. Nero on the judgment seat, and Paul a prisoner at his bar. Popes receiving Divine honours, and martyrs for Christ burning at the stake. Ages roll on, and still, in one form or another, this hideous anomaly bears witness that we live in a world whose whole moral frame is disordered. True, as those ages roll, they show us another side to the picture. Joseph in power, and his brethren trembling before him. Pharaoh's host buried in the waters or bleaching on the shore, and Israel free. Saul stark on Gilboa, and David crowned and victorious. Nebuchadnezzar a maniac, herding with beasts. Herod eaten of worms. Nero a wretched suicide, hooted out of life with curses. But still, successors arise. History repeats itself. The One Arm which could strike down oppression, not only here and there, now and then, but everywhere and forever, seems to delay the blow ( Ecclesiastes 8:11 ). Still the cry goes up, which St. John heard from the souls beneath the altar, "How long, O Lord?" In our own land, thanks be to God, we must look back two hundred years if we would see tyranny and injustice openly triumphing on the throne and on the judgment seat, and God's servants exiled, starved, imprisoned merely for preaching the gospel. Englishmen have almost forgotten that such things ever were in England. But we see crime continually evading justice, and even successfully concealing itself behind a mask of respectability. One terrible vice—drunkenness—has this mitigating circumstance, that it cannot long be concealed, and the mischief and misery it works cannot be denied. But if dishonesty, extortion, gambling, false speaking, secret immorality, could in like manner be brought to view, it would be found (alas!) that the crimes human law can reach are but a fraction of crimes actually committed against the Law of God.

2 . There is a wider and deeper view we cannot help taking. The power of sin is the power of Satan . He is expressly declared to be "the prince of this world," "the god of this world," who blinds the minds of "them that believe not." Apart from this, neither the extreme wickedness of men nor the slow progress of Christ's kingdom and gospel can be accounted for.

II. IS THERE NO ANSWER TO THIS CRY WHICH HAS GONE UP FOR SO MANY AGES FROM GOD 'S PEOPLE TO HIS THRONE ? The tempest of his vengeance does not awaken. The lightning does not strike the tyrant, the slave dealer, the seducer, the assassin. The earthquake does not yawn under guilty cities. Satan is not yet chained. But yet, to the ear of faith there comes from God's Word an answer; not, indeed, such as to end the trial of faith, by clearing away the whole mystery of God's dealings; but enough to sustain faith, nourish patience and courage, kindle hope and stimulate labour. How long?

1 . Long enough to answer those Divine purposes for which sin was at first permitted to enter, and the wicked—wicked men or wicked spirits—ever to exist at all. We cannot avoid seeing that it was possible for God to have prevented sin from ever existing; if in no other way (of which we cannot judge), at all events by refraining from creating beings, angels or men, capable of sin. The lower creatures are incapable of sin, and, therefore, incapable also of obedience to moral law and of likeness to God. God has seen fit to create beings capable of loving him, knowing him, obeying him; therefore capable of sinning against him. Knowing infinitely better than we the mischief and misery of sin, he has seen it worth while to allow room for sin to display its character and consequences. And we may well believe the lessons thus taught wilt never be forgotten or need repeating in eternity.

2 . Long enough to reveal the infinite preciousness of the Divine atonement for sin—the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanseth from all sin; and the glorious power of Divine love, truth, and grace; the power, that is, of God's Spirit to restore even souls dead in sin to God's likeness.

3 . Long enough to perfect that trial of faith and discipline of character, by means of which God is training, in a world of temptation, sorrow, sin, and death, those whom he redeems "from this present evil world," for a life of perfect holiness and endless joy.

4 . Long enough to show beyond all question God's patience and long suffering, "not willing that any should perish;" and to justify his righteousness when at last he will "render to every man according to his deeds" ( Romans 2:2-11 ; John 5:22 ; 2 Peter 3:9 , 2 Peter 3:10 ).