I'm Not God

Don't kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord, our shield. Because of the sinful things they say, because of the evil that is on their lips, let them be captured by their pride, their curses and their lies. Destroy them in your anger! Wipe them out completely! Then the whole world will know that God reigns in Israel. Psalm 59: 11-13 NLT

So, should God kill the wicked or just make them suffer? Should God bring them down so that others will learn from their punishment? Or should God completely destroy them from the face of the earth?

This psalm is almost as if two different persons are doing the writing/praying. One wishes that God would make an example of those who have done evil. If they are killed off, no one will remember what happened and the cycle will begin again.

The other one is all for them being destroyed by God's anger. Perhaps it is their own anger rather than God's that is speaking. However, they believe that the destruction of the wicked will let the whole earth know that God reigns in Israel.

So, what shall it be? Should the wicked by punished as an example or wiped off the face of the earth?

God, even though we think we know what should happen to bad people, it is you who are in control. Only your anger is righteous and only your punishments are just. Help us not to play at being you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims