Today, we are in Psalm 94, a song written to address the apparent triumph of the wicked and the lack of just treatment of the helpless. Let's read together verses 1 through 11:

1 O Lord, God of vengeance,

    O God of vengeance, shine forth!

2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;

    repay to the proud what they deserve!

3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked,

    how long shall the wicked exult?

4 They pour out their arrogant words;

    all the evildoers boast.

5 They crush your people, O Lord,

    and afflict your heritage.

6 They kill the widow and the sojourner,

    and murder the fatherless;

7 and they say, “The Lord does not see;

    the God of Jacob does not perceive.”  

8 Understand, O dullest of the people!

    Fools, when will you be wise?

9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear?

He who formed the eye, does he not see?

10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?

He who teaches man knowledge —

11     the Lord — knows the thoughts of man,

    that they are but a breath.

As we look at the first half of Psalm 94, there are two important takeaways for us as 21st century shepherd leaders, whether we influence at work, at church, at school, in a parachurch organization, at home, or in our communities.

The first is to pray to the Lord for justice and the second is to do our part – in a Godly way, when the Father provides the opportunity and we are prompted to act to warn the wicked of their behavior.

Are you praying for justice in your part of the world today and in the world, as a whole?

I pray you’ll live deeply into your calling this week and that you’ll join me next week as we explore the remaining