God's Justice in the
Psalms
Wesley's Explanatory
Notes on the Psalms
Odilon Massolar
Chaves
Copyright
© 2024, Odilon Massolar Chaves
All
rights reserved to the author.
It is allowed
to read, copy and share for free
Article
184 of the Penal Code and Law 96710 of February 19, 1998.
Author
of the notes: John Wesley
Editor
of this text and author of the book: Odilon Massolar Chaves
Books
published in the Wesleyan Digital Library: 384
Books
published by the author: 494
Booklets:
3
Address: https://www.blogger.com/blog/stats/week/2777667065980939692
Translator:
Google
All glory to God!
Odilon Massolar Chaves is a
retired Methodist pastor, with a doctorate in Theology and History from the
Methodist University of São Paulo.
His thesis dealt with the
Methodist revival in England in the eighteenth century and its contribution as
a paradigm for our days.
He was editor of the
official Methodist newspaper and coordinator of the Theology Course.
Copyright Statement: These
files are in the public domain and are derived from an electronic edition that
is available on the Ethereal Library of Christian Classics website. [1]
===============================
Table of Contents
· Introduction
· God's justice in the Psalms
· Praise for God's justice
· Confidence in God's righteous judgment
·
Prayer for the right
against enemies
·
Cry for God to awaken
to your cause
·
Prayer for God to
plead the cause against ungodly nation
· Trial of unjust rulers
===============================
Introduction
The book "The Righteousness of God in the Psalms" is a book
based on Wesley's explanatory notes.
"God's righteousness in the Old Testament is also presented as a
fearsome force. The book of Psalms, for example, often describes God's
righteousness as an instrument of judgment on the wicked. The psalmists often
cry out to God to act in justice against his enemies and to reward the
righteous."[1]
The chapters of the psalms
analyzed are:
· God's justice in the Psalms
· Praise for God's justice
· Confidence in God's righteous judgment
·
Prayer for the right
against enemies
·
Cry for God to awaken
to your cause
·
Prayer for God to
plead the cause against ungodly nation
· Trial of unjust rulers.
Wesley's psalms and
commentaries that edify us and awaken us to the justice of God who has mercy
and grace in mind.
The Author
==============================
God's justice in the Psalms
According to Wesley: "Judges and magistrates are called gods,
because they have their commission from God, and act as his
representatives"
==============================
"In the Old Testament, God's justice is portrayed as an essential
feature of his nature. God's law, given to the people of Israel through Moses, establishes
moral and ethical principles that are fundamental to society. These laws
reflect God's justice and instruct the people to act according to their high
standards."[2]
In the righteousness of God portrayed in the Old Testament there is room
for God's mercy and grace.
In the Psalms, God's righteousness is often portrayed as God's
instrument against the wicked.
Some statements of the psalmists about God's justice:
The Lord is known by the judgment he executes; the wicked are ensnared
in the work of his own hands
In the Lord I put my trust;
how do you say to my soul, 'Flee like a bird to your mountain?'
Hear the right, O Lord,
hear my cry, hearken to my prayer, which does not come from feigned lips
Judge
me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; deliver me from the
deceitful and unjust man
Awake
and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord
Judge
me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; deliver me from the
deceitful and unjust man
God is in the congregation
of the mighty; he judges among the gods. According to Wesley, "Judges and
magistrates are called gods, because they have their commission from God, and
act as his representatives."
But judgment will return to
righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it
==============================
Praise for God's
justice
The Lord is known by the judgment he executes; the wicked are ensnared
in the work of his own hands
==============================
Psalm 9
Verse 3
When my enemies retreat
The psalmist wrote,
" When my enemies retreat, they will fall and perish before you.
Came back - Put to flight, said Wesley.
Verse 7
He prepared his throne for judgment
The psalmist wrote, "But the Lord will
endure forever; he has prepared his throne for judgment."
But - Though cities and people may perish, the Lord abideth for ever. Which
is sufficient for the terror of his enemies and the comfort of his church, said
Wesley.
Verse 10
for thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken them that
seek thee
The psalmist wrote, "And they that know
thy name shall trust in thee: because thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken them that
seek thee.
Wesley commented on
the text of the psalm:
Thy name - Thy infinite power and wisdom, and
faithfulness and goodness. The name of God is often put to God.
Put their trust - The experience of their allegiance to his
people in all ages, is a just ground for their trust.
Verse 11
Sing praises to the Lord
Wesley commented on the text of the psalm:
Zion - Whose special and gracious presence is there.
People - To the heathen nations.
Verse 12
he does not forget the cry of the humble
The psalmist wrote: When he makes
inquisition by blood, he remembers them: he does not forget the cry of the
humble.
Wesley commented on the text of the psalm:
Blood - The shedding of the blood of his innocent and saints: which, though
he may not seem to consider for a season, he will certainly call the authors of
it to a stern account.
They–The humble, as follows, or the oppressed, verse 9, who trust in him,
and seek him, verse 10, whom he seemed to have forgotten.
Verse 14
I will
rejoice in your salvation
The psalmist wrote, " That I may
declare all your praise at the gates of the daughter of Zion; I will rejoice in
your salvation."
Wesley commented on the text of the psalm:
Gates - In large assemblies. These gates he elegantly opposes to the former.
Of the people who live or meet together in Zion. For the cities are as if
they were mothers to their people, and the people are commonly called
daughters. Thus the names of the daughters of Egypt, Jeremiah
46:11, and of Edom, Lamentations 4:21-22,
and of Tyre, Psalms 45:12, are put to the
people of these places.
Verse 16
The Lord is known by the judgment he executes
The psalmist wrote, " The Lord is
known by the judgment he executes; the wicked are ensnared in the work of his
own hands. Higgaion. /*Selah*/.
Higgaion: This is a musical term or a note of
attention, suggesting that the subject deserves deep meditation, or
consideration, as the word means, said Wesley.
Verse 17
The wicked will be cast
into hell
The wicked will be cast
into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Forget it -
Who do not consider God, nor his precepts, nor his threatenings and judgments,[3] said
Wesley.
==============================
Confidence in God's righteous judgment
In the
Lord I put my trust; how do you say to my soul, 'Flee like a bird to your mountain?'
==============================
Psalm 11
Verse 1
In the Lord I put my trust
The psalmist wrote, " In the Lord I
put my trust; how do you say to my soul, 'Flee as a bird to your mountain?'
Ye - My enemies, said Wesley.
To shoot secretly at the upright of heart
For behold, the wicked bend their bows, prepare the
arrow on the string, to shoot secretly at the upright in heart, the psalmist wrote.
He commented on Wesley on the text of the psalm:
For behold–David, having addressed his speech to his
enemies, now transforms him into God, and pours out before him his complaints.
Ready - They lay plans for my destruction and make all things ready to
execute them.
Verse 3
Piety, justice, faithfulness and mercy
The psalmist asked, "If the
foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
He commented on Wesley on the text of the psalm:
Foundations - Piety, justice, faithfulness, and mercy,
which are the pillars or foundations of a state or kingdom.
What - The condition of all righteous men will be hopeless.
The Lord is in his holy temple
The psalmist stated that the "Lord
is in his holy temple, the throne of the Lord is in heaven; his eyes see, his
eyelids taste, the children of men."
Wesley's comment on
the text of the psalm:
Temple - In heaven; which is mentioned as an evidence of his glorious majesty,
of his sovereign power and dominion over all men and things, and of his
accurate inspection of all men and their actions.
Throne - Where he sits to examine all causes, and to give righteous sentence
according to every man's works.
Try - He fully discerns all men, their inmost and most secret actions: and
therefore he sees and will reward my innocence, notwithstanding all the
calumnies of my enemies; and, moreover, he sees all their secret designs, and
will discover and defeat them.
The Lord Tests the Righteous
The psalmist wrote, The Lord tests the
righteous, but the wicked and the lover of violence, his soul hates.
Trieth - He chastises even righteous persons, but still he loves them, and
therefore, in due time, sets them free. But as for the wicked, God hates them,
and will punish them severely, said Wesley.
On the wicked he will rain
snares
The
psalmist wrote that "He will rain down snares and fire and
brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this will be the portion of his cup."
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Rain – Send
them out abundantly, quickly, and suddenly, as rain usually falls from the sky.
Snares -
Plagues or painful trials, which are called snares, because wicked men are
often surprised at them when they least expect them. And because they cannot
escape from them, or get out of them; but are held back and destroyed by them.
Horrible storms - Terrible
judgments so
called, in allusion to the destruction of Sodom by these means. But this he
seems to speak not so much of present calamities, as of eternal punishments.
This - It is
their portion, and as it were the meat and drink which was appointed them of
God.[4]
==============================
Prayer for the right
against enemies
Hear the
right, O Lord, hear my cry, hearken to my prayer, which does not come from
feigned lips
==============================
Psalm 17
Verse 1
Hear the right, O Lord
The right - Consider my cause just, said Wesley.
Verse 2
Let my sentence go out of your presence
The psalmist wrote, "Let my sentence
depart from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are
alike," the psalmist wrote.
Wesley comment on the text of the psalm:
Judgment - Judgment on my behalf.
Come - From your court.
Verse 3
You tested
my heart
The psalmist wrote, Thou hast tried my
heart; thou hast visited me by night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find
nothing; I purposed that my mouth should not transgress.
Wesley's comment on
the text of the psalm:
Tried - Either sought or tried, by many temptations and afflictions.
Night—When men's minds are free from the distraction of men's business and
society, they act more vigorously and freely, according to their various
inclinations.
I tried - As goldsmiths do with metals.
Nothing - No injustice.
Purposeful - I decided, after deliberation, as the word
indicates.
Boca - I am so far from practising against Saul's life, as they accuse me,
that I will not injure him so much as in a word.
Verse 4
As for the works of men
The psalmist wrote, " As for the
works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the paths of the
destroyer.
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Observing the works of men of this age, how wicked
they are, I resolved to take more care in ordering my own actions.
By - With the help of thy blessed word.
Caminhos - Customs and practices.
Destroyer–Or, of violent man: like Saul, and his
courtiers and soldiers.
Show Your Wonderful Kindness
The psalmist wrote: Show your wonderful
kindness, O you who save by your right hand those who trust in you from those
who rise up against them.
By - By your great power, said Wesley.
with their mouths they speak with pride
They are shut in their own fatness: with their
mouths they speak proudly, the psalmist wrote.
They--They live in splendor and prosperity, Wesley said.
They have now encircled us in our steps
The psalmist wrote, They
have now encircled us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowed to the
earth;
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Steps - In all our ways. We go from place to place, to rocks, caves, and
woods; but wherever we go, they are at hand, and ready to surround us.
Eyes – They keep their eyes fixed on us.
Bowing down - Lying down on the earth, that they may see the most suitable
opportunity to surprise us.
deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy
sword
Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down;
deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword; wrote the psalmist.
Sword - Thy instrument for executing vengeance upon thine enemies. Punish me
not with this rod: let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men,
said Wesley.
Of the men who are thy hand, O Lord
The psalmist wrote, "Of the men who
are your hand, O Lord, of the men of the world, who have their portion in this
life, and whose womb you fill with your hidden treasure; they are full of
children, and they leave the rest of their possessions to their little
ones."
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Thy hand - With which thou correctest me.
World - Who set their hearts into this world, and have not, nor desire any
other portion.
Womb–Mind or appetite, as that word is used, Job
20:20. Proverbs 20:30.
Treasure - With extraordinary wealth and glory.
When many of thy faithful servants are barren, they are blessed with a
numerous posterity.
I will behold your face in
righteousness
The
psalmist wrote , "As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness; when I
awake, I will be satisfied with your likeness."
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
I go - I do
not put my portion in earthly treasures, but in beholding the face of God, in
the enjoyment of God's presence and favour; which is enjoyed partly in this
life, but not wholly.
Satisfied: The
time is coming when I will be abundantly satisfied to behold your face.
Awake - When
I get up from him dead.
Likeness - With
the image of God stamped on my glorified soul.[5]
==============================
Cry for God to awaken to your cause
Awake and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord
==============================
Psalm 35
Verse 3
Draw the spear also, and shut the way from
those who persecute me
The psalmist wrote, " Draw up the
spear also, and shut up the way from those who persecute me; say to my soul, 'I
am your salvation.'
Say—By thy spirit assuring me of it: and by thy providence effecting it,
said Wesley.
Verse 6
and the angel of the Lord pursues them
The psalmist wrote, Let their way be dark
and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them.
Their way - By which they flee, being pursued, said
Wesley
Verse 7
For without cause they hid their net in a pit
for me
For they hid their net in a pit for me without
cause, which they dug for my soul without cause, wrote the psalmist.
For - Out of mere malice, said Wesley.
Verse 10
And the psalmist wrote, All my bones
shall say, Lord, who is like thee, that deliverest the poor from him that is
mightier than he, yes, the poor and needy from him that despoileth him?
My bones - My whole body, as well as my soul, Wesley
affirmed.
Verse 13
I humbled my soul with fasting
The psalmist wrote, But as for me, when they
were sick, my garments were sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my
prayer returned to mine own breast.
Came back - Though my fasts and prayers did them no
good, said Wesley.
Verse 15
But in my adversity they rejoiced and
gathered themselves together
And the psalmist wrote, But in my
adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yes, the abject were
gathered together against me, and I knew it not; they tore me, and did not
cease.
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Gathered together - They were so full of joy, that they could
not contain it in their own breasts, but sought to communicate it to others.
Abject - Or, vile persons, either from the meanness of their condition, or
from their wickedness.
Knew not - While I did not suspect them.
Tear me - My good name with calumnies, and reproofs,
and curses.
Verse 16
With hypocritical scoffers at parties
With hypocritical scoffers at feasts, they gnashed
their teeth at me, wrote the psalmist.
Scoffers - They made themselves jesters and court
jesters, and accustomed themselves to mock and ridicule David, that they might
thus be admitted to the tables of great men, which was all they sought, said
Wesley.
Verse 17
Lord, how long will you look?
The psalmist wrote, "Lord, how long
will you look? Deliver my soul from its destructions, my darling from the
lions."
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Look - Without giving me pity or help.
My soul, Heb. my only; who is now left alone and forsaken by my friends,
and has none to trust in but God.
I shall praise you in the great congregation
I will—When I shall be restored to the liberty of public assemblies, said
Wesley.
Verse 20
Why don't they talk about peace
The psalmist wrote, "For they do not
speak of peace, but invent deceitful things against those who are quiet on the
earth.
For—They exude nothing but threats and war; They use no overt violence, but
subtle artifices, against me and my followers, who desire nothing more than to
live in silence and peace, Wesley commented.
They opened their mouths wide against me
The psalmist wrote, "They opened
their mouths wide against me, and said, 'Ah, aha, our eyes have seen.'
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Wide - To pour out whole floods of mockery and calumnies.
ha—An expression of joy and triumph.
Our eye - What we have long desired and hoped for.
O Lord, turn not away from me
The psalmist wrote, " These things
you have seen, O Lord: do not be silent; O Lord, do not depart from me."
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
This - Thou hast also seen, all their plots and threatenings, and all my
distresses and calamities.
Do not keep - Do not be deaf, to my prayers. The same
word means, both to be silent and to be deaf.
Wake up and wake up to my
wits
Awake
and awake to my judgment, yes, to my cause, my God and my Lord, wrote the psalmist.
Awake - To
plead my cause against my adversaries.[6]
==============================
Prayer for God to plead the cause against ungodly
nation
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; deliver
me from the deceitful and unjust man
==============================
Psalm 43
Judge me, O God, and plead
my cause
The psalmist wrote, "Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an
ungodly nation; deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man."
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Nation–Then he
calls the company of his enemies to his great numbers.
man–probably
Achitophel or Absalom.
Send therefore your light
and your truth
The
psalmist wrote, " Send therefore your light and your truth: let me
lead; Take me to your holy mountain and to your tabernacles."
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Send – That
is, actually discover them.
Truth - Thy
favor, or the light of thy countenance, and the truth of thy promises made to
me; or the true light, the illumination of thy spirit, and the direction of thy
gracious providence, by which I may be led in the right way, to thy holy
mountain.
Hill - Of
Zion, the place of God's presence and worship.[7]
==============================
Trial of
unjust rulers
God is in the congregation of the mighty; he judges between the gods
==============================
Psalm 82
Verse 1
He judges between the gods
The psalmist wrote: God is in the
congregation of the mighty; he judges between the gods.
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Stand - To observe all that is said or done there.
Mighty – Kings or chief rulers. By his congregation he means all the people of
this high and holy order.
Judge - Pass the sentence on them.
The gods - Judges and magistrates are called gods, because they have their
commission from God, and act as his representatives.
Verse 2
How long will you judge unjustly
The psalmist wrote, "How long will
you judge unjustly, and accept the people of the wicked?"
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
How long - The psalmist speaks to them in the name of
God.
Accept - Giving sentence according to your respect or affection for the
person.
Verse 5
They don't know, nor will they understand
The psalmist wrote, They know not,
neither will they understand: they walk in darkness: all the foundations of the
earth are out of course.
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
They–The magistrates of whom this psalm treats.
I do not know - The duty of your place.
Nor will - Your ignorance is intentional.
Walk – They persist: it is their constant course.
In darkness - In its sinful courses.
The fundamentals - This corruption of the supreme rulers,
flows from them to their officers and lower members.
Verse 6
you are all children of the Most High
The psalmist wrote,
" I said, 'You are gods, and you are all
children of the Most High.'
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
He said, "I have given you my name and power to
rule your people in my place."
All–Not only the rulers of Israel, but of all other nations.
Children - Representing my person and carrying my
name and authority.
Verse 7
you will fall like one of the princes
The psalmist wrote, "But you will
die as men, and you will fall like one of the princes."
As men - Or, as ordinary men, said Wesley.
Arise, O God, judge the
earth
The psalmist wrote, "Arise,
O God, judge the earth, for you will inherit all nations."
Take the
sword of justice in your own hand,[8] said
Wesley.
Prayer for God's justice
But
judgment will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow
it
Psalm 94
Verse 4
How long will they utter and speak harsh
things?
Pronounce - Or pour freely, constantly, abundantly, as
a fountain does with waters (so signifies this Hebrew word). Hard things -
Insolent and intolerable words against thee and thy people, said Wesley.
Verse 7
And the psalmist wrote, Yet they say, The
Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob hearken.
Of Jacob - He that beareth that name for himself, but
has no regard for his people, said Wesley.
He who planted his ear, will he not hear?
And the psalmist said, Shall he that hath
planted an ear, shall he not hear? He that formed an eye, shall he not see?
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Planted - The word is emphatic, signifying the
excellent structure of the ear, or the various organs belonging to the sense of
hearing.
Formed - By this word he suggests the precise and curious finish of the eye.
Verse 10
Will he who chastens the Gentiles not
correct?
And the psalmist said , Shall not he that
chasten the Gentiles correct? He that teacheth knowledge unto man, shall he not
know?
Knowledge—Thoughts, words, and actions of men, Wesley
said.
Verse 11
The Lord knows man's thoughts
And the psalmist said,
The Lord
knoweth the thoughts of man, which are vanity.
Thoughts: Yes, he knows all things, even the most
secret things, such as the thoughts of men; and in particular their thoughts;
much more their practices, said Wesley.
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O
Lord
And the psalmist said, Blessed is the man
whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest thy law;
Blessed - Those afflictions which are accompanied by
divine instructions are great and true blessings, said Wesley.
Verse 15
But judgment will return to justice
And the psalmist said, But judgment shall
return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
But - God will declare himself a righteous judge and re-establish justice
on earth.
Follow - They will all
approve of him, and imitate this righteousness of God in all his actions.
Who will rise up for me against evildoers?
And the psalmist said, Who shall rise up
for me against evildoers? Or who shall rise up for me against the workers of
iniquity?
Rise up - To defend and help me. I looked hither and thither, but none
appeared; God alone helped me, said Wesley.
If the Lord hadn't been my help
And the psalmist said,
If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would
almost have dwelt in silence.
Dwelt - In the place of silence, the grave, said Wesley.
In the multitude of my thoughts
And the psalmist said, In the multitude
of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Thoughts - While my heart was filled with various and
perplexing thoughts, as this Hebrew word signifies.
Comforts - Thy promises and the remembrance of my former experience
of thy care and kindness.
who formulates evil by
means of a law?
And the
psalmist said, Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which maketh
evil by a law?
Wesley's comment on the text of the psalm:
Shall - You
will take part with the unjust powers of the world that oppress your people.[9]
A law - By
virtue of those unjust decrees which they have made.
==============================
[1]https://pr.leonivial.com.br/a-justica-de-deus-no-antigo-e-novo-testamento-a-uniao-entre-retidao-e-graca/
#
[2]https://pr.leonivial.com.br/a-justica-de-deus-no-antigo-e-novo-testamento-a-uniao-entre-retidao-e-graca/
#
[3] https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/wen/psalms-9.html.
[4] https://www.studylight.org
comentários/eng/wen/psalms-11.html
[5] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/eng/wen/psalms-17.html.
[6] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/eng/wen/psalms-35.html
[7] https://www.studylight.org
comentários/eng/wen/psalms-43.html.
[8] https://www.studylight.org/
Comentários/eng/wen/psalms-82.html.
[9] https://www.studylight.org/comentários/eng/wen/psalms-94.html
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