The Problem Of Injustice Series

On Wednesday, December 21, 1988, Pan American flight 103 began its scheduled flight from London’s Heathrow Airport on its way to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. There were 243 passengers and sixteen crew members aboard the Boeing 747 when it lifted off the runaway at 6:25 pm. It was flying north over Scotland at altitude of 31,000 feet at around 580 mph

An explosion just under the letter “P” of the words “Pan Am” on the plan punched a twenty-inch hole in the left side of the fuselage. The nose of the plane quickly separated from the fuselage after detonation. Investigators discovered that the explosion was so rapid that the pilots did not have time put on their oxygen masks nor did they communicate any distress signal. The plane’s wing section descended on Lockerbie, Scotland at more than 500 mph, creating a crater 155 feet long. It was there that a fireball scorched both cars and homes killing an additional eleven people on the ground due to debris from the plane. In all, 270 people died from the Lockerbie Bombing.

As tragic as all of this is, the recent news that the former Libyan Intelligence Officer, who was found guilty of these crimes, was recently released makes the injustice even more appalling. He was released on compassionate grounds as a prison doctor has claimed that he had but three months to live due to prostrate cancer. He served but eight years of his sentence or as someone has noted but eleven days for each victim he was responsible for. Yet, in today’s London’s Telegraph there are allegations that his release had more to do with Great Briton’s interests in securing oil rather than a compassionate release for his cancer.

Injustice.

We’re in series, God Talk: A Conversation in the Psalms. And this morning, we’re focusing on Psalm 73.

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.?2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.?3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.?5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.?6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.?7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.?8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.?9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.?10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.?11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”?12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.?13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.?14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.?15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,?17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.?19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!?20 Like a dream when one awakes,?O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.?21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,?22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.?24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.?25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.?26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.?28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Psalm 73:1-28)

This is a psalm that deals with our raw emotions when life isn’t fair and clean and neat as we think it should be. When our hearts and minds believe in a just God and we look around at our world and see anything but fair, we are confused. This is a psalm that deals with the complex matters of life as they really are. Not as it is pretended to be.

The word “psalm” means songs or poems. With more than 150 chapters of poetry and praise to God, this book will transform your life. This book is filled with songs meant to be sung and cherished. Each Psalm is intentionally written to engage your emotions.