Psalms 9:16-18 -- On Snares and Expectations

"The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever."
Psalms 9:16-18


I really like the idea here that we can know God by the way he judges. That doesn't really seem to work with our short-sightedness as we often only look at one event or a short period of time, but the overall idea means that if we look long term, we will see that the wicked get snared in their own works, and the righteous do too, kind of... although being snared in a good thing is really a blessing, right? :)

We're asked in the scriptures to look back and to remember the goodness of God, and I think if we step back and look at God's works and his judgements long-term, that we will see how merciful and amazing the Lord has been, and is, to us all. Even the persistent inequalities that exist in the world we are reminded here will all eventually be resolved for good, because God remembers the poor and the needy even when nobody else does... and he'll make it right.  Everyone deserves to be able to expect some good coming their way. 

Today, let's count on being snared in the work of our own hands, and make sure that is where we want to be stuck. :)  And let's pray for the day when the Lord rights the wrongs that still exist--but not only pray, but work for that goal, do all that we can to establish God's will on the earth and lift each other up.