Hassled By The Man

Liberty and justice for all! That’s the common cry of the human spirit. Yet too often, the powerless have been hassled by “the man,” with impunity. Throughout history, the rich have built their wealth on the backs of the poor, men have treated women as chattel, adults have neglected children, ruling parties have disenfranchised minorities, captains of industry have enslaved “lesser” human beings, and those who have the means to prevent and eradicate poverty, hunger and disease have stood by while the lives of untold millions have been needlessly ruined. Perhaps at some level, you have even felt hassled by “the man.” And our spirit cries out for God to intervene. Friend, there is a day coming when God will rise up and bring both the living and the dead to full account. And on that day, justice and fairness will finally and fully reign, and there will be true liberty throughout all of creation. It may not seem like it today, but that day is coming. So put your hope in the coming liberty and justice of God, but then pursue it as a reality for today!

This entire psalm is a plea for God to rise up against the powerful who use their positions of power—either through aggression or neglect—to harass and abuse the powerless: the poor, the orphan, the destitute, the oppressed. In fact, this psalm is more than a plea; it’s a challenge, really, to the Almighty to do what a righteous God ought to do: Ensure liberty and justice for one and all.

That has been a common theme in every age—including ours. Too often, the powerless have been hassled by “the man,” with impunity. Throughout history, the rich have built their wealth on the backs of the poor, men have treated women as chattel, adults have neglected children, ruling parties have disenfranchised minorities, captains of industry have enslaved “lesser” human beings, and those who have the means to prevent and eradicate poverty, hunger and disease have stood by while the lives of untold millions have been needlessly ruined. Perhaps at some level, even you have felt hassled by “the man.”

There is something in us that cries out for God to intervene, isn’t there? And sometimes we feel as though the God of justice who rules from heaven above has turned a blind eye to the plight of the unfortunate. But there is a day coming when God will rise up and bring both the living and the dead to full account. And on that day, justice and fairness will finally and fully reign throughout all of creation. It may not seem like it today, but that day is coming.

The very fact of the Christian day—Sunday—the day of the week we gather to worship in honor of the the first resurrection Sunday when Jesus rose victorious from the tomb, reminds us that death, hell and the grave have been eternally broken! So to has sin, sickness and suffering. When Jesus rose, he sent notice throughout time and eternity that he will not rest until the rulers and principalities and world systems and spiritual dominions that have caused the ruination of God’s plan for the human race are brought under his fair and just dominion.

It may not seem like it today, but the empty tomb and the Risen Savior we celebrate each Lord’s Day reminds us that God has not turned a blind eye to this planet, nor to you. This Sunday, when you go to worship, be remind that “the man’s” days are numbered. And when “the man’s” days are done, the innumerable and unending days of the rule and reign of the Son of Man will begin—and then there will truly be liberty and justice for all!