January 18 – Avenging Joy

Psalm 149 is a monastic favorite. It speaks of both abundance of joy and the abundance of judgment upon those who have sought to “defy the armies of God.”

These things were known to King David. “The Lord takes pleasure in His people (verse 4;) He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand …”

To what purpose? “To execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron. To execute on them the judgment written.”

We in Cor Unum, are the Lord’s own possession. Those that stand defiantly between us and God’s purpose in our lives will suffer His vengeance. We know that His declared purpose is that we should “be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” In most cases, we ourselves crucify our flesh, we take vengeance upon it, in order that jealousies and judgments, selfishness and slander, bitterness and belittling will occupy no territory in our hearts. We must also confront powers of darkness in season, binding principalities and rulers of darkness in high places that seek our ruin and blaspheme the goodness and grace of God.

“ ... this honour have all his saints (verse 9), that we should destroy destruction and take vengeance upon all that stands between us and that likeness of Jesus Christ. Oh, how well we have come to know that we are the “planting of God,” grafted into His Son for now and for always! How good it is to know that it is with JOY that we see our Lord avenged of His enemies, even the fear and unbelief that have laid waste lives, marriages, churches, and families among us. We are a rejoicing army, mighty in praise, and we shall prevail, to the glory of God!