Really?
His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. Psalm 112:8 NASB
With satisfaction – When you read this verse, what do you think it means? Does it mean that the man of God will find recompense for the abuse he has suffered at the hands of the wicked? Does it mean that he will see God’s wrath poured out on his enemies? Does it mean that he will finally see justice done? If that’s what you thought, you might ask yourself if this verse is more about personal revenge than it is about the ways of YHVH. If God describes Himself with terms like compassionate, slow to anger, forgiving and merciful, then why does this verse appear to paint Him as your personal hit man?
In fact, in Hebrew it doesn’t say this at all. The words “with satisfaction” have been added to the text. In Hebrew, all it says is that the righteous man yireh betsarayw’ (“looks at his enemies”). How he looks at his enemies is entirely without comment. It’s the reader who has to supply the context.
Okay, you’re the reader. What did you think? What if I challenged you to look at your enemies as God sees them? Would the verse still be a gloating proclamation of personal justice? Or would you suddenly realize that God sees the enemies as lost children desperately in need of being found. Would the righteous man seek God-inspired revenge or would he weep for their sins and confusion? You might recall Yeshua’s reaction to the city of Jerusalem, a city filled with enemies. What did he do? How did he respond? When the righteous man looks on his enemies, perhaps his eyes are filled with tears and his mouth full of forgiveness. What do you think?
You and I aren’t very much like the man of Psalm 112, are we? We read this verse with a secret hint of personal victory. In the end, all those who have afflicted us will get what they deserve, right? But were we not also His enemies? And how did He treat us?
Maybe we aren’t fit for this psalm until we have begged forgiveness for our arrogance.
Topical Index: justice, revenge, Psalm 112:8
“Maybe we aren’t fit for this psalm until we have begged forgiveness for our arrogance”.
Or perhaps for our “enemies”.
Today is Yom Kippur, according to the “agricultural lunar calendar” (I guess is what you would call it.) Oh yes, let us beg for forgiveness and a supernatural change in us… and let us keep doing that, seeking that, working toward righteousness according to YHVH’s View of things.
The angels sang as the Egyptians drowned. God reproved them saying, “Why do you sing when these, also my children, are destroyed?”
Larry, is that Talmudic?
Sorry, just checked in. Yes. I heard it from an old rabbi.
I have read that before…where does that come from? Thanks!
Leslee, I could not find the verses you are referring to – if they are referring to the drowning of the Egyptians.
But we know Moses sang while (presumably) rejoicing their death.
(YLT) Then singeth Moses and the sons of Israel this song to Jehovah, and they speak, saying: —’I sing to Jehovah, For triumphing He hath triumphed; The horse and its rider He hath thrown into the sea.
But, in answer to the question and for what it’s worth, this came up during my search
On seeing the drowning Egyptians the angels were about to break into song when God silenced them declaring, “How dare you sing for joy when My creatures are dying” (Talmud, Megillah 10b and Sanhedrin 39b).
Just want to say that in the NASB I have, “with satisfaction” is actually italicized, as it is in the NKJV I have. So, as we read, these italicized words are shown to not be in the original. I am thankful for that!