Psalms 7:9-11 [ESV]
Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and may you establish the righteous—
you who test the minds and hearts,
O righteous God!
My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
and a God who feels indignation every day.
One thing I feel almost every day is an anger toward those who are conceived of evil and peddle wickedness. I am guilty of bitterness and frustration with the ways of the society and culture…and today I am convicted by this passage; taking too much ownership of passing judgement and finding guilt in others.
What the Psalmist says here is that God alone is the One who tests the mind and hearts of everyone: a righteous Judge who feels indignation every day. Why do I need to spend any time doing this (judging and feeling indignation) when the Righteous God of the universe is doing this every day? I am saved and my shield is with the Most Just God in Heaven Who provides the protection I need to withstand the evil ways of this world.
The important sentence here is “[God] saves the upright in heart”. Is my heart upright if I am constantly taking on a passing of judgement and guilt on those hearts and minds I am not able to see? No -> God calls me to Love my enemies.
“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48 [ESV]