TOPIC: Dealing with thrones of Iniquity

TEXT: Psalm 94: 20-23

INTRODUCTION: Righteousness is the quality of being right in the eyes of God in character, attitude, and action. God encompasses holiness, goodness, and sinlessness. No one can attain unto this because of the fall and so, God had to intervene so that anyone who believes in His sacrifice can be imputed with His righteousness. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor.5:21). The anti-thesis of this is iniquity, which means twisted, not straight, bent from the standard of God. So, when we talk of the throne of iniquity, it refers to a government that has twisted people in the echelons of government using their powers to oppress the people. Our topic helps to highlight how we can deal with such anomaly in whatever environment they occur. Israel was under the rule of the throne of iniquity and the psalmist resorted to calling on God who is righteous to resolve the matter. Are you or your community under the influence of the throne of iniquity? Take the matter to the righteous judge.

1.The works of the thrones of iniquity: The twisted ways of the people who occupy this throne is manifested in their works. It was developed in them over a period that sees them to the highest places in the governing structure (Ps.58:3). Such maturity of evil points to very early depravity and such must have been cradled in wickedness. Those who become heinous sinners show, even from their childhood, a strong tendency towards evil. Unfortunately, if the system does not have a self-regulating device, they get to the top layers of government and unleash their wickedness on the populace. Israel had been compromising concerning the laws of God and this is reflected in the lament of the psalmist asking, “How long will God look on”. Their works include killing widows and foreigners, they murder orphans. The way they do this is to manipulate the laws, making life hard for the people and attack those that do right. They twist the law of God by saying that innocent people are guilty and thereby put them to death in order to defraud them of their belongings. The question remains who will fight for the downtrodden? Who will rise up for child prostitution; AIDS; domestic violence; abortion; refugees; child labor, child soldiers; starvation because of greedy dictators; trafficking little girls for prostitution (2 million girls ages 5-15 are introduced into commercial sex markets each year); honor killings; FGM {female genital mutilation} (teen girls sewn up till marriage/a crude chastity belt; few cases? 150 million! 2 million added each year); the Persecuted Church; IDP’s (Internally Displaced People; 150 million in Burma alone). a) Maybe they’re asking: Will you rise up for me? Will you stand up for me? Will you at least get informed? Will you pray? b) Does Prov. 31:8,9 apply? Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. maybe…no body! Maybe it’s your cry.

  1. The ignorance of the thrones of iniquity: The works the thrones of iniquity, is based on their ignorance that God who made the eyes does see or He who made the ear does hear. In fact, it is the greatest stupidity to think that God who made the universe is dumb. God has knowledge of all things, why can He not know the thoughts of evil men which are vanity (Eccl:2:14-15; Is.66:18)? Wisdom cries out in the streets, but they refuse to listen (Prov.1:20-23). God is intelligent and it cannot be imagined that He made the ear and eyes would be a dummy. He therefore cannot be an unobservant and apathetic God (Heb.3:4). They are ignorant that God has a calendar for all things and ultimately will punish the wicked. The knowledge of the psalmist comes from experiential encounter with God. The soul that sins that sin shall die. If the sinner repents God is merciful and though He disciplines, He also forgives them. It is not the severity but the inevitability that matters. Oppression from the wicked is discipline that God permits for His people (Hab.1:5-11). They fail to see that the man God instructs is surely blessed- the man is chastised, taught and has rest because he is delivered from evil days. He has experienced misfortunes or chastisement and what he knows exactly makes him quietly watch what happens to people who go astray as he had. Trials and afflictions are a means to an end, and the intended end is rest (Heb.4:9). Those that take to God’s discipline are kept by God from evil people who are set up to fall into their own traps. God will not cast off or forsake His people who are His inheritance. For those who do not repent and think they get away with their sins, even the secret thoughts of men which is but a puff of wind are known by God (Ps.94::11; 1Cor.3:20)
  2. The recompense of the thrones of iniquity: God does not affiliate or help crooked leaders and those who seat on the throne of iniquity. God is the refuge and safety of the oppressed and He does not forsake them. No matter the length of chastisement of God’s people, the faithful people will not be forsaken. God’s ways will be vindicated so that all the upright in heart will acknowledge that there is a reward for the righteous, a God who judges in the earth. God’s actual award of good and evil which seemed to have been divorced from justice will be restored to normality. The happy man knows that the days of trouble will pass and that the wicked will be dealt with. While the ungodly have prospered and the pious been afflicted, judgment shall in the end return to conform to and coincide with righteousness and the upright in heart shall follow it. God always come through for those who are obedient to His laws While He saves His people, He punishes those evil judges for the bad things they did and destroys them. It teaches us not to take vengeance but wait for God to take it in His own time and way (Deut. 32:35; 1 Sa. 24-26; Rom.12:19). We are to commit the situation to God in prayer, call on Him to judge righteously, and continue to trust and obey the Lord. We must not take vengeance ourselves as some are wont to do.