Psalm 28:4
4 Give [nathan] them according to
their deeds [po`al], and according to the
wickedness [roa`] of their endeavours [ma`alal]: give [nathan] them after
the work [ma`aseh] of their hands [yad]; render [shuwb] to them
their desert [gamuwl]. KJV-Interlinear
4
Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their
practices; Requite them according to the deeds of their hands; Repay them their
recompense. NASB
This psalm reaches out to
God to apply justice fairly and accurately.
That evil should be judged and punished for evil and that good be
evaluated and rewarded for good.
Here evil is in view.
Behind
every action within the human realm, there is an intent, a design, a thought, a
decision, and then an action.
The
phrase, their deeds, encompasses the whole of the activities of the evil
person, their thoughts and intents, their design and motives. All that is behind their overall involvement and
responsibility and guilt in what they think and plan and desire and do.
Evil,
in every form, does not come by accident, but by decision. People are to be held accountable and
responsible for the sum total of their life.
The
wickedness of their endeavors, looks to the quality or result of their
activities in life.
Wickedness
is the work of evil. Evil is the policy
of Satan and encompasses all that is in opposition to God and good.
This
includes criminal activity of course, but it also includes social wrongs, and
human good, which is performed in the name of good, but is originated from the
source of arrogance.
There
are two forms of good, namely human good and divine good. Human good looks to
self for the credit of what one does.
Divine good looks to God who is the originator of all that is good, and
from whom all good comes.
Man
is undeserving and can claim nothing of or for himself. All comes to man by means of Gods grace. Man cannot earn or deserve anything. Man is the recipient of Gods grace as a gift
from God, due to Gods promises and Gods work.
All
of mans endeavors from the perspective of evil, originate from self, to the
exclusion of God. They are selfish, and
self-centered drives within man, that look not to divine good, but to selfish results.
The
work of their hands, is the overt result of all of mans thoughts, intents and
decisions.
Thus
the term desert, means deserves. When
man produces evil, then he deserves the reward of evil.
God
is fair and just. God deals with the
total and overall content of an individuals life. God does not pick and choose, but deals with
everything. And, God makes fair
decisions based on all of the facts.
You
cannot fool God. You cannot misdirect
God. You cannot compromise Gods
standards of truth.
