Psalm 94

"The Lord is a God who avenges"

I've mentioned that I'm writing a new book. The working title is "The Book of Love." It's a book about how the read the Bible, cover to cover, Genesis to Revelation, as a book of love.

One of the things I tackle in the book is the theme of Judgment Day. A lot of readers of Scripture are chilled by lines like this one--"The Lord is a God who avenges"--from Psalm 94. And yet, we seem to have curious relationship with God's vengeance.

For example, in my book I talk about two songs written by Johnny Cash toward the end of this life, one was an original song that I talk about in Trains, Jesus, and Murder: The Gospel According to Johnny Cash, and the other was a cover of an old folk song. The original song was "When the Man Comes Around." The folk song was "God's Gonna Cut You Down." Both songs were huge hits, and both songs were about Judgment Day. Curious!

For example, take a peak at the music video of "God's Gonna Cut You Down," all those artists and celebrities singing the lyrics:

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down

Go tell that long-tongued liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back-biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down

Well, you may throw your rock, and hide your hand
Workin' in the dark against your fellow man
But as sure as God made black and white
What's done in the dark will be brought to the light

You can run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Run on for a long time
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down
Sooner or later, God'll cut you down

So, yeah, we have a curious relationship with Judgment Day.

Easily triggered by "The Lord is a God who avenges" but loving to sing "Sooner or later, God'll cut you down."