Psalm 94:1-7 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! (2) Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! (3) O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? (4) They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. (5) They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage. (6) They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; (7) and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”

Many times domestic abusers make overt or veiled threats that they will kill their victim if the victim ever leaves them. And of course we all know that actual cases of these murders being carried out are not at all rare.

What does the Lord think of such evildoers? The Psalmist answers that question quite plainly. The Lord sees them. And He is a God of vengeance, a defender of the innocent. The Psalmist rightly calls upon the Lord to rise up and repay these arrogant murderers.

But what do many pastors and professing Christians think of these wicked ones? Well, that question is largely answered by the not uncommon counsel they give to the victims. Go back. Continue to be married to him. “Oh, you say he has threatened to kill you? Well, that was probably just in a bad moment he had. Be patient with him. Love him. We are all murderers in our hearts you know.”

What kind of insanity is this? Does the Lord tell women and children to remain in relationship with a person who causes them to fear that they will be murdered in their sleep or some other unsuspecting moment? NO! His wrath is against the wicked and He is a defender of the oppressed.

What do you imagine that the Lord thinks of “shepherds” who tell people that He requires them to stay in relationship with a person who has threatened to kill them? To even live with them and show them respect? That divorcing their potential murderer is sin in God’s sight?