Wicked? | |
No matter how well the wicked seem to be succeeding over the efforts of the righteous, ultimately they will not win! God promises that the wicked will be destroyed and punished. He also promises that the righteous will be victorious and rewarded. Both of these promises provide us with assurance of God’s victory—not only in His eternal plan, but also in and through the lives of His precious saints. God will not forsake His beloved saints. They may seem forgotten for a season, but they are never out of His sight. (See Psalm 33:18-19; 34:15; Job 36:7; 1 Peter 3:12.) God is protecting His beloved. God does have a plan in His sovereign and eternal mind. God will work all things “together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Frustration is inevitable as the saints of God battle the forces of evil, for though we are certain of ultimate victory, the pain and pressure of torment are nonetheless real as the “devices” (Isaiah 32:7) of the wicked take their toll on God’s people. The Lord will reduce the plans of the wicked to naught (Psalm 33:10), but while those plans are effective, there is still much hurt. Psalm 37 is focused on the solutions that will cure the “fretting” that comes in the heat of battle. Anger is a natural result when God’s people confront those who would dare lift up their hand against the Lord of the universe. Envy of evil’s seemingly easy success is bound to explode from the heart of the righteous saint who loves the Kingdom and is in anguish because of the triumphs of the wicked. But if reactionary anger is not to become sin, it must not be allowed to continue (Ephesians 4:26). The cure for such negative reaction lies in the basic focus of our relationship with our Savior. Trust is the most basic. Both the Hebrew and Greek words have the meaning of “confidence” or “boldness,” and are often used in such a way that would imply that we are to “gain support” and “lean on” the One in whom we trust. The expanded definition of trust is in Proverbs 3:5-8. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. But to merely have great confidence in the God of creation is not enough. We must “do good” (Psalm 37:3). The entire New Testament book of James is devoted to this theme. “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). Jesus asked, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?” (Luke 6:46). “O that there were such an heart in them,” God told Moses, “that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever” (Deuteronomy 5:29). If we would enjoy the blessings of God, we must embrace the plan of God. If we are to expect a realization of the promise that we will “dwell” and “be fed” (Psalm 37:37), then we must submit to the instructions of our Lord who told us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). When we trust the Lord to give us what we need as we “do good,” is it any wonder that He who knows all and owns all will give us “the desires” of our hearts (Psalm 37:4)? If my heart longs for the “kingdom of God and his righteousness,” why should I marvel when the King of kings grants my desires? God hates the wicked and their efforts (Psalm 5:4-5). Why should I be surprised when He answers my prayer for their overthrow? | |
Target State: All States Target City : All Cities Last Update : Mar 15, 2025 8:39 AM Number of Views: 52 | Item Owner : Jason Henningson Contact Email: Contact Phone: (None) |
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