Devotional~March 9
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
~Psalm 46:1
Have you ever been envious at worldy people? I definitely have, and basically everybody has. Especially when you have trials and problems, but their life seems to be going just fine.
One of the psalm writers tells his story this way:
"Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works."
~Psalm 73:1-28
Wow! Beautiful! I couldn't have ever put it in better words than that! In verse 2 it says that he was not really a true Christian anymore. Verse 3 says he was envious, because he saw the prosperity of the wicked. They seem to not be in trouble as anyone else, they seem to get away with breaking the law and still have more than they could wish, So people get bad taste of Christianity, like, "why do you guys keep the law if it doesn't do you any good?" In verse 9 they blaspheme the Lord of heaven and earth, and "their tongue walketh through the earth". I believe this is not literal, but it means that everybody hears their words, like presidents; what they say might be broadcasted through the whole world. But they are ungodly and they increase in riches. In verse 13 the writer says He has cleansed his heart in vain, washed his hands in innocency, and done his best; But he is still being plagued and chastened every morning(which can also mean day in Hebrew). Listen carefully to verse 16 and 17:
"16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."
Amazing! Beautiful! God brought him to the sanctuary because The Lord says "I...will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. ~Exo 33:19 The wicked are always in slippery places, nigh to destruction, they are consumed with fear, they are living a dream. The writer was greived, and "pricked in my reigns. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant:", but now he is with God continually, and held by His right hand. God is counseling him, and he is going to go to heaven. God is his only friend, and the strength of his heart even though his flesh and heart is failing.
I just love verse 28: "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works."
Praise the Lord! I always use to think that BVC's can only encourage non-Christians, but when you are depressed or envious, it can encourage Christians!
May God Bless you this week!