September
8, 2004
Reading
“But You have seen” (14)
I have heard preachers and counselors say, “Never question God”. Accept in faith whatever comes your way. Then they quote all the “faith” scriptures and expect us to lie down passively and get on with life.
David certainly did not feel that way. He begins this Psalm with two questions to God. “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble?” (1). In Psalm 22:1 he asks God, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of my groaning?” A question also asked by our Savior.
There are times when Satan oppresses us, so that we feel like David, that God has forsaken us. We may well ask “Why do the wicked seem to have so much and do so well when I am struggling?”
Let it be known that God never forsakes His own. There are times when He permits trials to come our way for it is these trials that hone the edge of our sword. Sometimes we become complacent in the things of the Lord and He uses circumstances to nudge us back into a closer walk with Him.
It may seem that the wicked flourish. I say, let them flourish, their day is coming. God sees their wickedness, their pride and rebellion against Him and He will repay them in His righteous anger. Let the wicked flourish for as they flourish so we as believers benefit simply because we are in the world.
Paul tells us to “fight the good
fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim:
All the time we are in the world (not of the world), as believers in Jesus Christ we will have a fight to fight and a race to run. And just as the wicked will face their reward so we who believe will have our reward. Because Paul had fought the fight and run the race he was able to say, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me at that Day: and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim: 4:8).
The reward of both the wicked and the believer are eternal. Nothing is hid from the Lord for He sees everything. God sees your faith. God sees the little things you do in His name. He takes note of the bowl of beans you gave to the hungry when nobody else knew. If you want your reward on this earth then brag to others what you are doing! That will be your reward. God will reward you for things you have forgotten you did, “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in; Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matt: 25:34-40).
God is not taken by surprise by the wickedness of man or their pride. “You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand” (14). Man lives under the false illusion that there is no God, and even if there is, they have Him fooled because He’s certainly not interfering with their life style, but “The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations have perished out of His land. Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart, You will cause Your ear to hear” (16,17).
Our blessed Savior is very aware of the struggles and trials of His saints. Take comfort that He sees and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.