Read:
Psalms 73:1-28
"For
I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked"
(Psalm 73:3).
I can see why you would wonder why the ungodly get to sin all they want and
it seems like God does not hold them accountable! Matthew 5: 45 tells us that God makes His sun to rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. It seems like they are
allowed to have no consequences, while we often bear the burden of the
consequences of their decisions. I can understand that you are exhausted,
bitter and angry. David felt the same way when he was envious of the foolish
and when he saw the prosperity of the wicked.
David eventually settled this issue in his own heart, though. In Psalm 73,
David advises that we do not need to worry about the wicked or to envy those who do wrong.
He observed that they eventually fade away like the grass and the flowers of
spring. He advises that we trust in the Lord and do well, because God will
allow us to live safely in the land and to prosper in the end. David realized
that when he took delight in the Lord, God gave him the desires of his heart.
His
advised to us is to commit everything we do to the Lord and to trust Him,
because He will help us. He will make our innocence radiate like the dawn, and
the justice of our cause will shine like the noonday sun. David cautions us to
be still in the presence of the Lord, and to wait patiently for Him to act. In
the process we no longer need to worry about evil people prospering, or to fret
about their wicked schemes. We no longer need to be angry, if we trust in the
Lord.
The
wicked plot against the godly, they curse us and defy us; but the Lord just
laughs, for He sees their day of judgment coming. The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those
who do right. However, their swords will stab them in their own hearts, and
their bows will be broken. Sometimes, we see wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil. But when we look again, they will
be gone. A wonderful future awaits those who love and live for God, but the
rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future. Even though the wicked wait
in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to harm us; the Lord will not
let the wicked succeed.
Luke 16 tells us that a rich man received what was
good during his lifetime. On the other hand, the humble man who ate crumbs from
his table received evils in his life. As a consequence, therefore, the humble
man is consoled in heaven, but the proud man suffers pain in hell. Joseph testified to his brothers that the evil they
had done to him had been turned into good by the hand of their Father in Heaven
(Genesis 45:7).In the book of Habakkuk, the
prophet expresses his concern about what seemed to be the indifference of a
just God over the horrible wickedness rampant in Judah, which was causing those
who were righteous to suffer.
Many things which seem
unjust and unfair to us now, with our limited vision and understanding, will
become clear if we will be patient, suspend judgment for a while, and have
faith in our Heavenly Father. We need to realize that when our vision is blurred,
patience and time are essential elements in restoring our proper perceptions
(Malachi 3:13-18).
Job cries out in chapter 24 about this very same
issue. He wonders why he, a righteous man, is so persecuted, when those around
him who are sinners are spared. I believe that the book of Job was written so that we
would have a better understanding of the problem of suffering. We will have
times of suffering in this world, and we will not fully understand why; but God
will restore all things to us on this earth in His perfect timing, just like He
did for Job.
It
is so much better to be godly and to have a little, than to be evil and rich.
We can make God’s laws our focus, so we will never slip from His path.
Eventually, the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord will
care for the godly. Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and we will
receive an inheritance that lasts forever. We will not be disgraced in hard
times; even in famine we will have more than enough. The Lord directs the steps
of the godly. He delights in every detail of our lives. Though we stumble, we
will never fall, for the Lord holds us up by the hand. God takes care of His
own.
Jesus
gives us peace unlike anything the world
has to offer. So do not allow your heart to be troubled, neither let it be
afraid (John 14:27). The wicked do prosper
sometimes, but only for a short while; and whatever suffering the righteous may
endure is only temporary. In the end, it will be the other way around. The
wicked will suffer damnation for their behavior, while the righteous ones, who
endure earthly trials well, will be blessed with peace and crowned with glory
in heaven where it really matters the most.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the
wicked have no advantage over the righteous when they are dying. They may gain
enjoyment and their souls may seem happy in this life; but in dying, if not
before, they will pay the consequences of their sins. Help us not to get
discouraged about the current affairs in our life. Help us to look forward to
everlasting life, with many rewards for our faithful service to You.
Thought
for the Day:
David pronounces, “Once I was young, and now I
am old. Yet I have never seen the Godly abandoned or their children begging for
bread.”
