THURSDAY, 6 APRIL 2023
TEXT:
Psalms 73:1-28
1:
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2:
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3:
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4:
They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5:
They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6:
Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7:
From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8:
They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9:
Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the
earth.
10:
Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11:
They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
12:
This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing
wealth.
13:
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14:
All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15:
If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16:
When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17:
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18:
Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19:
How
suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20:
They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise
them as fantasies.
21:
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22:
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23:
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24:
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25:
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26:
My
flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion
forever.
27:
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to
you.
28:
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my
refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
(New
International Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
DON’T ENVY THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED
The Psalmist's
contrasting statements in verses 1-3 are not new to many children of God. It is
true that God is good to "those who are pure in heart" but the
"wicked" often prosper here on earth.
The temptation before
the Psalmist and all believers is to feel that it is not fair that, while we
struggle to meet our needs, the wicked appear to "have no struggles"
at all in life.
When a person becomes
wealthy with out committing his/her life to the Lord Jesus Christ, they are
prone to be come proud, arrogant and indulge in a lifestyle of perpetual sin.
They use their wealth to oppress and threaten the innocent and defraud others.
The Psalmist concludes
that the wicked are "always free of care, they go on amassing wealth"
(verses 11-12). But his deliverance came when he chose to focus on the
provisions, sustenance and salvation of his God.
Like the Psalmist, no
matter what we go through in life and how much we see the wicked appear to be
prospering here on earth, it is good to continue to stay near God and allow Him
to constantly be our refuge.
QUESTION:
What has been your response in the past to the prosperity of the wicked even
when you are unable to meet your basic needs?
PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being my refuge and provider. Help me to choose to
live by faith because all my needs are met in You. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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