Understand,
O dullest of the people!
Fools,
when will you be wise?
He
who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He
who formed the eye, does he not see?
He
who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He
who teaches man knowledge—
the
LORD—knows the thoughts of man,
that
they are but a breath.
Certainly, the
psalmist is exposing the foolishness of the wicked, who think they are getting
away with their sin.
What a description of
the world we live in! Man apart from God is truly arrogant and wicked. He
boasts in his evildoing, while he thinks he is in total control of his life and
destiny. Meanwhile, God is completely aware of his every sin.
Sometimes we feel
that we are victims of people who are getting away with their sins, but Paul
reminds us that it is not true.
Romans 2:1-11
Therefore
you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment
on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same
things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice
such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things
and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you
presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing
that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath
for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be
revealed.
He
will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in
well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and
distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and
also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
Many times, as I have
counseled people who have been hurt by others, I would point them to these
words. Our desire for vengeance will not produce godliness. Although man seems
to be able to live unpunished, God is aware and will make all things right.
God’s wrath will be severe, just, timely, appropriate, and sure.
But for now, God is
giving man time for repentance. As we reflect on this truth, does it not warm
your heart that God did not repay us for our
sin? Don’t we rejoice in the grace God has shown us? Immediate wrath would not
have allowed us this merciful opportunity!
As the psalmist asks
the question:
Psalm 94:20
Can
wicked rulers be allied with you,
those
who frame injustice by statute?
He knows that God is
on his side and not on the side of the wicked, and that He uses even the wicked
in our lives, to mold us and change us.
There are no victims!
Those who have received evil treatment are being pushed into the arms of God.
Those whom God is not immediately punishing are being given time to repent. And
those who will be judged for their sin by the wrath of God will receive the
righteous deserved punishment.
As we daily live in a
corrupt world, God wants us to find our rest in Him. The psalmist reminds us
that God does not forsake His own. His justice will not abandon His children.
Without God’s care, we would surely fall.
What beautiful words
we find here:
Psalm 94:19
When
the cares of my heart are many,
your
consolations cheer my soul.
If we are not finding
consolation, it’s probably because we are looking for the wrong things, in the
wrong places.
We know what the end
result is: God will win! In the meanwhile, rejoice in the grace you have
received and leave it in the hands of God to judge the evildoers. Rejoice in
the fact that you know where to find peace and rest!
Psalm 94:22
But
the LORD has become my stronghold,
and
my God the rock of my refuge.
God is holding you in
the palm of His hand. Let His word warm your soul, let His truth lighten your
troubled time; let His perfect timing give peace during your difficulties.
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