Thursday: Lest the Righteous Be Tempted
Daily Lesson for Thursday 1st of February 2024
Read Psalms 37:1,8; Psalms 49:5-7; Psalms 94:3-7; and Psalms 125:3. What struggle does the psalmist face?
These psalms lament the current prosperity of the wicked and the challenge that this fact poses to the righteous. The wicked not only prosper but at times also openly despise God and oppress others. The perplexing issue is that while “the scepter of wickedness” (Psalms 125:3, NKJV) dominates the world, the “scepter of righteousness” (Psalms 45:6, NKJV) seems to be failing. Why not, then, give up and embrace evil as others do?
Read Psalms 73:1-20,27. What brings the psalmist through the crisis? What is the end of those who trust in futile things? See also 1 Peter 1:17.
Image © Darrel Tank at Goodsalt.com
While the psalmist in Psalms 73:1-28 remained focused on the current iniquity in the world, he was unable to see the big picture from God’s point of view. The problem that the prosperity of evil posed to his faith was overwhelming; he believed, also, that his argument about the uselessness of faith was based on reality.
However, Psalms 73:1-28 shows that “these things mock those who ignore the first verse of this psalm, which is the summary of the whole psalm: ‘How good the God of Israel is to those who are upright in heart!’ ”—Johannes Bugenhagen, Reformation Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018), p. 11.
The psalmist is led to the sanctuary, the place of God’s sovereign rule, and was reminded there that “today” is only one piece of the mosaic, and he should consider the “end,” when the wicked will face God’s judgment. The fact that the psalmist understood this truth in the sanctuary and confessed his previous folly shows that reality can be grasped only by spiritual insight and not by human logic.
How does the promise of God’s judgment upon the world, and upon all its evil, give you comfort when so much evil now goes unpunished?
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Today's lesson refers to the idea of fortified cities and while I like that metaphor and have seen both the fortified villages of Europe and the fighting "Pas" of the New Zealand Maoris, I have attempted today to use a modern technological parallel.
Here is my paraphrase of Psalm 125:
OK, I'm a scientist and not a psalmist, but I hope I have retained the core message of Psalm 125
It hits the Mark!
“Then Jesus was led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil”Matthew 4:1. Jesus was tempted and so will we. He showed us with His answers with scriptures how to deal with temptations WHEN they come.The righteous will have desert experiences which will consist of temptations.
When you are tempted do not abort God’s design for your trial. Depend wholly on Him to see you through. Wrestle like Jacob did and do not let go until you get an answer.
In your wilderness experience you will learn dependence and trust and when you endure you will come out with increased faith, Godly confidence, and strength to help others.
Never is the tempest-tried soul more dearly loved by His Saviour than when he is suffering reproach for the truth's sake. "I will love him," Christ said, "and will manifest Myself to him." John 14:21.
When for the truth's sake the believer stands at the bar of earthly tribunals, Christ stands by his side. When he is confined within prison walls, Christ manifests Himself to him and cheers his heart with His love. When he suffers death for Christ's sake, the Saviour says to him, They may kill the body, but they cannot hurt the soul.{AA 85}
Old Peter went duck hunting with his boss who asked him: "Peter, what's happening to you? After you became a believer you're just sad, full of problems. Look at me,
I have no concerns about God and I am getting richer, I have no problems. I think you'd better go back to being what you were and accompany me on our adventures like before."
Old Peter was left without an answer, it even seemed that the boss was right in his arguments. The boss saw many ducks and shot, killing some and injuring others. Old Peter ran to pick up the wounded and returning he said to the boss: “Do you know why I have problems serving the God? because the devil thinks I'm like a wounded duck and wants to get me so I can don't escape and if you don't have problems it's because you are already spiritually dead and the devil has no business with you.” The boss was surprised by this answer.
Can the righteous be tempted – yes! I do not see anything wrong with dissatisfaction in and off itself. It depends, though, on how it is applied.
Dissatisfaction is a motivator to change something for the better, to improve something – no problem. It becomes a problem, though, when used to tear down or destroy because of one’s envy.
Dissatisfaction/envy is one of the great temptations which, when not dealt with right away, can make the heart unhappy for a long time. Being ‘upright in heart’ is as much a decision as it is a disposition.
The definition for ‘disposition’ is: a) “prevailing tendency, mood, or inclination; b) temperamental make-up; c) the tendency of something to act in a certain manner under given circumstances.” (Webster Dictionary)
Is it possible for a Christian to be moody, tending to see the glass ‘half empty’, focusing attention on discrepancies or differences, always having a feeling of ‘not having enough of 'something’ - always one step away from being 'happy'?
What does it take to be ‘upright in heart’? For me it is being grateful and my desire to please God! The psalmist points to the sanctuary for those who want to be close to Him. Where do we go to be close to our heavenly Father? Is not the Sanctuary the metaphor for the place where ‘all things are set right’, the place for a heart-to-heart conversation with our Father?
To love God with all ones heart is our decision to make. Anything that ails the heart can be brought before His heart. He has compassion for us, understanding our frailties and need to be 'clean' as He directs us to rest in His Son!
Can the righteous be tempted - yes; Jesus was tempted! He turned to His Father 'from whom all blessings flow' - seeking His help to overcome! Where is our hearts desire placed - in earthly satisfaction through goods and power, or in our faith that these filthy garments will be made white as snow?
Happy Sabbath