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8 April 2008
Word on the Web
Psalm 73 v 4-12
The [wicked] are not suffering; they are healthy and strong.
They don't have troubles like the rest of us; they don't have problems like other people.
They wear pride like a necklace and put on violence as their clothing.
They are looking for profits and do not control their selfish desires.
They make fun of others and speak evil; proudly they speak of hurting others.
They brag to the sky. They say that they own the earth.
So their people turn to them and give them whatever they want.
They say, 'How can God know? What does God Most High know?'
These people are wicked, always at ease, and getting richer.
In these verses the wicked have a real good time. It's not comforting for those who believe and expect God to make the world right. There is no reassurance here in these verses about God doing anything. The verses on their own leave us helpless but helpless many of God's people are. For today, a mother will tell her child, 'I have no food'. Today a prayer will be said for someone or some situation and in the limitation of our view, that prayer will not be answered. Still more, in these verses, the wicked even mock God. So if this is how it is we can rightly shout, 'so what's the point?' I have never met anyone, including myself, who does not want an instant answer to prayer at some time or other. Sitting with my young friend in hospital watching the life signs on the monitors slowly fade away was one occasion for me. Why her? She was a faithful Christian. Why not someone who is dedicated to wickedness?
Sometimes, for reasons we don't understand, that's how it is. How it is sometimes brings us to doubt. Without doubt there is no faith.
O God, sometimes it is really really tough, following you and doing what you ask of me. Help me to hang in there with you and whether or not I manage to do that, please, you hang in there with me. Amen.
Written by Denis Tully
Word on the Web
Psalm 73 v 4-12
The [wicked] are not suffering; they are healthy and strong.
They don't have troubles like the rest of us; they don't have problems like other people.
They wear pride like a necklace and put on violence as their clothing.
They are looking for profits and do not control their selfish desires.
They make fun of others and speak evil; proudly they speak of hurting others.
They brag to the sky. They say that they own the earth.
So their people turn to them and give them whatever they want.
They say, 'How can God know? What does God Most High know?'
These people are wicked, always at ease, and getting richer.
In these verses the wicked have a real good time. It's not comforting for those who believe and expect God to make the world right. There is no reassurance here in these verses about God doing anything. The verses on their own leave us helpless but helpless many of God's people are. For today, a mother will tell her child, 'I have no food'. Today a prayer will be said for someone or some situation and in the limitation of our view, that prayer will not be answered. Still more, in these verses, the wicked even mock God. So if this is how it is we can rightly shout, 'so what's the point?' I have never met anyone, including myself, who does not want an instant answer to prayer at some time or other. Sitting with my young friend in hospital watching the life signs on the monitors slowly fade away was one occasion for me. Why her? She was a faithful Christian. Why not someone who is dedicated to wickedness?
Sometimes, for reasons we don't understand, that's how it is. How it is sometimes brings us to doubt. Without doubt there is no faith.
O God, sometimes it is really really tough, following you and doing what you ask of me. Help me to hang in there with you and whether or not I manage to do that, please, you hang in there with me. Amen.
Written by Denis Tully
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