Monday, May 17, 2010

May 17th

Today's reading from One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 50; Psalm 73-74

Commentaries on today's passages
Psalm 50 - Out of Zion, the Perfection of Beauty, God Shines Forth (John Piper) and Call upon Me in the Day of Trouble and I Will Deliver You (John Piper)
Psalm 73 - Battling the Unbelief of Despondency (John Piper) and The Suffering of the Righteous and the Success of Sinners (Bob Deffinbaugh)

I wanted to write just a bit about Psalm 73 today. There are numerous lessons to be learned from this Psalm (see above commentaries), but I wanted to focus on one fairly general truth that we can take away from it.

No matter how much the wicked may flourish in this life, no matter how much it may seem like there is no benefit to righteousness - one day it will matter eternally.

The wicked may prosper in this life. Often they will not, often they will sow what they reap right here on earth. But sometimes it seems like they get away with a lot. Sometimes it seems tempting to do the same, especially when it doesn't appear that we are getting rewarded for doing the right thing.

But the wealth and prosperity of the wicked will end forever at death.

And the rewards for the righteous will also last forever.

Though time seems to stretch on interminably right now, though we long for justice to come now and not later, we can rest in the knowledge that justice will come. All wrongs will be made right. The wicked will be held accountable and the righteous will receive their reward.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
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.
Psalm 73:23-28


Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 75-78

2 comments:

tammi said...

I kinda got hung up on Ps 73 as well. It presents a fairly clear picture of what happens to Christianity when nations are wealthy and a little too comfortable.

Miriam said...

I agree 100%.