I want to exhort you on one of the very interesting psalms that teach very great lessons about following God to the end — Psalm 73. In this psalm, the psalmist shares about how he almost slipped and backslid completely, simply because he envied foolish and wicked men.
[Jude 1:3 KJV] “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”.
In the first two verses, he recounts how the Lord is truly good to Israel and to such as have a clean heart. He knew alright that God is good — he was not in doubt — yet he nearly backslid or got discouraged simply because he focused on the wrong thing.
“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped”.
The Psalmist nearly slipped because he was envious of the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. The wicked had no troubles, even though they were haughty and proud and even spoke against God, while the just and faithful struggle. He almost backslid because he envied the wicked who were at ease.
“For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches”.
Indeed, there is a sharp contrast between the wicked and the upright and God-fearing. The wicked were at ease and prospered, whereas the upright was offended and plagued.
It is true that there are times when the wicked seem to prosper whilst the upright seem to struggle. There are times when it appears better to rebel against God than to be faithful. There are times when it appears vain to keep the faith.
There are many times when people who don’t pray as much as we do, fight temptations as we do; nor walk in holiness as we do, seem to have it all together. Sometimes, it sounds almost stupid to keep pressing in the faith. If you feel this way, then I want you to know that I understand how you feel, because I have been there before, and the psalmist was there.
“Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children“.
There are times when merely thinking about how even wicked men are prospering and the upright seems to be failing, you begin to think that it is not worth it to continue serving God. The psalmist said he almost slipped until he went into the sanctuary of God, then he understood the end of the wicked. Many of us get discouraged because we forget that life is not only about the here and now.
Many of the foolish and wicked who are prospering do so because they are proud and stout against God and He has set them in slippery places so that they would continue to disregard Him and be destroyed. The Lord has set the world in their hearts so that they will keep chasing after vanity.
“When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors”.
The psalmist said this reality dawned on him when he entered the sanctuary and understood the word that was preached. He then became enlightened like someone who has just woke up from a dream. It was at this point that he saw how silly and foolish and ignorant, and beastly or brutish he had been.
Very often than not, “As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee”.
The psalmist, therefore, exhorts us to;
- Continually hold on to the right hand of God.
- Continually be guided by the counsel of God
- Continually trust in the Lord, knowing that we have no one in heaven or on earth who can help apart from Him.
This is how we should live if we want to follow Him to the end.
“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God , that I may declare all thy works”.
[Psalms 73:1-28 KJV]
Let us give hope, prayer and encouragement in the comment section below, and please remember to share this message with your friends and loved ones. You shall not slip, the Lord will sustain and keep you standing.
Be blessed; I love you!
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://highcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-Lord-Shall-Restore-Your-Steps-300×300.jpg” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ url=”https://highcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/The-Lord-Shall-Restore-Your-Steps.jpg” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”15px” hover_enabled=”0″]Click on the display picture to load full size for download
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
5
God bless you for this message Bishop Simpe. Now I know how to handle the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of God’s people.
Thank you for sharing…
Lord Jesus please help me not to be envious of the prosperity of the wicked,for their end is destruction, please may you continue to hold my hands and guide me with counsel for I have no one except you Lord,my trust is in you father .
God bless you Bishop
3.5
2.5
Amen; As we keep our eyes on the end, we will not be discouraged.