Title Commit Your Path to the Lord / 2004.12.12.
Contents
Psalm 37:1-6, Habakkuk 1:2-3
It is said that the economy of our country is difficult these days. When the economy is difficult, people's hearts are hardened and more people are suffering. In complex life situations, there are many times when the mind is broken, and there are times when people suffer physically. I don't know when I'm at peace, but when pain comes or when I get into trouble, I look back at myself and seriously think about the problem of pain. Why am I having this problem? Why is it me? It's me, not that person? Why do I have to suffer this when there are people worse off than me, wicked people, and unbelievers? This kind of question arises.
These questions and discussions are not yesterday or today. These are questions that arise naturally as we go through the various difficulties we encounter in life, and these are problems that simply cannot be solved. There were many people in the Bible who struggled with this problem. The book of Habakkuk also addresses this issue. Habakkuk asks God: For easier understanding, I will read the standard new translation.
You cry out for help, but you do not hear me,
Even if you shout, ‘It’s violence!
Lord, how long will you do that?
Why do you make me see injustice?
Why do you only see evil as it is?
looting and violence unfolding before me,
Arguments and quarrels never cease. Habakkuk 1:2-3
You have clear eyes, and you see evil and have no patience;
He is a person who can't just stand by watching the disobedience.
But why do you only look at the traitors?
Do you remain silent when an evil nation devours a good people? Habakkuk 1:13
The book of Job also addresses this issue. Many people know that the book of Job is a word of patience, but in fact, the book of Job is not about patience, but the problem of human suffering, and it is a verse that deals with the deeper problems of life: Why does suffering come to the righteous?
The words of Psalm 73 also deal with the problem of human suffering.
God does good to the upright and the pure in heart,
I lost that confidence and almost fell.
It is because I am envious of the arrogant and envy the peace of the wicked.
When they die, there is no pain, and their bodies are intact and radiant.
They do not have the kind of pain that people usually suffer from.
The calamities that are common to people do not come close to them at all... 73:1-5
If this is the case, what I have lived with a pure heart
Is it in vain to live a clean life without sinning? 73:13
How honest and sincere are these questions? Doesn't it reflect the thoughts we normally have? God is answering this question with the words of Psalm 37 today.
Do not be upset that the wicked prosper,
Do not be envious of the unrighteous because they live well.
They wither as fast as grass, and wither like greens.
Rely on the Lord and do good deeds.
Retain His faithfulness, and live on this earth.
Find joy only in the Lord.
The Lord grants the desires of your heart.
Entrust your path to the Lord, and trust in Him alone.
The Lord Himself will help you.
He will make your righteousness shine like the light and your justice like the noonday sun. 1-6 New Translation
But the question still remains. Even if we let the evil people prosper just like that, why are there difficulties for the saints? Why do people who believe in God suffer? The question arises, isn't it the saints that God protects and guides?
There are several cases where a saint gets into trouble.
The first is Satan's temptation.
Satan tests those who believe. Satan often pushes the saints before difficult problems to knock them down. The saints must discern well each time. And we must overcome by faith. The reason Satan tempts the saints is to discourage them from losing their faith.
The purpose of Satan's test of Job was to drive Job, who had good faith, into hardship, to discourage him, and to blame God, and thus to turn away from his faith. However, Job realized his pride through the suffering and moved forward with better faith. Therefore, God blessed him twice as much.
Be sober, wake up. Your adversary the devil is like a roaring lion
It prowls around looking for someone to devour; resist him, strong in your faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9
Satan cannot test those who are sober and awake and strengthen their faith. Also, even if you are tested, you will soon be able to win.
Second, there is suffering caused by sin.
Samson neglected his God-given mission and was having fun with a foreign woman, but his hair was cut and his eyes pulled out, and he ended up turning a millstone. God punishes His chosen people in every way when they sin. But in such cases you should never be discouraged. Rather, we must realize it quickly and turn to repentance. Because that is the way to happiness.
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Do not be discouraged when you are rebuked by him.
The Lord disciplines those he loves
He scourges every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:5-6
Suffering from sin is suffering from my own fault, but in other words, it is proof that God loves me. Therefore, you will need to quickly turn around and be healed.
Third, there are hardships and trials that I experience because of my mistakes.
Humans are not perfect beings. Imperfect humans can make mistakes when they see themselves as living. You may fall along the way. Rolling your body recklessly can make you sick. If you are not careful, accidents can happen. If you don't work hard, you can ruin your business. Rather, it is the natural providence of God. After people fall into trouble because of their own mistakes or greed, they grumble against God. But that's not wise. Rather, you should have the wisdom to carefully examine your own life.
Fourth, there are sufferings from living righteously.
We do not suffer only because we sin. On the contrary, we live according to the Word and suffer hardships. Daniel was not thrown into the lions' den because he had sinned. This is what happened when we lived in obedience to God's word. When Joseph went to prison, he lived according to the word and fell into hardship. However, there is God's providence in all the sufferings we face while living righteously like this. There is a providence of working together for good.
Faith is also nurtured in the fight against suffering. But no matter what the saints suffer for whatever reason, it is never in vain. That will soon become a source of blessing. It will soon become a fertilizer for growth.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word. Psalm 119:67
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. Psalm 119:71
Fifth, there are hardships to accomplish God's will.
Such is the suffering of Jesus. It was not because of any fault, nor because of Satan, but because he suffered in order to accomplish God's will to save mankind.
Sometimes, we also have hardships to accomplish God's will. Just as a single grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it produces a hundredfold fruit, so one sacrifice and hardship accomplishes the work of grace that saves many people.
No one likes suffering. Everyone wants to live a peaceful life. However, no matter how much human beings have such hopes, there are always hardships and sufferings in human life. There is no life without suffering. Everyone goes through many difficult hurdles in their lifetime. Even the saints have hardships. Rather, there are hardships that we suffer because we are saints. Even the Bible does not speak of a life without suffering or suffering. Rather, He tells us to overcome hardships and sufferings with faith.
In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. He said that I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Once again, let's read a few words from Psalm 37 in the New Standard Translation.
let go of anger Calm down your rage don't fret
These things are only harmful to yourself.
The wicked will one day be uprooted
Those who wait for the Lord will surely inherit the land. 37:8-9
The way we walk is pleasing to the Lord,
May the Lord guard our steps,
Even if we stumble, the Lord holds our hand and we do not fall.
I am young and old, and the righteous are forsaken,
I did not see his descendants begging.
Such a person always gives grace and lives by lending,
His descendants will be greatly blessed. 37:23-26
Sometimes it seems that evil is rampant in the world, and it seems that all the evil ones are doing well, but their endings are all in vain. Sometimes we feel discouraged and difficult because of the difficulties that come to people of faith, but God will surely build us up, repay us, and renew us.
.
Trust in him, and he will do it, and make your righteousness shine like a light.
He will make your justice like the noonday light. 37:5-6
I pray that you will become believers who hold fast to this word and live a life like the light of noon every day.
Download Word of the Day