Daily Manna 31 July
KEY VERSE: “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.” – (Psalm 73:16-18)
TEXT: Psalm 73:1-28
Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here,
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 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 Your works.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
One of the pillars of God’s righteousness is sowing and reaping. This means that there is a pay day for every work (Jeremiah 17:10).
The righteous are often perplexed at the prosperity of the wicked who apparently “are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain…” (Verses 5,6). Because the wealth of the unrighteous appears so inviting such that the righteous may even at times consider the possibility of trading places with the wicked, the psalmist saw this as being “too painful until [he] went into the sanctuary of God; then understood [he] their end” (verses 16,17).
However, very transient is the wealth of the wicked. ‘Surely thou didst set them up in slippery places, thou castedst them down into destruction’. God does not approve of any ill-gotten wealth and all forms of wealth acquired through ungodly means.
However, very transient is the wealth of the wicked. ‘Surely thou didst set them up in slippery places, thou castedst them down into destruction’. God does not approve of any ill-gotten wealth and all forms of wealth acquired through ungodly means.
Obviously, the Psalmist, like many Christians today, misunderstood the concept of the prosperity of the wicked. He wondered at their seeming peace and pleasure. Of course, all men suffer at the hand of Satan because “the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:9b). The reason they appear peaceful is, one, they know how to boast and pretend as if they are not in trouble. Two, God gives them long time to repent but eventually judgment will come. No matter what he seems to enjoy today, the end of an unbeliever is bitter except he repents.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Don’t envy the sinner because his end will be bitter.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Timothy 1-6
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – No Escape! – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 31 July 2021
