“He has scattered abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be lifted up with honor. The wicked shall see and be vexed; he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.” Psalm 112:9,10
Devotional Thought For The Day
So concludes this precious psalm describing the outcome of all things for the child of God, the one who trusts in God’s great love and His gift of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in Christ Jesus. We need such assurances as we go through life in this fallen and sorrowful world of sin. We have so many experiences where it seems that humble and meek believers in Christ are disenfranchised and at the utter mercy of evil. Even within the church it often seems as if those who exalt themselves and those who pervert the Word of God rise in prominence and seem to prevail. But these words and promises of God are also living and abiding and remain forever, inexorably fulfilled by the power and faithfulness of God.
We do not generally think much about the “righteousness” of children of God, who must continue to subdue and kill the impulses of our fallen nature. After all, even our “righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” [Is. 64:6] It is appropriate that in this life we focus on our ongoing need for utter repentance and mourn the deep integration of sin and unbelief in our fallen hearts and minds. This keeps us firmly focused on Jesus and the gracious mercy and salvation of God, so that our meditation is constantly upon the love of God. Part of His gracious and remarkable love, however, is that our imperfect “righteousnesses” are still accounted as being “righteous,” and such “righteousness endures forever.” [consider Rev. 14:13 and Matt. 25:34-40] So despite the ongoing reality of our sin, and the ignominious accusations of our enemies – including those of the devil, the unbelievers in the world, and even those who associate themselves with the church – we are assured that we will be “lifted up with honor” in the end. Thanks and praise be to God!
It is also of some comfort to us that in the end “the wicked shall see and be vexed.” Yes, this is a bit like God putting it in the face of our enemies. For you understand, that these are also enemies of God, those who plague and afflict His dear children and seek their downfall and demise. The unbelieving and ignorant do not understand this; they think they have accomplished something, vindicated themselves, shown themselves to be better than God’s children when they attack, accuse, and afflict. Nothing could be further from the truth – and they shall “see”; God will put it in their face. This is also the great vexation of the older brother in Jesus’ parable [Luke 15:28], who undoubtedly felt perfectly justified in assuming that he was rid of his younger brother forever. Not so, and for those who have chosen the “good portion,” “it shall not be taken away.” [Luke 10:42]
The opposite is the case for the wicked – “he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.” We must take care for we too are tempted with vengeance and malice; if we become enmeshed in such bitterness and unbelief we too may “melt away.” If we remain humble in our faith and trust in God, entrusting all things into His good and gracious hands, we have assurance that the desires of those who hate us will perish, and that the impenitent and unbelieving will melt away. This is not God’s will for anyone – but those who insist upon it by committing themselves to evil will be granted what they demand. So let us continue in the path God has called us to, repenting of all sin and evil and believing the good news of God’s redemption and eternal love for us in Christ Jesus. And let us humbly hope in these promises of God, remaining confident and courageous in the face of those who seek our destruction.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, keep us humbly aware of all that we must repent of, and of the reality that You have taken away our sin, and that Your blood cleanses us from all sin. Remind us each day that we are Your beloved children, and that You will indeed keep us and raise us up at the Last Day. Strengthen our faith so that we do not lose heart in the face of the evils of our time. Keep us firmly committed to the righteousnesses that flow as fruit from Your love. Amen.