“You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge – no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” Psalm 91:8-10
Devotional Thought For The Day
Is it true that believers in Christ, and believers who live in greater conformity to their profession of faith and discipleship to Christ, tend to be healthier and to live longer, happier lives? Some people have suggested and asserted this, linking actuarial charts and other anecdotal accounts of healthiness and happiness to personal “professions” of faith and reported behavior. However, this is really a very difficult question for it requires data that is not empirically verifiable or quantifiable [faith, piety, genuine devotion to Christ, happiness] and attempts to draw empirical conclusions. We can wonder about these things, and perhaps draw comfort from very general observations, but there are always numerous exceptions – and we must be very careful about drawing obverse conclusions when dear people of Christian faith are afflicted with various trials and troubles. The devil is very clever at using our sufferings to erode and destroy our faith in God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and eternal love for us.
Likewise, the assertions in these verses from the psalmist are not “simply” verifiable empirically. These are not universal and absolute promises that if someone is a genuine believer he/she will never suffer accident, injury, illness, aging or death. We are all well aware of numerous incidents of very pious and professing Christians who have suffered all manner of the illnesses and injuries common to mankind, and some who have already died. All of the saints whose lives are recorded in Holy Scripture have already suffered the physical demise of death – and some through violent martyrdom. So the question arises as to what the psalmist was referring to, and just how we may know the truthfulness and certainty of what he asserted, and what comfort we are to derive from these promises of God. First, he assures us that we will many times be spared injury and illness by God’s providence and protection – and most of the time we are unaware of His gracious deliverance. Second, that even when we are enduring trials and tribulations, God is making sure that they must ultimately work out for our greater good and blessedness [Rom. 8:28]. Third, like all promises of God and all of His greater blessings, we know the truthfulness and certainty of His blessing by faith and not by sight, by faith and not by empirical proof or rational arguments. Fourth, the comfort that we derive through faith in God’s promises is in itself blessedly healing and strengthening, enabling and empowering courage and confidence, peace and joy. Finally, the time is coming when absolutely nothing will be able to cause us any pain, harm, or fear – in God’s heavenly kingdom.
The unbelieving may scoff at such assertions of blessedness – and they surely will experience none of it. In fact, they will experience just the opposite: “you will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.” And we should be looking and even warning them – in fear, humility, and genuine compassion – of what is coming to them unless they repent and receive God’s mercy and love in Christ Jesus. We have already seen much of this “recompense,” although it always seems tardy in the case of those wicked who are plaguing and afflicting us, for God continues to exercise patient love toward all, hoping that all might come to repentance. Regardless, He is surely blessing us in all things, protecting us, watching over us, and shepherding us through this treacherous life to our final home in heaven. No evil and no plague will ever be able to interfere with this gracious will and purpose of God toward His dear children of faith. So let us take heart and courage, joy and comfort, and join in praising God for His love, power, promises, and deliverance.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we are fully aware of Your commitment of love toward us, how You laid down Your life to make atonement for all our sins. We pray that You would grant us great comfort in Your love, through faith, that we might heed Your Word and lay aside all our fears. Thank You for Your providence and protection each day, and for our final deliverance to Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.