“Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see? He who disciplines the nations, does He not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.” Psalm 94:8-11
Devotional Thought For The Day
Sorry for the lack of devotions over the past couple of weeks, and even prior to that. It has been an interesting fall in our household. I have yet to recover completely from a cold/virus that has afflicted me for nearly a month, and my wife’s mother fell and broke the little bone in the front of her pelvis. She was discharged after only two days in the hospital, and couldn’t walk, so we have been providing 24 hour coverage for her for the past two weeks. I will be spending some time in Lyons to try to provide a presence of mercy and support from the church now that people are being allowed back into their homes. My wife and I are trying to balance this with still fulfilling our duties at work – so some things have had to be left off. Hopefully we will be getting back to a bit more normal schedule as her mother begins to heal up!
Of course the Lord knows about all these things – and all about our thoughts, and all about everything that touches every aspect of our lives. It is an interesting [and increasingly intellectually absurd] position to take, that there is no God, no One who is responsible for the astronomically remarkable conditions on planet earth that support and sustain life, and hence no One Who has fearfully and wonderfully made human beings and given us the astonishing abilities we have – seeing, hearing, and thinking. The Scripture is spot on, that only “the fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” [Psalm 14:1] But this is part of the delusional arrogance of sinful human beings that we think such big thoughts and are so intelligent that we can conclude that God doesn’t even exist. However, in reality, the wiser and more intelligent a person gets the more he humbly understands that ” the LORD knows the thoughts of man” and that our own great thoughts “are but a breath.”
It is fascinating to watch our modern scientists, educators, politicians, and social engineers work on all the problems of a remarkably wealthy, educated, medically advanced, and technologically sophisticated society – without any reference to God and His will and His ways, and without any deference to Him. They are doing a stupendously wonderful job, not? We see so many things around us spiraling downward – national debt, our influence for good in other parts of the world, our personal financial security, our healthcare, our educational performance, getting rid of drugs, controlling crime, improving mental health, protecting people from dangers posed by those who hate our nation, unhealthy and deadly sexual behaviors which diminish the strength and vitality of a people, the health of marriage, the vitality of the Christian church. Yet no need for help from a “higher Power,” no need yet to cry out to God to help us and to save us from sinking deeper into dangerous, destructive, and deadly mire?
This is precisely what the psalmist is referring to when he describes God Almighty as “disciplining” and “rebuking” the nations. And any sentient and half reasonable person can see what is down the pike for us, the direction we are headed. Yet myopically and insanely our leaders continue to peddle the belief that they will solve our issues, that all will be well, that our future and our fortunes are secure. Lord, have mercy! They are among those who think that God does not see or perceive what they are doing to His creation, to people He created, loves, and has already redeemed in Christ. They are still attempting to build the “tower of Babel,” their own legacy and glory, against the will and healing of God in His Son, the Christ, the Savior. Such who do so, however, are properly described as “dullest of the people” and fools.
We must suffer such for the time being, until God’s discipline works its good and [hopefully] our people return to sanity. In the meantime, we must remember God’s goodness, mercy, and love, and draw near to Him through repentance and faith in Jesus. We must remember His promises to watch over His dear people who must suffer the foolishness of ungodly leaders and a decadent society. We know that regardless of how things go for us in this “vale of tears,” all will eventually come to its culmination in accord with God’s plan and His promises, and that the joys of peace, goodness, and blessedness will be ours in His kingdom. So we persist in calling others to this wisdom and blessedness, and leave all else in God’s hands. As the psalmist goes on to assert: “the LORD will not forsake His people; He will not abandon His heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” More about this next week!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You sustain all things by Your Word of power, and yet You suffer all the foolishness of godless people who reject Your Word, Your Wisdom, Your power, and Your redeeming love. Sustain us in faith and true piety, that we continue to humbly repent and rejoice in Your salvation, and trust in Your providence in these troubling times. Grant us constancy in our calling as we look forward to the blessings You have promised to Your dear people of faith. Amen.