DEVOTIONAL 12/26/2020
Psalm 73
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
In the world, there are many riches people such as celebrities and tycoons. People admire them for their success and prosperity. Majority of them acquire their wealth in dishonest ways, whether they admit that or not. It is not possible to be wealthy while strictly following God's commandments at the same time as we see in the case of Job. However, Satan will make many efforts to sabotage the progress of God's children. The devil will make sure to employ different strategies to fail God's children or let them gain success while breaking God's law. Satan offers a "reward" to anyone that is willing to engage in a fraudulant or wicked act. God has the power to stop this injustice in which the ungodly become richer and richer.
The author of Psalm 73 expresses his feeling as "...too painful for me..." because he is "...chastened every morning", whereas he observes the ungodly "...increase in riches." He appears to be baffled that God does not intervene sooner. Only when he comes to the sanctuary to pray and worship, God reveals to him the outcomes of these wicked people. The author comes to understand that destruction awaits them in the land of hell because of their ungodly deeds. Their wealth on earth will not save them. Their pride will soon be turned to sorrow as we can read further in Psalm 73.
Psalm 73: 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Brethren, success is not always a blessing. Watch out for our own actions. Are they clean? Are they pure? It is not worth going to hell for few gains on earth.
Sam Christian Feel free to share and no attribution required. Vocabulary and grammar checks were done with the help and suggestions by Collinsdictionary.com and http://www.hemingwayapp.com/.
Some ideas in this devotional might have been inspired by Jonathan Edwards' sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an angry GOD".
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