October 6th, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Disillusioned?

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Opening Prayer

Loving Lord God, I thank You that Jesus died so that I may know I am loved and forgiven.

Read Psalm 37:1-40

[1] Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; [2] for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. [3] Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. [4] Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. [5] Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: [6] He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. [7] Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. [8] Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil. [9] For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. [10] A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. [11] But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. [12] The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; [13] but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. [14] The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. [15] But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. [16] Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; [17] for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. [18] The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever. [19] In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. [20] But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke. [21] The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; [22] those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. [23] The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; [24] though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. [25] I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. [26] They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. [27] Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. [28] For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. [29] The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. [30] The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. [31] The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. [32] The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; [33] but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial. [34] Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. [35] I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, [36] but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. [37] Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. [38] But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked. [39] The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. [40] The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

What is your greatest cause of frustration? Bring it to God and ask for a godly perspective on it.

Think Further

Surveys trace the sad outflow from the church of those who have become disillusioned. Disaffection with the church itself, frustration with God and skepticism about faith are all too common. Some are distracted by those around them; knocked off course by superficial comparison with unbelievers that drain energy from remaining true to God. It is this tussle of perceptions that underlies today’s psalm. Wrongdoers seem to get away with it, sometimes prospering through evil (35), unperturbed by thoughts of divine intervention. That can make us envious (1), anxious (1,8), impatient (7) or angry (8). I suppose all of us have experienced one or more of these emotions in response to drug barons living in luxury or tyrannical rulers suppressing their poverty-stricken citizens from the splendid isolation of their air-conditioned palaces. It’s wrong; but is it permanent?

David plainly recognizes the potential for believers to be sapped of faith by living in an unfair world. If we learn from his approach, we will not pretend that we sail through life unaffected by inequalities and injustices, or temptations to unbelief. However, we will primarily focus on the transitory nature of evil and true inheritance. The poet Douglas Dunn, reflecting on idolized race car drivers, reminds us that “their cars [will be] pressed into squares of scrap!” That captures the psalmist’s thesis, which reflects that evil people will be destroyed (9,22,28,34,38). Their glory inevitably fades; whereas those who trust the Lord gain a lasting inheritance (9,11,18,22,29, and 34). The “land,” with all its resonances of home, rest and permanence (e.g. Gen. 13:14-17; 2 Sam. 7:10,11; Heb. 3:7 – 4:11), is reserved for those who keep on trusting the unseen God. Despite what immediate circumstances might suggest, history and spiritual insight tell us he is neither blind nor deaf.

Apply

Who do you know whose faith is being tested by envy, anxiety, impatience or anger? What can you draw from the psalm to pray for or share with them?

Closing prayer

Gracious Father, cultural attitudes constantly press in on me. Forgive me that I so easily absorb them when in my heart, I want to seek first You and Your Kingdom.

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