redeeming the time in ‘99: 30% over
Our scriptural theme for 1999 is based on the wonderful challenge in
Ephesians 5: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
By the grace of God, this congregation has already been a part of many
great things this year in glorifying God through evangelism, edification,
and benevolence.
We have also made progress in our numeral growth goals presented by
the elders in our 1999 program of work.
Note the following numbers:
Jan-May 1998 1999 1999 GoalsAM Classes 99 111 125
AM Worship 123 127 150
PM Worship 87 103 120
Wed. Classes 85 98 120
Contribution $3293 $4677 $4600
Let us continue to “hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering ,for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).
— Skip
Psalm 10: Is God So Far Away That He Can’t Tell?
“God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”
NOTE: Yesterday’s murderous rampage in Colorado is an illustration of how evil people abuse their right to choose as free moral agents. In the wisdom of God, He allows for such choices to be made (Joshua 24:15). We who survive and wonder can find help in such writings as the Psalm before us this week. Among the answers is the absolute urgency of being ready to die—even at a tender age. Let us learn, not only from the evil schemes of young sinners (Genesis 8:21), but from the wonderful words of life (Ecclesiastes 12:1,13,14).
Psalm 10 is a powerful and complete unit that can be used to study the issues relating to the question, “Why?” All of us ask this question at many times during our lives. Let us begin by understanding that it is not wrong to ask “Why?” God welcomes our questions. The wrong element is when we are not willing to accept His way of answering the “Why?” that we ask. Let us always be willing to look to the Bible and to one another when the issues of life provoke this incredibly hard question. The first word of this inspired Psalm is “Why?” There are three parts to the answer:
II. The Helper (10:14,15).
III. The Answer (10:16-18).
There really is a sense in which God observes earth from a distance. But there is also a sense in which He is so very close that nothing on earth escapes His notice. It is in the times when things are so extreme that we may be tempted to think that He only observes from a distance—that He is not doing anything about the situation. Let us not give in to such temptation! Let us learn what He has said in His word about how He answers our question, “Why?” Then, we will have the help we need in such a time.
The wicked are powerful and active. This has been true ever since Eden. It is not going to change until Jesus returns. It is therefore up to us to deal with evil and evildoers in the light of the Bible teaching—not in the darkness of Biblical ignorance.
In verses 3-13, David describes the wicked by addressing four of their characteristics.
The first of these characteristics of the wicked is their pride (vv. 3,4). One of the most needed studies in our time is the study of pride versus its opposite, humility. When we finally decide to accept what the Bible says about this evil, and then replace it with the grace of humility and lowliness of mind that is so regularly recommended in the Bible, we will be on the path that leads to true happiness. But as long as people think that pride is virtuous, JUST THAT LONG will people remain in spiritual danger. With regard to the proud, David said “God is not in his thoughts.”
The second characteristic of the wicked is their “prosperity” (vv. 5-7). The proud haughtiness of the previous verses now shows itself in amazing claims, such as “I shall never be in adversity!” Due to such attitudes and claims, he has “no clue” about the judgments of God: they are “out of his sight.” They even use the same language as the faithful: “I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8). The difference is clear, for since the evil ones base their claim on their pride, they shall indeed be moved, easily moved—to hell! The faithful ones base their claim on their humble allegiance to Jehovah, which means that their claim is true. Let us learn that we can tell the difference between right and wrong, and part of the way to do that is to listen to people’s claims and language. “His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity” (v. 7).
The third characteristic of the wicked is their “lurking” (vv. 8-11). In spite of their proud vanity and loud mouth, they must be sneaky, secretive, dark, deceptive, and all other words that describe their cowardly wickedness—always playing on their own turf with their our “rules.” And even with all of this additional evidence, far too many of us close our eyes to the dangers that such people pose to us; just as they have decided that God has stopped looking their way. But the truth is that it is foolish for us to close our eyes to the signs and it is foolish for the wicked to think that God has stopped watching them!
The fourth characteristic of the wicked is their belief that God will not require an account (vv. 12,13). Maybe they have grown up in homes, schools, churches, and a society, where someone else always seems to have to pay for what they have done. Maybe they really have been “getting away with murder.” Maybe this has led them to really believe that God will even look the other way at the judgment. Maybe?
I don’t think so. And even though all who are a part of their problem will pay for their part of the situation, those evil ones will be required to give an account (Romans 14:10-12). That which the evil ones have said in their hearts is wrong. It has no basis in the Bible or in the truth about how God has dealt with people since Adam and Eve sinned for the first time.
In verses 14 and 15 we are given the second part of the answer to the question, “Why?” The answer is that God is the helper. He does see, He does see all things accurately, He does require an account (the law of sowing and reaping applies to all people; Galatians 6:7,8), He does take note of and offer himself to the helpers, He does punish (break the arm) of the people described in verses 3-13, and He will deal with wickedness until He finds no more of it!
Do you see how powerful these things are when they are applied to the circumstances of life when evil people have done awful things? Solutions to sin and sinners not only involve the here and now (life), they involve the there and then (judgment).
In verses 16-18, we are given the third part of the answer to the question, “Why?”
Verse 16 reminds us that there is no comparison between Jehovah and those who perish in His presence—there is only a contrast! He is King forever, all they are certain to perish. Verses 17 and 18 provide line after line of positive encouragement that Jehovah is the kind of King who notices and cares for every one of His subjects. They can depend on Him! Pay special attention to the fact that David says that those who receive such notice and care from Jehovah are humble (v. 17).
When we allow God to answer our cry of “Why?” through the truth in the Bible, we can rest assured that even though everyone’s life has many troubles that are the result of the sinful choices of others, God is in control; and He has promised “that the man of the earth may oppress no more.”
— Skip Andrews
Next week—Psalm 11:
“No One Sees Better Than Jehovah”
Verse of the Week:
“My flesh trembleth for fear of thee;
and I am afraid of thy judgments” (Psalm 119:120).