Do The Wicked Prosper?

Reading:  Jeremiah 11, 12
My Verse:    "Righteous are you , O LORD,
                         when I complain to you;
                         yet I would plead my case before you.

                      Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
                      Why do all who are treacherous thrive?"  -Jeremiah 12:1

The age old question that even Solomon and David wrote of - why is it that the wicked fare so well, that they flourish and prosper?

Instead of reassuring Jeremiah here You reprimand him for his impatience and caution him that he (Jeremiah)  needs to prepare himself for even worse times!  In other words You are telling him You are working out Your purposes!

It is good for me to see that even these very great spiritual men - spiritual giants in my eyes! - complained of what they saw as injustice or unfairness.  "Why are all they at ease and thriving who deal very treacherously and deceitfully?" (Amplified Bible)   In our very limited human view, it  seems unfair.  Unfortunately, I go there often!

Anyone who denies You should not experience any kind of happiness, especially those who are outright ugly, mean and cause hurt/harm to others should experience any kind of prosperity - at least in my eyes.   And yet, many that deny You do prosper.

I love how You ever caution us about this kind of thinking - that the "wicked"do prosper.  You tell us in Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD."

I am reminded of my limitations.  I cannot see over the hill.  I cannot see what tomorrow will bring.  But You, LORD God, can.  You are omnipresent, omniscient and all-powerful.

Even more important You are the very essence of Love.  It is only because of You that we, sinful creatures are able to love and care for one another.

Who am I to question how You work in the lives of others?  Even if someone appears to be vile in my eyes, You love that person and want his/her fellowship.  You are doing Your work in that person to bring them to You and will be as patient as You choose to be with them.  You also use unsaved to allow experiences to happen to us, Your loved ones, for Your purposes - even if they are difficult.  I must ever be reminded as You remind Jeremiah that You are working out Your purposes.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28 (NIV)

"The counsel of the LORD stands forever.  
     The plans of His heart from generation to generation." -Psalm 33:11

"The LORD of hosts has sworn saying,
     "Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened,
       and just as I have planned so it will stand." - Isaiah 14:24

No, I do not and cannot understand Your ways.  It is a waste of time for me to fret of such things and yet I often find myself doing just that.  Forgive me LORD God.  Thank You, for all that You do for me.  Thank You for being so steadfast in Your love and purposes.  I can trust in that.

Love William Cowper's song God Works in Mysterious Ways His Wonders To Perform.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

"You do not understand what I am doing, but later you will understand." -John 13:7

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

                       

"Falsehood and Not Truth Has Grown Strong In The Land"

Reading:  Jeremiah 8 - 10
My Verse:  "Everyone deceives his neighbor;
                       and no one speaks the truth;
                    They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
                       they weary themselves committing iniquity" (Jeremiah 9:5).

How sad is this!  Even sadder is that lying has become woven into the very fabric of our political system.  Whenever there is a debate, a fact checker is posted telling the entire world how many lies were made!  And these are presidential candidates!

"Everyone deceives his neighbor"  reads like and mades one think of Genesis 6:5.  "The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time."  The most sad verse in the Bible follows "And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart."  This resulted in the great flood.

"No one speaks the truth"  is all inclusive.  It does not leave out anyone, meaning we all will lie if that is the most expedient thing.  Only You, LORD God, can keep us from being consummate liars!

"They have taught their tongue to speak lies"   speaks to the inclination of our hearts.  When we turn from You, LORD God, lying gets easier and easier.  Our lives become a jumble of confused lies.

"They weary themselves committing iniquity"  results from the lying and rejecting of You, LORD God.  Read an article about stress and the aging factor it is in the lives of people today.  In the past the main aging factor was physical labor.  Today it is emotional and mental stress.  When we lie and deceive others we cannot help but be stressed.  This stress ages or as this verse says, wearies us!

Public figures are continually caught in their lies.  I am always amazed that people don't get it!  All will become known.  You tell us that so  in Your Word the Bible.

"Truthful lips endure forever,
     but a lying tongue lasts only a moment" (Proverbs 12:19).

"But when anything is exposed by the light,
     it becomes visible" (Ephesians 5:13).

"No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house;
     no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes"(Psalm 101:7)

"For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest,
     nor is anything secret that will not be known and
     come to light" (Luke 8:17).

 Because lying is so very despicable to You, LORD God and You know how detrimental it is to us You warn us often.  You want so much for us to be free of this awful sin.  Lying eats aways at our very souls.

Pastor Ravi Zacharius said when one lies, when one breaks a vow their very self dribbles away between their fingers.  That person loses who there were and can never get it back.  Even with  Your salvation there are consequences one must live with, scars, something forever lost.

It is a bit frightening that this verse reminded me of Genesis 6:5, because  Matthew 24:37 speaks to this - the days of Noah.  Jesus is speaking of the end times, His second coming.  He says, "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah."   People going blithely along; lying - deceiving, living in iniquity - oblivious to You, LORD God, because they have shut You out.  You will come when they least expect it. "But of that day and hour no one knows . . ." (Matthew 24:36).

Thank You for this verse, LORD God.  Help me to stay in the truth, Your Truth!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!