Psalm 11:4-5
Although it is claimed that God loves everybody and has a grace that rests upon more than those whom He chose eternally in Christ, the Scriptures teach something quite different. In Psalm 11:4-5 we read: "The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: His eyes be hold His eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth."
We find here a sharp contrast. The human race is divided into the righteous and the wicked. The righteous God tries, but the wicked He hates. That He tries the righteous does not mean that He tries to get them to accept Christ. It does not mean that He tries to find out what is in their hearts. No, His throne is heaven, and from there He knows all that happens below Him and has power to give Christ and His blessings to whomsoever He wills. He need not and does not try to get men to help Him get men to believe in Christ.
That He tries the righteous means that they are already righteous in Christ and that He purifies them as silver is tried by fire. And those who trust in God will see that, when the wicked bend their bows to shoot their arrows, God is purifying His church and polishing her members so that they can reflect His glory more fully.
Our flesh does not like these trials; but through these afflictions God purifies and strengthens the faith of those who were chosen in Christ. Those outside of Christ, the wicked unbelievers whom He hates, He punishes; and the fire He sends upon them destroys them. Rather than building them up, He is casting them down to everlasting punishment. Listen to our versification (PRC Psalter):
The Lord in His temple shall ever abide;
His throne is eternal, whatever betide.
The children of men He beholds from on high,
The wicked to punish, the righteous to try.
These trials are a blessing to His church. The prosperity and wealth of the unbelievers will bring them to everlasting woe.
Read: II Corinthians 4 - II Corinthians 5:1-2
Psalter versification: #20:2
Daily Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #270
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Daniel 8:1-27
1 John 2:1-17
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 28:25-26
Quote for Reflection:
" ... Experience is ... said to be the mistress of fools because those are fools that will not learn till they are taught by experience, and particularly till they are taught the danger of associating with wicked people ... See how pernicious a thing it is to join in friendship and society with evil-doers. It is a hard matter to break off from it. A man may much better keep himself from being taken in the snare than recover himself out of it." --Matthew Henry on Jehoshaphat
Additional Info
- Date: 1-December
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.