There are a few times when we are ready to agree that God has dealt well with us. Most of the time, however, things do not go our way and we complain that He is not treating us well. The basic reason for this complaining is that we do not see things as the psalmist does when in Psalm 119:65,66 he writes,"Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge; for I have believed Thy commandments."
Did you notice that he says that God deals well with us according to His word? Our versification explains this for us when it states:
Thou, Lord, hast dealt well with Thy servant,
Thy promise is faithful and just;
Instruct me in judgment and knowledge,
For in Thy commandments I trust.
God's word here is His word of Promise. Always and constantly God is dealing well with us in that he is giving us what He promised in Christ. That which He promised us is a new sinless life with Him in the new creation. And all that He sends us works together to bring us there. Even as the plans of a house call for pieces of wood to be cut at a certain length and nails to be driven here and there, so our glory calls for affliction and pain, death and the grave through which we go unto heavenly glory.
No wonder is it then that the psalmist prays that he may be taught good judgment and knowledge. The more knowledge we have of God's promises, the more we will be able to judge that He is dealing well with us and bringing us to what He promised. Look at this present life under the curse, and at the fleshly pleasures which God has not promised, and we will complain and say that He is not dealing well with us. But believing, as the psalmist confesses, that we are His servants, we will look for the day when we can serve Him perfectly. And we will be interested in everything that helps us get there and now reminds us of our calling.
Do you want that kind of heavenly life hereafter? Then you will see that God is dealing with you as He promised and that all is well. Pray that you may have good judgment and knowledge.
Read: Psalm 119:65-80
Psalter versification: #329:1
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #245
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
1 Chronicles 28 ; 1 Chronicles 29:1-30
Romans 5:6-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 19:18-19
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Quote for Reflection:
Preaching that does not convict of sin is fundamentally corrupt. How could that be preaching of the Word of God to sinful saints that does not convict of sin? It must convict of sin, not merely in the shallow sense in which it is frequently understood and practiced in Methodistic circles, so that one is convicted of sin once in his life and then he is saved and the matter is settled: but it must convict all the hearers of sin constantly. And convicting of sin it must rebuke the sinner so convinced, i.e., severely censure him, so that he feels utterly condemned and undone before the face of God. But it must also exhort, comfort, lead to the cross, to the resurrection, to the forgiveness of sin and the righteousness which is in Christ Jesus by faith, lead to the glory of the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away, admonish to persevere even unto the end and to keep the eye on the Light that flashes from the tower on the pier, till the safe harbor is reached. – Herman Hoeksema (Standard Bearer, Vol. 10)
Additional Info
- Date: 19-July