THE PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED IS DECEPTIVE! (PART 1)
"But my feet had almost slipped. I had almost tripped and fallen. I saw that proud and sinful people were doing well. And I began to long for what they had."- Psalm 73:2-3, NIRV.
What almost tripped King David in the faith is tripping so many today. It was also at the heart of Jeremiah when he asked the Lord: "wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?" - Jer 12:1( see also Mal 3:15). No doubt, at some point or the other in our lives, we've asked the same questions.
King David gave a vivid description of the prosperity of the wicked in these words: "They do not suffer pain; they are strong and healthy. They do not suffer as other people do; they do not have the troubles that others have. And so they wear pride like a necklace and violence like a robe; their hearts pour out evil, and their minds are busy with wicked schemes. They laugh at other people and speak of evil things; they are proud and make plans to oppress others. They speak evil of God in heaven and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth, so that even God's people turn to them and eagerly believe whatever they say. They say, “God will not know; the Most High will not find out.” That is what the wicked are like. They have plenty and are always getting more." - Psalm 73:4-12, GNT. Hmmmm, isn't that the case all around us today?
For the child of God, the thought of this can be upsetting, agitating and unsettling. "But when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful", says King David in Psalm 73:16, AMPC. This was so especially because it was like he had served God in vain (Ps 73:13-14). In the days of Prophet Malachi, the Lord noticed the same thoughts among His people, saying: “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?" - Malachi 3:14, NLT.
Child of God, don't be fooled by what you see and hear about the prosperity of the wicked. Until King David sought God, he didn't know how "foolish" and "ignorant" he was to think upon the prosperity of the wicked (Ps 73:22); and that their end was destruction and desolation (Ps 73:17-19).
These know, child of God: there may be a delay right now, but definitely not a denial; that anything not gotten in righteousness is a curse! The Bible says that "The LORD’s blessing makes a person rich, and no trouble is added to it." - Proverbs 10:22, CEB. Know this also that anyone that gets riches not by right, "shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool."(Jer 17:11).
God's counsel to us is this: "Don't be worried on account of the wicked; don't be jealous of those who do wrong. They will soon disappear like grass that dries up; they will die like plants that wither." - Psalm 37:1-2, GNT. Rather, "Trust in the Lord ... Delight thyself also in the Lord ... Commit thy way unto the LORD ... and he shall bring it (the desires of your heart) to pass" - Ps 37:3-5 (emphasis mine).
PRAYER:
Thank you Lord because "I know that I will live to see the Lord's goodness in this present life."(Psalm 27:13 GNT), in Jesus' mighty name.