For I was envious of the arrogant
Fri, 22 September, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
The psalmist had almost stumbled and fallen in his faith. Why? He tells us frankly: it was due to his envy of the wicked.
What do we learn from this?
When we look around us, we will find things that will challenge our faith, not the least of which is the success of the wicked. If God hates sin, and God is active in the world, why do sinful people prosper? Doesn’t this prove that either God doesn’t care about sin, or that He doesn’t act in this world, or that He does not exist at all?
The psalmist is surprisingly straight forward about this. The prosperity of the wicked was a crisis of faith for him. And it can be for us as well.
The solution to the psalmist’s struggle can possibly help us as well. What helped to change his attitude? What broke the problem he had of envying prosperity of the wicked?
The psalmist tells us this was a problem for him until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
Worship, and a correct understanding of the eternal consequences of our actions solves the problem.
When we spend time worshiping God, hearing His word sung and preached, we grow in grace and obedience. We focus on God and not on our circumstances, and the circumstances of those around us. We learn to be content with what God has given us, and so we overcome our tendency towards envy.
And focusing on God also helps us to think about eternity. The wicked might be prospering in life now, but when we consider that they must pay for their sin, we realize we have no reason to envy them. No amount of prosperity today will make up for an eternity in hell, and we would be fools to desire to trade places with them.
Where is Christ in this passage?
Despite what might happen today, the wicked will eventually pay for their sins, for all sin must be punished. Even the sins of God’s people must be punished.
But the good news is that Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for the sins of all who come to Him in faith. Because Jesus took the guilt of their sins upon Himself on the cross, so that His people can be declared right with Him.
