When you don't understand, go to God FIRST
The psalmist here is presented with the problem of people not always getting what they deserve. In fact, he becomes envious of the wicked, because they seem to be prospering in all that they do, while the psalmist himself is trying his best to be faithful to God, yet struggles through life. How many times have I also been envious of other people's success? Wondered at how such blessing can be given to the unrighteous?
Though I believe there is an integral attitude problem with that line of thought (such as feelings of self-worth and arrogance), that is not what this Psalm addresses.
Instead, the psalmist struggles with this problem, and he worries about it, tries to make sense of it, but this ends up being a "wearisome task."
Finally, he approaches God with his problem, and what do you know? God revealed to him why bad people don't always seem to get what they deserve in this life.
The psalmist's process of first trying to reason things out on his own, and THEN ask God to reveal it to him unfortunately resonates loudly with me. I usually think that my own limited mind can lead me to discern eternal truths, when the Bible says quite clearly that the Spirit will lead us into all truth (John 14, I believe.) I need to learn a lesson from the psalmist here, and stop trying to reason things out on my own! God is always there with the answers… if only we would ask Him to reveal those answers to us!
Though I believe there is an integral attitude problem with that line of thought (such as feelings of self-worth and arrogance), that is not what this Psalm addresses.
Instead, the psalmist struggles with this problem, and he worries about it, tries to make sense of it, but this ends up being a "wearisome task."
Finally, he approaches God with his problem, and what do you know? God revealed to him why bad people don't always seem to get what they deserve in this life.
The psalmist's process of first trying to reason things out on his own, and THEN ask God to reveal it to him unfortunately resonates loudly with me. I usually think that my own limited mind can lead me to discern eternal truths, when the Bible says quite clearly that the Spirit will lead us into all truth (John 14, I believe.) I need to learn a lesson from the psalmist here, and stop trying to reason things out on my own! God is always there with the answers… if only we would ask Him to reveal those answers to us!
