There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 94
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? The LORD knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile. [Psalm 94:9-11]
The psalmist asks some rhetorical questions, to which the answer is obvious.
Yes God hears, yes God sees, yes God knows!
And more than this, He also rewards and punishes.
In other words, all the striving and rebellion of people on earth will not succeed, for in the end their schemes are futile.
The psalmist takes comfort in knowing that no matter what happens, God’s kingdom will be established, and those who reject it will be removed.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. [Matthew 6:5-7]
Like the psalmist, Jesus reminds us that God sees, God knows and God rewards.
He doesn’t just see the religious performance, He sees the heart.
He’s not stupid, He can hear past the empty cliches, He can see past the fake religion.
He sees, He hears, He knows… and He rewards, he punishes.
This is an encouragement for those who strive to do what is right, and who humbly acknowledge their failure.
It is especially encouraging when it seems that their life is a struggle, why those who do not care how they live, or the religious hypocrites, seem to prosper.
Too often it seems that in this world, and even in the church, it is the rich and the worldly that seem to succeed.
And many times it seems that the humble and the meek end up humbled and weak.
Perhaps they wonder: does God see, does God know, does God hear, does God care?
The answer is yes, He does, and one day He will set things right.
In the meantime, keep on trusting God, pray to Him in quiet humility.
For those who set their heart on loving and obeying God will one day overcome.
His kingdom will come, His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Wait for it!
PRAYER:
Lord, sometimes it’s hard to wait for things to get straightened out. Help me to hang on, especially when it gets hard.