8 February 2019
Don’t just call out, call out to God!
Psalm 25:3
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
We are studying Job at church right now. I really like the observation made by Job’s friend, Elihu in chapter 35 when he says, “People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. Yet they don’t ask, “Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?” (v. 9-10)
The book of Job often sparks the debate about questions like “Why do the wicked prosper?” and “Why is there suffering?” The remedy for both questions is the same; both groups need salvation that comes from God.
Job describes wicked people and the state of the oppressed in chapter 24. There he asserts, The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the wounded cry for help, yet God ignores their moaning. (v.12) But are the oppressed crying out to God or just crying out in misery? How is God ignoring them if they aren’t crying out to him for help?
The skeptic refuses to believe and acknowledge God because he allows suffering, but to not allow suffering would be to not allow free will, and skeptics do love their free will. The skeptic who is really concerned about injustice shouldn’t blame God for giving us free will, they should preach righteousness to wicked people. Injustice and unrighteousness is the cause for suffering in the world not free will and certainly not God.
And what about the sufferers? They need God just as much as the wicked people do. Many people suffer and blame God and curse God, the very opposite of calling on him for help and rescue. Not all of suffering people are counting on God at all; he’s not ignoring them, they are not seeking him. And the wicked do not prosper because of God’s approval; God is kind and giving them plenty of time to turn their hearts towards him (see 2 Peter 3:9), and just because he hasn’t punished them yet doesn’t mean punishment isn’t coming for them; it certainly is. (See Malachi 4:1)
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced... Both groups, the oppressed and the oppressors, need the grace and salvation that only comes from God. God is not ignoring misery, and he is not ignoring wickedness. He is waiting for everyone to call out to him and be saved.
Dear God,
You see everyone, and you see every heart. Thank you that you have not ever forsaken anyone who puts all their trust in you, and you have not ever denied salvation to any repentant heart. Thank you that these truths about you are good and real. I know I have never regretted putting all my hope in you. My own experience is that you always help me, and I just can’t thank you enough. I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Don’t just call out, call out to God!
Psalm 25:3
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
We are studying Job at church right now. I really like the observation made by Job’s friend, Elihu in chapter 35 when he says, “People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. Yet they don’t ask, “Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?” (v. 9-10)
The book of Job often sparks the debate about questions like “Why do the wicked prosper?” and “Why is there suffering?” The remedy for both questions is the same; both groups need salvation that comes from God.
Job describes wicked people and the state of the oppressed in chapter 24. There he asserts, The groans of the dying rise from the city, and the wounded cry for help, yet God ignores their moaning. (v.12) But are the oppressed crying out to God or just crying out in misery? How is God ignoring them if they aren’t crying out to him for help?
The skeptic refuses to believe and acknowledge God because he allows suffering, but to not allow suffering would be to not allow free will, and skeptics do love their free will. The skeptic who is really concerned about injustice shouldn’t blame God for giving us free will, they should preach righteousness to wicked people. Injustice and unrighteousness is the cause for suffering in the world not free will and certainly not God.
And what about the sufferers? They need God just as much as the wicked people do. Many people suffer and blame God and curse God, the very opposite of calling on him for help and rescue. Not all of suffering people are counting on God at all; he’s not ignoring them, they are not seeking him. And the wicked do not prosper because of God’s approval; God is kind and giving them plenty of time to turn their hearts towards him (see 2 Peter 3:9), and just because he hasn’t punished them yet doesn’t mean punishment isn’t coming for them; it certainly is. (See Malachi 4:1)
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced... Both groups, the oppressed and the oppressors, need the grace and salvation that only comes from God. God is not ignoring misery, and he is not ignoring wickedness. He is waiting for everyone to call out to him and be saved.
Dear God,
You see everyone, and you see every heart. Thank you that you have not ever forsaken anyone who puts all their trust in you, and you have not ever denied salvation to any repentant heart. Thank you that these truths about you are good and real. I know I have never regretted putting all my hope in you. My own experience is that you always help me, and I just can’t thank you enough. I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
RSS Feed