Taken from the book, Psalms: The Pilgrims Ascent, by A. B. Saint
The Broad Path of Heedlessness
“He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?
He that chastises the heathen, shall not he correct?
He that teaches men knowledge, shall He not know?”
Psalm 94: 9-10
Recently we decided to have a few days away and whilst on the trip I took the opportunity to immerse myself in the Book of Psalms again. This time Psalm 94 caught my eye. This I think is not surprising considering the things which are going on in the world today. The Psalm was written, as we know, a great many years ago, and yet as we again look out upon the world’s scene it is still relevant even for today. We have no idea really who the Psalmist was as the Bible gives us no clue; but let’s face it, judging by its content I suppose it could have been written by anyone, at any given time in the history of the world in which we live, and from any of the four corners of the earth.
All of the way through the Psalm, we find the Psalmist reflecting upon, cogitating over, and then expressing his concerns over the spiritual landscape in which he finds himself in. The theme he sets before us is that of the immoral wickedness of men and the moral Judgement of God. The picture which he paints is not unknown to us, for wicked men unfortunately tend to live and thrive in every generation; men with hearts of pride and arrogance, men who seem to take pleasure in dealing with others in a high minded, cavalier kind of way. Indeed, they deal contemptuously with those who are righteous and seem to relish the part they play in their evil doings.
The Psalmist pulls no punches, he regards these enemies as wicked. He doesn’t try to soften the blow; he means business with God. Verses 6 and 7 of our Psalm tell us: “They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.” Of whom was the Psalmist speaking? Most certainly he is referring to ungodly men; men whose hearts through time have become calloused, whose lives have become scarred, and battle hardened and whose consciences are now seared rather than sensitive. Why, even at this present time as in every age before, there will be those who in like manner will continue in the same way to fly in the Face of God whilst holding on staunchly to their atheistic point of view. For them anything goes. What is that saying in the world today? If it feels good do it.
In the way he writes, could the Psalmist be drawing attention to the many who presume that it would seem highly unlikely that a so-called ‘Loving God’ would ever send any of His Creation to that horrible place called hell? This so called Christian Universalism in all its different colours, in expressing all of its different theories is a damnable heresy indeed. For instance, what would be the point of Christ the Saviour enduring the Cross of Calvary if there was no need, because if as they say in the end both the wicked and the good will be on equal footing in their hopes of salvation? There are some Christian Universalists who even go as far as to say that not only fallen mankind, not only unrepentant sinners, but even the devil and his angels will one day be told by God that guilt will be removed from them forever.
My friend do not be taken in by such things, for there is indeed a heaven to gain, but there is also a hell to shun. Those who say, “neither shall the God of Jacob regard it,” are they presuming that perhaps the Ancient of Days in His advancing years has become senile and now is clearly in His dotage having lost the plot? Could it be that their murderous sins have gone on for such a long time that they have even concluded that Almighty God is quite happy with the situation? It is striking here that the expression ‘the God of Jacob’ is used. This begs the question as to whether these wicked referred to in Psalm 94 were pagans from other lands, or is it possible that these very people were of Israel? Many are the Old Testament Scriptures which allude or testify to the evil deeds of those who should have known better.
Have you ever read a book called “Down to Earth,” written by a man called John Lawrence? I have never personally read it myself, but unexpectedly a story from it came alongside an evening devotion I was reading the other week. Here is the outline of the narrative. In his book Mr. Lawrence supposedly tells of a city in Sicily which is called Messina. From information which he himself had evidently sourced, he tells how that the inhabitants of this place in a sense provoked God by asking Him to show Himself in a particular way.
As he writes the impression is given that there were some people who resided in that particular area who lived really wicked lives. He goes on to say that on December 25th in the year 1908, a newspaper in Messina published an article in which they dared God to make Himself known by sending an earthquake. Three days later on December 28th, the whole city and its surrounding area was devastated by a terrible quake that killed some 84,000 inhabitants. It was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and considered to be the deadliest one in the history of Europe. In fact, the writer went on to say that at that time it was one of the most highly rated earthquakes in terms of destruction ever recorded. To make matters worse he adds that shortly after the earthquake, a 12 metre tsunami struck nearby coasts causing even more devastation, and 91 per cent of structures in Messina were destroyed in these two disasters.
Now I have never read this newspaper article myself and am only going by what the author seemingly said, but if indeed this account is true, what a reckless and imprudent thing for men to do in trying to tempt God. Did God send the earthquake and the tsunami in answer to the wish of the editors of the newspaper article? How can we know, but if this were the case, to fly in the face of an Almighty God would seem to me to be a very foolish thing to do. Man, however, can be very foolish and the world-wide flood at the time of Noah comes readily to mind.
In the days in which Noah lived, the bible tells us something of the wickedness of the world at that time. In verse 5 and 6 of Genesis chapter 6, we read: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.” In verses 11, 12 and 13 it goes on to say, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Thank God however that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and both he and his family were saved.
There are times when God must judge, the Psalmist knew this. In verse 2 of our Psalm, he refers to Almighty God as being the ‘Judge of the earth.’ The Psalmist himself could have very well seen many of these atrocities being committed with his own eyes. Terrible things had taken place and this situation had been going on for a long time and because of this, early on in the Psalm we read the familiar words, “How long LORD? How long shall the wicked triumph?” He asked the Lord how much longer do we have to put up with their boasts?
Anointed at that time to compose, his prayer bursts as it were upon the scene and he begins with: “O Lord God to whom vengeance belongs; O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shew Thyself.” How often in the history of this world this prayer for justice has gone up to the Lord, He alone knows. It is clearly seen that the thoughts and prayers of Psalm 94 depict not only the sorry plight of God’s heritage relating to times past, but at the same time clearly represents the untold suffering of the Lord’s people in every generation. Because of the wording of this Psalm, it even supposes some similarity with that future time in history known as the Great Tribulation which will befall those upon the earth at the time of ‘Jacob’s Trouble.’ Those who are expecting a utopia to take place in this world before the Lord comes again are sadly mistaken.
Throughout the ages we know there have been many very wicked people who have committed the most heinous of crimes, each time I suppose hoping to ‘fly under the radar’ as it were and never being detected and never being called to answer for any of their crimes. However, as we look at God’s Holy Word we are reminded that this will never be the case. The Psalmist is right in observing that the God who made the eye can Himself see, and the God who made the ear can Himself hear.
God is not blind to the offences metered out by the wicked upon the poor innocents. Was God not aware of the murder of righteous Abel at the hand of his wicked brother Cain? Did God Himself not cry out as Abel’s blood trickled upon the ground? Did God not see the stoning of Naboth simply because he chose not to sell his vineyard to the king? In the book of Revelation does God not point out the martyrdom of faithful Antipas who kept the faith under very trying circumstances? Is He unaware today of the plight of those living in war-torn lands? Does He not hear the prayers of those incarcerated in prisons simply for their Christian Faith?
What about the poor innocents who are being sold into human slavery even today? Does He not care? There is nothing He does not see and there is nothing He does not hear whether it be bad or good. He knows the end of the wicked even before it takes place. What does the book of Job chapter 20 verses 4-7 say about this very subject? It is a Scripture which has just come to mind, and I think we should read it now.
“Know thou not this of old, since man was placed upon the earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? Though his loftiness mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; yet he shall perish forever like his own refuse: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?”
As you hear about the atrocities which are being committed daily in various parts of the world, are you, like the Scribe who wrote Psalm 94, asking the same question he asked? How long O Lord, How Long? Are you praying for that Day when Almighty God brings down the final curtain on history and the LORD will come down to this earth of ours as Righteous Judge? Are you praying for that Day when forever all the wrongs will be made right? I am. According to the Word of God a time is coming soon and will usher in a New Day, when there will be no more tears, no more sorrow, no more night, no more pain, and no more death. The sceptics and the apostates will still continue on asking the age-old question, “Where is the Promise of His Coming?,” but though He tarry we know with assurance that His Coming is very soon.
There is a song that I love from Sovereign Grace Music, although I confess it is a few years old now. As I write I am thinking that it is a pity you cannot hear the music whilst you are reading this article because it is such a blessing, however, here are the words:
“Every valley will be lifted high, and the weak will be the strong,
When You come like lightening in the sky, How Long O Lord, how long?
Kings on earth will scatter when they hear thundering sounds of angel songs.
Hearts will tremble, filled with holy fear, How Long O Lord, how long?
All our hopes are fixed on You, that Your Promises are true, and one day You will return.
All our treasures here will fade.
So, we long to see Your face, Until then our hearts will burn. How Long O Lord, how long?
You will conquer every evil thing, every sorrow, pain and wrong,
They will cease with Your Return our King, How long, O Lord, how long?
All our hopes are fixed on You, that Your Promises are true, and one day You will return.
O Lord, how long? You will conquer every evil thing, every sorrow, pain and wrong,
They will cease with Your Return O King, How long, O Lord, how long?”
THOUGHT: SHALL NOT THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH DO RIGHT? Genesis Chapter 18 verse 25.
Taken from the book, Psalms: The Pilgrims Ascent, by A. B. Saint
LIFE ON THE ALTAR 