the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
I have hated the congregation of evil-doers; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord. Psalms 26:5-6. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. Psalms 73:13.
The question is not here of that "innocence" which we ought to have before God; we all lack that innocence; for before God no man is innocent, but all are sinners (Romans 3:23; Job 14:4). Only in comparison with the ungodly, who are without God and without His commandments in the world, may the godly man, the pardoned sinner, who keeps the Word of God and by God’s grace shuns sin as much as possible, be called innocent. This is what the psalmist means when he says, ’’I have washed my hands in innocency. I will take no part in the wickedness of the world." When he saw that the ungodly man was prosperous and that the righteous man had to suffer a great deal, he almost became confused in his thoughts concerning God, so that he asked, "Yea, in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency, since I nevertheless suffer so many reverses and afflictions. Thus did I nearly speak, but thereby would I have condemned all Thy children, all Thy godly men, that ever existed. For these, all of them, had to suffer trouble and affliction and to see the ungodly live at their side in happiness. But when I took notice of their end and saw how suddenly they were destroyed; I found it better to live uprightly and to suffer than to live happily but ungodly and perish." These thoughts are weighty and deserve to be earnestly considered, that we may be strengthened thereby, and that we may not be robbed of that simplicity which leads to Christ by the treacherous world that ever scoffs at piety, boasts of its happiness, and considers and despises the righteous man as a fool and a fanatic. You must take no notice of the gibes of the world. Only look to Him whose approval shall be your portion forever and shall make you eternally happy. The world with its happiness shall perish; but the Lord remains forever. He who clings to Him shall be blest when all the world shall howl and gnash its teeth.
My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
If needy here and poor,
Give me Thy people’s bread.
Their portion rich and sure.
The manna of Thy Word
Let my soul feed upon;
And if all else should fail,
My Lord, Thy will be done.
