the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. How are they brought into desolation as in a moment! Psalms 73:1-4; Psalms 73:19.
The prosperity of the wicked is to many, even to upright souls, the stumbling-block over which some come very near stumbling, and some actually fall, in that they have not patience enough to wait for the outcome. Read the whole psalm thoughtfully and see how true every word of it is. God does actually permit the ungodly, the unbelievers and the unrighteous, to prosper as if He were their friend and protector, while, on the other hand, the godly must suffer and be oppressed as if God were their enemy and opponent. Lo, this is the old story. Asaph and all the pious of former times knew of it and spoke about it. Thus it was thousands of years ago, thus it is at the present time, and thus it will continue to be as long as this world is in its present condition. When, therefore, you reject and despise godliness and faith in God and in Christ, or, perhaps, even fear it, because the believers do not prosper as the ungodly do, then you reject and condemn the saints and the righteous men of all times, the elect and well-beloved of God. They were all, all tried by much tribulation. But their end was glorious. Beyond they shine as the sun, and the Most High is their reward. How about the ungodly who are happy here? Their end is terrible, their lot will be terrible throughout all eternity. Would you, then, not rather suffer a short time with the righteous and thereupon be forever glorious? Or will you forget God, revel and carouse, and thereupon be cast into hell? Say rather, “I will be continually with Thee. Whom have I in heaven but Thee? " (Psalms 73:23).
O make but trial of His love;
Experience will decide
How blest are they, and only they.
Who in His truth confide.
