Bible Studies
We have come to a place on our path of learning that is narrow and treacherous and this lesson is the emotional part of this cycle of three. Many never make it past this test. From the last lesson we have gained an understanding of the power that comes from praise and we should know that with power comes responsibility. The feeling of responsibility is the feeling of being alone. No one else can make our decisions for us and no one else must answer for what comes from our choices.
We know that we really are not alone, but we feel that we are and so our choice becomes more complicated. Do we act on what we know or on what we feel? We do both. With more information we can get a better understanding, but how do you get a better feel? It is a temptation to indulge the loneliness and self-pity to excuse weak and easy choices. Acting on what we know requires the hard work of faith in the face of doubt.
We have found a little power. How we use it determines whether we will find a little more. The nature of our world is that our Father who loves us will give us no more power that we can safely use and so there are some things that remain hidden. Today's lesson shows how so many have lost their way so early on their path to understanding.
10. What the Wicked Don’t Know
Why does it seem like You are so far away, Lord, especially when I need You the most? The liars in their pride are always tricking the poor, may they be taken in their traps. They would sell you what you don’t need by provoking pride and a desire that is not of God. In their vain boasting they cover up the truth.
The liar grovels for what is unimportant and doesn’t understand or seek after justice. He thinks he will have everything his way. He curses and cheats, always talking of trouble and his own greatness. He waits for a chance to take advantage of the unsuspecting. He hides himself from the innocent, then catches them in his nets. He disguises himself as one of them so that the unaware will be caught in his trap, convinced that God won’t see what he does.
Well it’s time, my Lord, to give a hand to the humble. Why do the wicked keep at it? Do they think You don’t know or care? But You have seen, You do care for the weak and humble and You hold out your hand. Break the strength of the wicked, seek them out until they are no more. The Lord is our King for ever and the wicked will disappear without a trace.
Lord, You have heard our humble prayer, You have strengthened us and given us power to be heard. You will be Lord and father to the oppressed and we will be judged only by You.
Once again it seems we have fallen off the mountaintop. “Why does it seem like you are so far away…” We have gained some knowledge about how small we are in the infinite universe and have learned the joy of praise and now, here we are again, feeling lost and wondering why the Lord seems so far away. It hurts that He would abandon us when we need him the most and we feel betrayed.
We have seen and begun to understand the size of the universe and the glory of our place in the scheme of things. We’ve caught a glimpse of the heavenly kingdom and are eager to do God’s will. We will live forever in boundless joy and have power to do wonderful works. Then we go back to our job and it’s the same old thing; petty jealousies, gossip and the scramble for money. It’s easy to see why many never get past this lesson. Pride swells up, resentment sets in and a decision may have already taken place without thinking or even knowing. Maybe the kingdom was just a Sunday dream.
We are being tested to see if we can be of real use. If you had a dog that was well behaved in the house, but chased cars and fought when you let him out, you might send him to the pound. But if your son goes to college, drinks too much and wrecks the car are you going to abandon him? We seem to abandon our children when they go off to school, but we have to let them go so they can learn to be productive on their own. We must also learn to be productive out among the trouble and temptations, and that is what this lesson is about.
Cheer up, we wouldn’t be tested if they didn’t care for us (1 Pet 1:6-7). For those who have eyes to see, that information alone is worth the value of the whole earth and all that is in it. The Kingdom is in us, and it grows as we go out and show it to others by our being, our confidence and maybe a little smile.
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