Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
All day long you plot destruction.
Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;
you’re an expert at telling lies.
You love evil more than good
and lies more than truth.
You love to destroy others with your words,
you liar!
But God will strike you down once and for all.
He will pull you from your home
and uproot you from the land of the living.
The righteous will see it and be amazed.
They will laugh and say,
“Look what happens to mighty warriors
who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
You know the song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. We’ve all sung it a zillion times. Remember the line where it says, “He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice”? We’ve all known people who were plenty “naughty”… and still seemed to manage to be on Santa’s “nice” list!
At some point, you have probably said of someone else… “If I did what he/she has done, I would be in jail… the poor house…big trouble…” (you fill in the blank). We all know people who seem to “get by with murder”. Maybe you know someone who never pays his/her bills, yet they always seem to get by somehow – and have nice things (like clothes, cars and homes) in the bargain. Or maybe you know someone who is dishonest…who makes promises and doesn’t keep them… someone who is unreliable or downright disruptive… yet people flock to this person and want him/her to be in their circle of friends and influences.
Perhaps you have worked very hard at school, at a job, for your team, or for a group in your church… and someone else who flies under the radar seems to take all of the glory and accolades. Or maybe you know those who waltz into a situation, toss around money and big talk, and make a big (and phony) splash to garner attention and credit, while the real workers were overshadowed on the sidelines. MAYBE…someone has lied about you – or to you – and somehow, he/she has managed to bully you and/or others into believing that you were actually the one who was “in the wrong” in a particular situation. It’s all enough to make you throw up your hands and claim that “Nice guys really DO finish LAST!”
But David is reminding all of us in this Psalm that no one gets by with anything! God is watching… and He is not amused by those who think they are above reproach. Like an olive tree (which is prized for its hard wood and durability - as well as its beauty), we are to remain strong and steady in our faith and our actions. We are to place our hope in God’s unfailing love… and trust His directives for our lives. We are to “keep on keepin’ on”… even when it seems like we are spinning our wheels.
Ultimately, God will take action. Those who have “misbehaved” will be reprimanded… there will be consequences for their actions. Those who have used wealth and influence to get ahead will have to answer for their actions… and those who have remained relentless and faithful in their trust and service will be rewarded.
I know it’s frustrating to sit on the sidelines and watch people cut corners and appear to skate by in life. But I also know that God will reward those who remain loyal and serve Him well. Don’t be distracted by the ones who play fast and loose with God’s gifts. Focus on Jesus and His teachings. Keep doing what you know is right… and never lose hope that God is noticing. GOD knows who is really naughty and nice…and His “list” is the only one that truly matters! The most important question is…in which column will He place your name?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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