January 27 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 73:

¹Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
²But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
³For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
⁴For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
⁵They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
⁶Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
⁷Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
⁸They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
⁹They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
¹⁰Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
¹¹And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
¹²Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
¹³Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
¹⁴For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
¹⁵If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
¹⁶When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
¹⁸Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
²⁰As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
²¹Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
²²So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
²³Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
²⁴Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
²⁵Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
²⁸But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Devotional

What a terrible thing the curse of God is, even already in this life; but especially in the hereafter, when the wrath of God shall abide upon the wicked. Read Lev. 26 from the 14th verse on, and consider the judgments of God, that should come upon his disobedient people: "terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. Ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall . . . reign over you." There would be crop failures, sore famine, and pestilence: they would even eat the flesh of their own children. How terrible!

But does not the Bible speak of "the prosperity of the wicked"? Yes, but their prosperity does not last. "They shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb."

God is the same God today. His judgments are on the earth. People are perishing by the millions: yet, how carelessly and heedlessly people live, not heeding the Word of God, but doing their own lusts. True, God has provided a way of escape. He has prepared salvation through Christ for every one that believeth. "But how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Therefore, "today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Remember, the curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but He blesses the habitation of the just. "Evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth."

Prayer

O Lord our God, help us to realize that Thou art a holy God, and righteous in all Thy ways. Thou visitest the iniquities of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Thee; and showest mercy unto thousands of them that love Thee and keep Thy commandments. Thou Lord lovest judgment. Thou forsakest not Thy saints. They are preserved forever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. Thy name be praised now and for ever. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: John 3:36; Lev. 26; Ps. 73; 37.2; 73:78f; Heb. 2:3; 3:15; Prov. 3:33; Ps. 37;9.

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