A Lesson from David's Experience.
By G. V. Kilgore
“TRULY God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Ps. 73:1-3. The experience of the psalmist is of great value to the people of God. In this psalm, he tells us of a great trial he had passed through. Here he shows us the danger of backsliding by looking at the ways of the wicked. He says his feet were almost gone; his steps had well nigh slipped, because he was envious at the foolish, when he saw their prosperity. He noticed that they are “not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men;” that “their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish.” He heard them speak loftily, and “set their mouth against the heavens.” He said, “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” These things nearly overthrew him; for he said, “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me.” And thus he was in doubt as long as he let his mind dwell on these things. But he said, “I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” He learned here that the words and deeds of men are all recorded; that “God shall bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Like Isaiah, he must have seen into the sanctuary of God when the intercessor's work is over. Of this time, Isaiah thus speaks: “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. . . . And he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies.” Isa. 59:16-18. David continues: “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction.” He could now see that the situation of the wicked was not desirable. Although they have a pleasant time here while living in wickedness, their sure end is destruction. These things he understood when he went into the sanctuary of God. And now he looks back where his steps had well nigh slipped, and says, “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant.” Yes, it is foolishness to envy the wicked and doubt God's goodness because of afflictions. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Heb. 12:6. David learned this; for he says (Ps. 119:71), “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” If we could always have prosperity, and no trials or afflictions, we would be in danger of thinking this world good enough for us. And we would be very likely to set our affections on the perishable things of earth, and perish with them. After David had considered the end of the wicked, he turned to the Lord. “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Oh, that we could all say so! And why can we not? David tells how he arrived at this state of mind. “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God.” God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. . . . He also will hear their cry, and will save them.” Ps. 145:18, 19. Let us draw nigh to God and call upon him in truth, and we too may receive his blessing. “Though the way of the wicked may prosper,
And be sprinkled with flowers so gay;
Though wide be the path that they travel,
And pleasant and easy the way;
Though no troubles their path may encompass,
And triumphant through life they may go,
I'll envy them not; for their journey
Ends only in sorrow and woe.” “Dear Saviour, thy promise is precious,
Thy guidance I evermore crave.
Oh! help me to walk in thy footsteps,
And trust in thy power to save.
Oh! give me a place in thy kingdom,
When life with its turmoil is o'er;
Let me dwell with the King in his beauty,
And I ask, oh! I ask for no more.” Centerville, Kansas, Oct. 2, 1875.