Psalm 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him
that loveth violence his soul hateth.
Try – test, prove,
examine
As I thought about God trying the righteous, I was reminded
of Abraham. We’re told that God tried
him when He told Abraham to offer his only son (Isaac). Abraham obeyed what God told him to do, right
up to the point of killing Isaac when he was stopped by an angel of God … And
he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him:
for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son from me. (Genesis 22: 12)
By his obedience, even when it came to the son he loved, Abraham
showed that he feared God. We are also
told of his faith in God shown by what he did … By faith Abraham, when he was
tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his
only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence
also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11: 17-19)
Paul knew that God tries our hearts, and he sought to please
God as he spoke those things entrusted to him by God purely …
1 Thess. 2: 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness,
nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the
gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our
hearts.
We also have the example of Asa, king of Judah, being found
to have done foolishly as he trusted in the Syrians
instead of in God when threatened by Baasha …
2 Chronicles 16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa
Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent
that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa
brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and
of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at
Damascus, saying, 3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between
my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break
thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 4 And
Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the
cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store
cities of Naphtali. 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left
off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
2 Chronicles 16: 7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to
Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of
Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of
Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a
huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely
on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run
to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of
them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly:
therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
God tries us. What we
do and say, prove us, whether we love God, obey Him and trust in Him. And those whose hearts are perfect (complete) toward God
have this assurance …
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)