Pam Padgett ... teacher
We encounter various things in the world which can provoke us if we try to deal with the matter by our own reasonings. In Psalm 73 we have an example of being envious of those doing evil as they appeared to prosper more than those who try to do what is
right in the sight of God. ...
Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such
as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my
steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I
saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their
death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other
men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth
them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes
stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak
wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their
mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people
return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And
they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase
in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my
hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and
chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I
should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought
to know this, it was too painful for me;
Although envious, when he turned to God, he was restored and strengthened in the ways of God by the truth God gave him in the matter ...
Psalm 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery
places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they
brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with
terrors. 20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest,
thou shalt despise their image.
Seeing God's view of the matter, he saw how foolish and ignorant his own
thinking was. Even though he had previously considered these things foolishly, God helped him and gave him counsel to guide his
thinking into what is true ...
Psalm 73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and
I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a
beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou
hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy
counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but
thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My
flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my
portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish:
thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But 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.
Most, if not all, of us have similarly considered by our own reasoning those things that trouble us. But as we turn to God about a matter, willing to sacrifice our own
thinking in order to know and be conformed to God's truth, we are
changed from the thinking of our flesh and the world to seeing the matter according to
the will of God, our minds renewed to the word God gives us in the
matter.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.