Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the Lord? There they are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous. (Psalm 14:4-5)
After noting that God observes the children of men from heaven, David now asks the question: Do wicked people really think that no one is looking? Are they so unwise as to believe that there is no God and that He is not taking note of their evil doing? Do they truly believe that they can devour God’s people as quickly and as easily as someone consuming a piece of bread and there not be consequences?
History teaches us that, indeed, some did make this calculation and it cost them dearly. In the end, their self-confidence and prosperity could not shield them from God’s justice. One example of such a person is Belshazzar, the descendant of Nebuchadnezzar. Having no fear of God, this arrogant man dared to drink wine from the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition teaches that he had mistakenly concluded the time for the anticipated redemption of the Jews from Babylon had come and gone. Believing that Israel’s God had forgotten and their deliverance was no longer an issue, he called for a feast to celebrate the fact that he could oppress them without any restraint.
Of course, God was watching the whole affair and decided to ruin Belshazzar’s celebration by writing an indecipherable message on the wall. At that point, and as David said regarding this type of person, the king feared greatly — so much so that “the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other” (Daniel 5:6).
There is no denying the fact that God allows people to prosper in their errant ways for a season but it doesn’t mean He is negligent or apathetic; to the contrary, He observes all. Eventually, those who dismiss the notion that there is a God or that He is watching will be faced with the reality that He does exist and that He has been taking note of their deeds. In fact, in Revelation, John speaks of a day when the kings of the earth will call for the rocks to fall on them and hide them “from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Revelation 6:16).
The point of this is to say, every word we utter and everything we do is being observed by the Almighty. Those things that we can hide from others are not hidden from Him. As His people, we should behave in such a way that acknowledges He is watching and, moreover, that we welcome His oversight. Our words and actions should be such that we are not ashamed for Him to hear and see everything we do. And if we are faithful to live this way, there will come a day that He will publicly declare, “Well done!” May it be so for us all.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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