But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good. (Psalm 52:8-9)
There is commentary associated with these verses which delves into just what God demands of those who serve Him. Specifically it raises this issue: God knows that when someone chooses to do what is right in His eyes, that person places a target on their back for the wicked to aim at. For instance, David’s courage and confidence in God resulted in victory over Goliath. That victory elicited praise from many, and at the same time, incited Saul’s wrath. David’s goodness and purity of heart could soothe the king’s troubled mind, and at the same time, enrage him so that he tried to pin David to the wall with a javelin. David’s presence at Nob, and a request for food, provoked the wicked Doeg to deliver an evil report to Saul which resulted in the deaths of many innocent people.
Hopefully you get the point: our willingness to serve God and walk upright before Him incites the wicked to wrath because it indicts their conscience. It makes them uncomfortable to the point that some feel they must attack, and if possible remove, that which is exposing their troubled conscience. Referring to Cain’s murder of Abel, the Apostle John asked this question: “Why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12). In other words, the wicked man struck down the righteous man simply because the latter did what was right. It is no different today.
The nation of Israel and her people have been falsely accused, assaulted and oppressed simply because they exist. Prophets of old were stoned and slaughtered simply because they told the truth. And the most striking example of all: Messiah was crucified simply because He obeyed the Will of the Father. So then, should we think that we will escape the persecution and oppression that is part and parcel of being His servant? If you read what Messiah had to say about this, His message will remove any doubt — abuse and persecution is to expected.
That being said, should we shy away from our duty and mandate to be a light, even to those who hate us? As Paul was prone to say, “God forbid.” Rather, like David, let us trust in the Lord’s mercy because, in due time, we will be able to praise Him for all that He has done for us and through us, in spite of man’s best efforts to silence us. God’s goodness to us, in spite of harm and hurt, will prevail allowing us, by His grace, to overcome this world. As David proclaimed, “I will praise You forever, because You have done it….I will wait on Your name, for it is good.”
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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