Shade Tree Wisdom 1/28/10

She was just doing her friends a favor, and so she spent the entire summer doing community service as a penance. Because Texas law dictates that having a learner’s permit allows only ONE passenger, and in the front seat only. She had given a lift to a second friend in the back seat, and was caught by an officer. Of course her friends felt sorry, but SHE was the one who paid by spending a summer not able to get a job, and doing Boring drudgery work.

Psalm 73 is a picture of how a Christian is tempted, and how he can keep from falling into the temptation’s snare. The psalm starts with a positive, “Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are of clean heart”. 73,1. There is a truth he knows so he begins with this in mind. But then see what happens to him? He begins to look at others, and sees how they have no problems, they prosper, “They are not in trouble as other men: v.5 And thy say “How does God know? . . .these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches”. V.11.12. This troubles him very much, for he says, “I have cleansed my heart in vain” v.13.

See the temptation? I’ve been a faithful Christian and what has it gotten me?

That’s how the devil does his work. He takes our eyes from the basic fact (God is good to Israel), and sets our minds to consider other things. St. Paul reminds us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. Eph. 6,13.

But then he remembers the consequences, “I will offend against the generation of thy children” v.15. And there always are consequences. Maybe the crowd is partying through the night and you join them because “they’re all doing it.” But YOU have the headaches, the nauseous feeling, the misery. The Psalm remembers that. Then he goes to church, and there, in the Scriptures, he sees clearly “their end” v.17. He hangs on to the basic truth, the one fact he KNOWS to be correct, that “God is good to Israel.”

The Psalm is a picture of one man’s struggle to meet temptation, and to defeat it. Satan is real, and very active. So St. Paul gives us the weapons we need, Ephesians 6, 11 ff. James offers this advice, “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4,7. And St. Peter says, “Your adversary, the devil, goes about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5,8. And finally, remember that Jesus has promised, “I have overcome the world”.

So, use such a Psalm as 73 as a teaching, a warning, and a guide to overcome temptation. It will come, but God arms us to resist the devil. May God strengthen you in the battle always.

GPD 1/28/10