05/08/2024
Read: Psalm 112:6-10
Psalm 112:10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
What is the effect of the righteous on the earth? In Israel's dispensation, the righteous are those who fear the Lord and delight in His commandments (v. 1). This is according to the covenant of God with Israel who declared in Deuteronomy 6:25, "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us."
As a result of one being righteous by fearing God and keeping His commandments are the blessings promised for obedience to Israel. This is what is written in the law in Deuteronomy 28:1-2, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God."
Thus, the righteous who fear God and keep His commandments are blessed with life, wealth, and light (v. 2-4a). And these righteous ones shall continue on in their graciousness, compassion, and righteousness showing favour, helping the needy, and being guided with discernment (v. 4b-5). As a result, the psalmist declared in v. 6-8, "Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies."
Indeed, the righteous shall be established and unafraid seeing his desire upon his enemies! As a result, the righteous continues in righteousness as the psalmist set forth in v. 9 "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour."
This is exactly like Daniel's prophecy in the age to come about the righteous as it is written in Daniel 12:3, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
So, what would be the effect of the righteous in the world? Would the wicked see the blessings and emulate the righteous? Would the people see the works of the just and be moved? Would the heathen comprehend the stability of a man who walks in the fear of the Lord and delights in His commands and follow suite? Nope. Not by a long shot! But we see the psalmist declared in v. 10, "The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish."
The wicked shall see the blessings of the righteous and be grieved! They will see the works of the righteous and they shall gnash with their teeth! They will see the stability of the righteous and they will desire nothing less but fall and the stumbling of the righteous! What kind of response is that? This is the way that the wicked since time immemorial had been responding to the righteous: S***m which was vexed as Lot was with their filthy conversation (2 Peter 2), Daniel and the presidents of Persia (Daniel 6) and the prophets with evil kings. Rightfully did our Apostle Paul declare even in our dispensation of grace today in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Why is it this way? Paul gave us a hint in 2 Timothy 3:13, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
The world is becoming increasingly evil. And before an evil world, the righteous that shine as lights are an agitation and an atrocity that need to be removed. This is not surprising since the world responded the same when Christ came. Remember, it is written in John 3:19-20, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
And how terribly was the Lord Jesus hated! He came unto His own, and His own not only did not receive Him but with wicked hands crucified and slain Him! But God raised Him from the dead so much so that the message of blame for Israel became the gospel of grace for us that declares Christ's death for our sins, burial, and resurrection for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 4:25). Indeed, from our Lord to our Apostle Paul, the wicked sees the righteous and are grieved! But this shouldn't stop us from letting them know as it is written in Romans 5:6-10, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
Yes, we are ungodly sinners—dead and enemies of God. But God be praised that by the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, we who trusted in Christ are justified by His blood, saved from wrath, reconciled to God, and saved by His life! What more can we ask for?
But here is a question for you: You may have heard this gospel, but what about others? How about your families, relatives, friends, classmates, roommates, and co-workers? How will they hear without a preacher? Thus, let us endeavour as the song goes:
In this world of darkness,
We are given light.
Hope for all the dying,
How will they know?
How will they know,
That Jesus loves them?
And He died to save them?
Carry the light!
Carry the light!
Go and tell the children:
They are precious in His sight.
Carry the Light!
Carry the Light!
Go and preach the gospel,
'Til there is no more night:
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Carry the Light!