“SURELY I WOULD HAVE DESPAIRED UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.”- {PSALM 27:13}
In the garden, the first temptation was really an attack on the character of God that He was not good, by not allowing them to take from one tree. The serpent did not point out how GOOD God was by allowing them to take from every other tree, he focused in on the one thing they did not have, implying God was not good!! The evil one often throws such thoughts of evil at us, seeking to plant an accusation against the character of God…seeking to slander Him to us…he would seek to implant a thought…to have us think about what we do not have, that somehow God is holding out on us and the implication He is not good. The onslaught often begins with a subtle wicked, evil thought of “look what you do not have,” seeking to create discontentment, and it is then we must chastise ourselves and speak to ourselves and remind ourselves of all we do have “in Christ.” Who we have, where we are going, and even as the Psalmist, it is not merely the future but considering the GOODNESS of the Lord to us now and Believing by faith that He who has been GOOD to us for it is the “goodness of the LORD that leads to repentance… every GOOD and perfect gift comes from above… if we been evil know how to give GOOD gifts to our children HOW MUCH More our Heavenly Father… there is none Good but God….GOD IS GOOD… He is LORD, Sovereign King, Unchanging in His being, His very essence is Goodness. ” You are good and You do good; Teach me Your statutes.”-{Psalm 119:68}
And the Psalmist speaks to himself and us, that he has realized in the midst of great affliction, opposition, troubles, and the tendency to look at life and be overcome by troubles he realizes there is an alternative and it is GOD HIMSELF. Who He is and What He says in His Word to us and for us!
And this is one reason for us to frequent ourselves with Him, His Word so in these times of difficulties and temptations we may look to Him..IN HOPE… CONFIDENT WE WILL SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD! “…I WILL SEE..”
And He provides the way of escape. Not necessarily from his troubles but in his troubles,
He was not kept from troubles but in his troubles, the LORD’S Goodness would be revealed to him!
He can focus on and believe to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! And the key is that little word “UNLESS…” and had placed his faith not in himself but in the LORD who is Good. And even in his troubles, he could look beyond them To Him. And as Joseph who suffered greatly said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”-{Genesi 50:20}. God was in control and all along had a purpose and He would not only deliver Joseph but raise him up to put him in a place to be a blessing to others!
Evil does not ultimately triumph. Trials are temporal though they last a lifetime yet not eternally! Even in our troubles, we can look to Him and by faith focus on Him His character, His Sovereignty in our situation and over our situation, and can confidently say based on His character, His promises…
“I HAD BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD…” What are You Believing To See?”