SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 94:3.   Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

Ah mih people, it’s that day called Friday again! And everybody is busy as bees preparing for the weekend. The Friday buzz is all over the land. 

All you can hear is ‘TGIF! Thank the Lord for Fridays and weekends, cause that’s when we get to go about our business; our business of partying and having fun! Under those circumstances, how can we not shout ‘TGIF’ eh, and thank the Lord for Friday.’ 

Yeh friends, we need to be thankful for Friday and the weekend, but not simply for the opportunity to splurge and fete. The weekend was made for much more than that. So let’s chant our Friday Chant and discover the better way to use our weekends nuh. 

As one new: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. 

Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ 

So people, though there’s an element of partying involved in the weekend, it’s not only for lustful fun and games, but also to renew and reinvigorate us, both physically and spiritually, so that we can continue renewed and reinvigorated come the new workweek. 

And that’s where so many of us fall down, we abuse the weekend, and come Monday morning we’re all beat up, tired and miserable and find it hard to get up to go out and labour. And then we complain as though we’re so hard done by, when it’s all our own fault. 

That means we have to do a whole lot better in using our weekends more profitably my brethren. For listen to the questioning words of our Bit, taken from Psalm 94. ‘Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?’ 

Now that’s a very good question friends, for in these ungodly times the wicked does seem to be prospering much more than the righteous. And just like it bothered the psalmist, it bothers us today, so that like the psalmist we too can ask, can lament: 

‘How long shall they utter and speak hard (insolent) things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say the Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard (pay attention to) it.’ (Ps.94:3-7) 

Yeh mih people, the wicked are truly on a roll these days, doing as they wish to whom they wish and nobody seems to call them to account, and consequently they believe that the Most High God will not see or take notice of their iniquity. 

But they are totally wrong my fellow believers in Jesus Christ, for as the psalmist warns the wicked. ‘Understand ye brutish (senseless) among the people, ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eyes, shall he not see? 

He that chastiseth (instructs or disciplines) the heathen (nations or Gentiles), shall he not correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity (vain, futile).’ (Ps.94:8-11) 

Yes my brethren, our great God who created everything in the universe, hears, sees and knows it all, and in His good and right time will repay the workers of iniquity for their unrighteousness and ungodliness, for their sins against the godly and righteous. But all in His own time my faithful friends, all in His own time. 

I know we’re shaking it rough under the yoke of the wicked, but we just have to wait and be patient until our Lord and God decides it’s time to repay. 

Now hear how Zophar, the Naamathite, Job’s friend, describes the offing of the wicked. ‘Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung (refuse): they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. His children shall seek to please (seek the favour of) the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.’(Job 20:4-10) 

Oh friends, the wicked are in for a very rough time when the Lord decides to strike. And you can read the rest of Zophar’s characterization of the fall of the wicked right up to verse 29. And it’s not a very pleasant image, so please don’t worry if the wicked seem to be overly prosperous and successful in their earthly sojourn, but rather be assured that their prosperity is short lived, and their doom is sure. 

And listen to the final encouraging and uplifting words of the psalmist in Psalm 94. ‘They gather themselves together against the soul (life) of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge. 

And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness: yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off (destroy them).’ (Ps.94:21-24) 

And that’s a promise we can all hold on to my faithful followers of Christ. The wicked will go up in flames when the time is right, while the righteous enjoy the good life with our triune God. 

Please, let’s faithfully remember that and don’t allow the wicked to frighten us with their sinful ways, for our God is still on His throne running things. Much LOVE!

…it’s only a matter of time…before the wicked get their comeuppance… 

P.S. Please excuse the lateness of the Bit, but the ole fella was somewhat under the weather. (smile) Much LOVE!