Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them (Series 1) - The days of the upright

 Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them (Series 1)

Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings (Isaiah 3:10).

The days of the upright

A figurative story is narrated of a man who was privileged to visit heaven and hell so as to make an informed decision of where he would prefer to spend their eternity. He visited heaven; the place was peaceful and no adventures. Then he went to hell and found the description given about hell and the devil was exaggerated. He felt hell was cool and everyone there was excited with all the adventures. The man went back to heaven and indicated that he had made the decision to go to hell. He was given a go ahead. On arrival in hell, he found a brutal devil and demons and the suffering of occupants. On enquiring why all the change, he was told, on his first visit they were campaigning, but the current situation was the reality which he had to live with eternally.

 

The one-million-dollar question is, was this not the real situation with Eve? What about Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, Jesus the savior and Barabbas; the notorious criminal. What about decisions we make on daily basis. Whenever, we are more sensitive to the world and what is temporal, rather than to what is heavenly and eternal, we are bound to make irrational decisions. The paradox is that, gauging from the worldly lens, they appear very rational.  James warns us that friendliness with the world is enmity with God. ...Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:1-4). This necessitates the continuous renewal of our mind, that we may not imitate the worldly living.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). Being cognizant that we live in the world, but we are not of this world.

 

David writing Psalm 37 highlights the temptation of preferring that which is of the world to that which is covenant bound. Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb (Psalm 37:1,2). It is unfortunate that covenant matters are not fulfilled in our timing. But, God’s timing; kairos time. This is illustrated by conception of Ishmael and Isaac. Abraham was promised a covenant son; Isaac. However, Isaac was to be conceived in God’s timing. God makes all things beautiful in His time and not in our time. When Sarah felt Abraham needed a heir as the covenant son seemed not forthcoming, she suggested to Abraham to have a son with Hagar; her maid servant. God’s timing was not a factor, in the birth of Ishmael. As Ishmael was born at the will and timing of Abraham and Hagar.

 

This is not so with covenant matters. Covenant issues are righteous and they are conceived and delivered in God’s timing. In order to fulfill God’s purpose. Therefore, God may allow, what may appear as barrenness to wait for His timing. Hence, whenever we find ourselves in such a situation, we should continue trusting the Lord and delighting in Him. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37:3-5). Allow us to appreciate six women in the Bible, who were barren, but were later blessed with either covenant carriers, a judge and prophets. Sarah bore Isaac at an advanced age. Isaac seemed to have had a generational trait and at sixty years Rebecca conceived and bore Jacob and Esau. Rachel, Jacob’s wife did not escape the generational trait, but later bore Joseph; the dreamer. Manoa’s wife was barren but later conceived and gave birth to Samson. Hannah wife of Elkanah after mocking by Peninnah bore Samuel. Finally, Elizabeth the wife of Zacharia gave birth to John the Baptist at an advanced age.

 

The area that may appear barren in our day today’s life, usually manifest as the area of one’s breakthrough. As the Lord show himself strong on behalf of His righteous.  However, it calls for patience to realize its fruition. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more (Psalm 37:6-10). This gives us more reasons, why we should not fret the evildoers, rather pursue righteousness.

 

Instead of fretting the evil doers, we must live right, by faith and in obedience to the Word. Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited. 4 “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore (Isaiah 54:1-4). Living a life of faith appears contrary to the worldly way of perceiving things. However, it is the only option for believers, for without faith, we cannot please God.

 

Nonetheless, when we focus on the difference between the righteous and the unrighteous; On one hand we appreciate God warning the unrighteous of the consequences of wrong choices and giving them time to repent. On the other hand, God promises the righteous of a great future. ...He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away (Psalm 1:1-4). When we allow righteousness to be our foundation, we will never be shaken. We will have the capacity to stand any storm. However, for those who focus on the temporal achievements attained in dubious ways, they can be sure, when the storms come, they will not stand.

 

In addition, though many are the afflictions of a righteous as the worldly systems are against them. Whenever the righteous pray, God is ever listening and willing to deliver them. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy (Psalm 145: 17-20). Ultimately, if the unrighteous fail to depart from their wicked ways. Destruction from the hand of the Lord is certain.

 

God’s plan will eventually stand as it cannot be thwarted. Though the righteous may appear and even feel forsaken, God will stand as the righteous judge. And draw the distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous. You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners. Before the Lord of hosts? 15 So now we call the proud blessed, for those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name. 17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him (Malachi 3:14-18). God will justly reward each according to their labor. Each will reap their fruits.

 

It is amazing how the righteous remain stable despite the storms of life. They are fruitful in all seasons. As their trust is not in the seasons. Their trust is in the Giver of seasons. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. ⁸ For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:7,8). Moreover, even in the tough seasons, they are still satisfied. The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. ¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied (Psalm 37:18, 19). God has a way of sustaining them through brooks, eagles and poor widows like Elijah. In addition, their fruits last for generations.

 

The fruits of the unrighteous are temporally in their possession. They fail to abide with them. God ensures that their possessions are transferred to the righteous. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22). This is not so with the fruits of the righteous. Their fruits abide for generations. It is prudent to remain righteous, the suffering of the righteous cannot be by any means compared to the glory therein.