Preschool
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3).
The Wicked Are Not the Victors
Memory Verses
Primary
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3).
Junior
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not (Isaiah 53:3).
Background Scripture: Psalms 10-11
Lesson Scripture: Psalms 10:1-7, 11-15; 11:5-7
Introduction
Only with the eye of faith can we see beyond this earthly life and behold the reward of the faithful or the awful punishment of the wicked. When temporal pleasures and indulgences become more important than that which is eternal, we can easily become offended by perceived injustices or mistreatment and take matters into our own hands.
Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Nothing is hidden from the all-seeing eyes of God, and a lot of wickedness begins when people take their own way. We must commit the issues of life to the One who has everything in his control.
Key Verse
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction (Ps. 73:18).
Lesson Scripture
Psalm 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
11:5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
Studying the Lesson
The story of the shepherd boy David, whose humble beginning was with his father’s sheep near the hills of Bethlehem, is a source of inspiration for us still today. He surely must have been taught as a young child about God and his love and care. David’s life exemplifies an implicit trust in the Almighty God. This trust in God gave him strength and courage in his youth years when he faced the natural predators that threatened his father’s flock. David did not cower or flee from the danger that confronted him but bravely faced his adversary in the strength of the Lord. Sometime later when he observed the mighty giant Goliath defying God, his experience and faith in God emboldened him to volunteer and face Israel’s rival.
King Saul observed David’s potential after his victory over the giant and claimed him for his own service. Later when the king was troubled with evil spirits, David was commissioned to play his harp to bring relief to the tormented king. David’s faithfulness in the palace and as a captain in Saul’s army was recognized and applauded by the many who observed him. This honor bestowed upon David caused the king to resent him and to seek a way to harm him.
We can sympathize with David’s feelings of despair and despondency when pursued as a criminal by a jealous king. Satan looks for every opportunity to discourage faithful service. It is not up to the Christian to wish evil upon those who do us harm or to try to bring them to justice. Romans 12:19 instructs, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Practical Truths for Today
What does it take to be a successful Christian? Everyone who believes in God wants to be saved and receive the heavenly reward promised to those who are victorious. Earthly experience teaches us that to win a prize or title in a competition takes dedication and perseverance. We likely will not be victorious unless we put our whole effort into the challenge of winning. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Cor. 9:25).
Looking back over history, there are times when Christians were severely resisted and persecuted because of their faith and practice. Though few today have needed to risk their lives to stand up for the truth, there are times when the true believer is tested. How do we react to a situation when someone takes advantage of us? Is it small and forgettable when someone cuts in front of us? What if someone is dishonest in a business transaction or some of our possessions are stolen? Do we have thoughts of revenge or of exercising our rights?
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded by God to drive the heathen out from among them, while at other times the command came to totally eradicate the enemy. God did not want his people defiled by the gods of the heathen or to mix with them in marriage. He wanted his people to be holy and separate from the influence of evil.
Though we may be grieved by seeing others live in sin, we need the heart of Jesus. Jesus had a heart of compassion for sinners, and even when He was ignominiously nailed to the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). We can leave a gentle witness of care and concern rather than growing cynical and hardened by a wicked world.
The Bible is clear about Christ’s return to judge the world. “At the return of Jesus Christ the power of Satan will be destroyed and his kingdom will come to an end. The devil, the great deceiver, will be fully revealed, and defeated. This world that is in darkness, with its pomp and pride, vanity, falsehoods, corruption, violence, selfishness, and all its evils and multitude of sins, will come into judgment.” 1 When God calls time to a close, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). As we consider the awful fate of the wicked, it should behoove us to pray earnestly for their salvation. It is essential that we have the vision Dirk Willems demonstrated, as recorded in Martyr’s Mirror, when running from his captor over the thin ice. He could have taken the opportunity to escape when his pursuer fell through the ice, but his vision of eternal things and his love for his captor’s soul moved him to retrace his steps and risk his life and be recaptured. Ultimately, he saved the man from death and gave him another chance to choose the right way.
“Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. It is the eternal home of the soul.” 2 A spiritual understanding from God enables us to see that this life offers only a temporary dwelling place.
“God and the spiritual world are real. We can reckon upon them with as much assurance as we reckon upon the familiar world around us. Spiritual things are there (or rather we should say here) inviting our attention and challenging our trust.
“Our trouble is that we have established bad thought habits. We habitually think of the visible world as real and doubt the reality of any other. We do not deny the existence of the spiritual world but we doubt that it is real in the accepted meaning of the word.” 3
As we come to know the Lord more fully and grow in Him, we accept by faith that the rewards of humbly living our lives in obedience to God are not always fully given in this life. God has prepared a place beyond our expectations for those who endure unto the end. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).
Questions
- What should a Christian’s response be when taken advantage of by unbelievers? Does a Christian have any rights?
- What are the rewards of the victor? Can we be too conscious of rewards?
- If we find ourselves envious because it seems like the wicked do not have to deny themselves (Ps. 73:4-5), does this show misplaced affections?
- 1 Bible Doctrine and Practice, p. 388
- 2 Bible Doctrine and Practice, p. 395
- 3 A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Wingspread Publishers, 2006, p. 53
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).