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Times Of Trial Are Times Of Testing
TESTED IN
A TIGHT SPOT
BY WARREN WIERSBE
Read Psalm 7:1-9
This psalm was born out of a sad experience
David had with Cush, a Benjamite (see I Samuel 24-26).
Cush was one of Saul's spies. And because of
what David did, Cush caused the deaths of innocent men.
Whenever David had a problem with persecution or
with people, he would run to God. "O Lord my God, in You I put my
trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me" (verse
1).
David's
enemies were pursuing him. But the first thing he did was examine his own
heart. "O Lord my God, if I have done this: if there is iniquity
in my hands" (verse 3).
He was
saying, "If I have sinned, then let the enemy persecute me."
When we
are persecuted or experiencing problems, the first thing we should do is
examine our own hearts -- not examine the enemy or even examine God by
saying, "God, why did You allow such a thing to happen?"
When you
find yourself in a tight spot, look in the mirror and say, "Father,
is there something in my life You are talking to me about? Is there some area
in my life where I am not as yielded as I ought to be?"
You may
ask, "What about my enemies? Who's going to take care of
them?"
That was David's question. The answer is that
God will take care of the enemy.
The wickedness of others will come to an end.
Our
righteous God will accomplish His purposes, but notice the end of verse
9: "For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds."
Times of trial are not only times of testimony
and trusting; they are also times of testing.
When God tests you, He is showing you your own
heart.
You may say, "I know my own
heart."
But you
don't. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
God has a purpose for trials and testings.
Do you find yourself in a tight spot today?
Don't view this as something to endure.
Rather, consider it an opportunity for growth.
Use this time to examine your heart.
Perhaps God wants to teach you something and
develop an area of your life. Yield yourself to Him and trust Him to do a good
work in you.
Psalm 7:1-9 English Standard Version (ESV)
In You Do I Take Refuge
A Shiggaion of
David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the
words of Cush, a Benjaminite.
7 O Lord my
God, in you do I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,
rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.
save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,
rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.
3 O Lord my
God, if I have done this,
if there is wrong in my hands,
4 if I have repaid my friend with evil
or plundered my enemy without cause,
5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,
and let him trample my life to the ground
and lay my glory in the dust. Selah
if there is wrong in my hands,
4 if I have repaid my friend with evil
or plundered my enemy without cause,
5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,
and let him trample my life to the ground
and lay my glory in the dust. Selah
6 Arise,
O Lord, in
your anger;
lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.
7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;
over it return on high.
lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;
awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.
7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;
over it return on high.
8 The Lord judges
the peoples;
judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness
and according to the integrity that is in me.
9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and may you establish the righteous—
you who test the minds and hearts,[c]
O righteous God!
judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness
and according to the integrity that is in me.
9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,
and may you establish the righteous—
you who test the minds and hearts,[c]
O righteous God!
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