Passage Read: Psalm 11-14
Meditation Verses: 11:5-7
Thought
The Lord does not judge based on appearances, but He is continually testing both the righteous and the wicked. He is testing and proving who loves Him and walks in His ways and who loves wickedness and walks by his own wisdom. The wisdom of man is not very successful, so of course the wicked must often resort to violence to obtain his desire. The Lord hates those who turn to violence. The wicked will find themselves caught in all kinds of traps, which will only infuriate them all the more. In the end, they will suffer fire and brimstone and scorching wind, which sounds like a great description of hell. But the righteous will be welcomed into the presence of the Lord and behold His face--something no man can normally do and live, but they will!
Application
All the things, good and bad, that come into my life and into the lives of those around me are tests, where God is observing our response, to reveal whether we are either among the righteous or the wicked. He already knows, but so that we ourselves and so that all the powers that observe can know that His judgment is just, He continually tests and allows us to reveal where we stand. Of course, all of us begin among the arrogant, self-absorbed wicked, but by His grace, He saves some of us through the Gospel of His Son. As I'm tested, I can see where I stand. And as those around me are tested, I can discover where they stand. Those that reveal themselves among the wicked, in compassion I should offer the Gospel, because it is the only thing that can save them. Yet even my offering the Gospel is a test for them. If they reject it, they remain among the wicked, though I can hold out hope for them as long as they live.