When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. (Psalm 73:16-17, KJV)

There are times when the wicked seem to have things all their own way. This earth is not the realm of final justice; we are not yet standing before the Lord’s great judgment seat. God permits many things to be for a while in confusion. They who are highest with Him are often lowest with them; and those for whom He has no regard seem to heap up the treasures of the world till their eyes stand out with fatness, and they have more than heart can wish.

Let no child of God be astonished at this arrangement. It is still true that the wicked triumph and the servants of iniquity delight themselves in the high places of the earth. The righteous need not wonder that they suffer now, for that has been the lot of God’s people all along, and there have been certain times in human history when when God has seemed to be altogether deaf to the cries of His suffering people.

At such times too, we have proved the power of the Word of God. When your vessel is sailing along very smoothly, the Word of God may grow to be dead letter with you; but when the waves are rolling mountains high and dashing over you, and you are soaked through and through and fear that the deep will swallow you up, then you begin to test the promises and prove the power of the Word of God.

When the inexoressible sweetness reaches your heart, then you can indeed feel that you have been taught out of God’s Word. You see that “blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law” (Psalm 94:12, KJV). (At the Master’s Feet, October 25)