Thought For Today - February 1 - -
Why do the ungodly seem to prosper? 
By:

 " Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

\Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

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.

 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works."

The ungodly seem to prosper in the world - - why? Why does it seem that those who have acknowledged the sovereignty of God, and have accepted Christ as savior, having had their hearts cleansed, and having had their hands washed in innocence in the blood of Christ, seem to be plagued and chastened every morning. ?

The psalmist was complaining of this, and was tempted to envy the wicked because, on the surface, it seems that everything always went well with them, while those who were faithful and steadfast before God were being persecuted, laughed at, and suffered want.

Many so called wise men and women today, who call themselves learned scholars, deny the existence of God, and scoff at any idea of an ine who deny God, in spite of their prosperity, are set in slippery places, and will be eventually telligent deity who is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the universe, while the poor, faithful, steadfast widow, with her widow’s mite offers her all on the altar of faith, and gives glory to God for all things. Is the poor widow wiser, after all, than these learned scholars? 

 The psalmist concluded after all that the scoffers and thoscast down to destruction, and will be utterly consumed with terrors

. “Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.” Psalm 73: 18-19.

Truly wise man and women still seek Jesus, whereas, the worldly wise with their arrogance, wealth, and education reject him; but in the end, this we know, as the psalmist has proclaimed -  “For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all his works.” Psalm 73: 27,28.

“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them, for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. Through wisdom is an house builded, and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24: 1-4.

We must not envy the worldly wise and those who seem to prosper in their wickedness, nor should we covet his goods. We who love God and want to live by his precepts have the sure promises of God that the palaces of a wicked king will crumble and fall, but the hut, the tent, or the tabernacle of the righteous shall flourish.

“The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:11-12.