August 8, 2006 - Psalms 74-76 and Romans 9:16-33
We all need to learn that we should not question God about why He decides to do things. He is All-Wise and All-loving. He always does the right thing at the right time. In Psalm 74 the psalmist is asking God why He had cast off Israel forever. (v.1) That is an overstatement, but I am sure it seemed like they had been cast off forever, because of the success of their enemies. However, God had a good reason for punishing them, and the psalmist should have trusted God's wisdom. We all should trust His wisdom.
Psalm 75 tells us plainly, "God is the Judge." (v.7) He exalts some and He puts others down, but He always has a reason. God is a God of reason and order. He does not do random acts or make arbitrary choices. He lifts up the righteous and cuts off the wicked. (v.10)
God is the One to be feared as the psalmist said in Psalm 76. No one can fool God, and no one can defeat God, so He is to be feared. When He makes a decision it will stand. No one can overturn His purposes. I urge you to have this type of respect for God.
Now, take all of those insights from Psalms, and read Romans 9. Some people read this to mean that God made an arbitrary choice of who would be saved and lost. Look at verse 32. Israel did not achieve the law of righteousness or they were not saved, because they did not seek it by faith. They stumbled at Christ, because they were not willing to believe. If it had only been God's choice, I believe it would say that God did not choose them. What it says is that they did not choose to trust Him. That is a big difference. God chose them, because they responded in faith. Remember what Romans 4 taught us. Faith is not a work, so salvation is by grace through faith.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 77-78 and Romans 10.
Psalm 75 tells us plainly, "God is the Judge." (v.7) He exalts some and He puts others down, but He always has a reason. God is a God of reason and order. He does not do random acts or make arbitrary choices. He lifts up the righteous and cuts off the wicked. (v.10)
God is the One to be feared as the psalmist said in Psalm 76. No one can fool God, and no one can defeat God, so He is to be feared. When He makes a decision it will stand. No one can overturn His purposes. I urge you to have this type of respect for God.
Now, take all of those insights from Psalms, and read Romans 9. Some people read this to mean that God made an arbitrary choice of who would be saved and lost. Look at verse 32. Israel did not achieve the law of righteousness or they were not saved, because they did not seek it by faith. They stumbled at Christ, because they were not willing to believe. If it had only been God's choice, I believe it would say that God did not choose them. What it says is that they did not choose to trust Him. That is a big difference. God chose them, because they responded in faith. Remember what Romans 4 taught us. Faith is not a work, so salvation is by grace through faith.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 77-78 and Romans 10.