Understanding Their End

27 FEBRUARY

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Psalm 73:17

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Revelation 20:11-21:8

The end of the wicked that David mentions here does not refer to their exit from the world or their departure from the present life, which is true of all men. Why then did David need to enter into the sanctuary of God to understand that? No, the word end here refers to the judgment of God, by which he makes clear that, even when God is thought to be asleep, He is only delaying for a time the execution of the punishment that the wicked deserve.

This must be further explained. If we would learn from God what the condition of the ungodly is, we must understand that, after they have flourished for a short time, they will suddenly decay. Though they happen to enjoy a time of prosperity now and until death, yet that means nothing compared to the nothingness of their life.

God declares that all the wicked shall perish in misery. If we see Him executing vengeance upon the wicked in this life, we must remember that it is the judgment of God. On the contrary, if we do not see punishment inflicted on them in this world, let us not presume that they have escaped punishment or that they are the objects of divine favor and approbation. Rather, let us suspend our judgment, since the last day has not yet arrived.

In short, if we would rightly profit by addressing ourselves to the consideration of the works of God, we must first beseech Him to open our eyes, for only sheer fools would presume to be clear-sighted and of a penetrating judgment. Second, we must give all due respect to God’s Word by assigning to it that authority to which it is entitled.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: We miss so much truth around us when we fail to observe the world through the lens of the Bible. The wicked often prosper and, without God’s revelation of their end, we might be tempted to envy them. Thank God for His Word, by which we can see this more clearly and remain more content with what we possess. How else can this truth promote genuine contentment and keep us from controversies?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Sure Hope for Deliverance

29 January

For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Thee. The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.  

Psalm 5:4-6

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Daniel 6

Here David makes the malice and wickedness of his enemies an argument to enforce his prayer for divine favor. The language is abrupt, but the stammering of the saints is more acceptable to God than rhetoric, be it ever so fine and glittering. David's objective here is to show that the cruelty and treachery of his enemies is so intense that it is impossible for it to continue. God must arrest them in their course.

His reasoning is grounded upon the nature of God. Since righteousness and upright dealings are pleasing to God, David concludes that God will eventually take vengeance on men who persist in wickedness. How is it possible for them to escape unpunished, seeing that God is the judge of the world? 

This passage is worthy of special attention. Often we are greatly discouraged by the unbounded insolence of the wicked. If God does not immediately restrain this wickedness, we are stupefied and dismayed or cast down into despair. But David finds encouragement and confidence in such circumstances. The more his enemies proceed against him in lawlessness, the more earnestly he asks for help from God, whose official work it is to destroy the wicked because He hates all wickedness.

Let the godly, therefore, learn when they suffer violence, deceit, and injustice, to come to God so they may be encouraged by the certain hope of his deliverance.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: God will judge the wicked. They will not prosper. Those truths are so simple yet so hard for us to believe. Do not let the prosperity of the wicked create doubt in your heart; rather, let it encourage you in the certain hope of deliverance.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R Beeke