(This reading is based on Psalm 70, read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.)
As I grapple with the harsh reality borne out in these Psalms of desperate pleading for God's intervention I have to wonder about the import of being anointed by God for a purpose. Why is it that when I'm working with One of limitless resourcefulness I'm so often seemingly left hanging in such desperate suspension? Is it that in the context of the Great Controversy Satan is allowed to rig the road to doing God's will with traffic spikes - an apparatus installed on a roadway to enforce a one-way traffic flow? This seemed a common thread throughout Old and New Testament stories:
As I grapple with the harsh reality borne out in these Psalms of desperate pleading for God's intervention I have to wonder about the import of being anointed by God for a purpose. Why is it that when I'm working with One of limitless resourcefulness I'm so often seemingly left hanging in such desperate suspension? Is it that in the context of the Great Controversy Satan is allowed to rig the road to doing God's will with traffic spikes - an apparatus installed on a roadway to enforce a one-way traffic flow? This seemed a common thread throughout Old and New Testament stories:
1. Abraham was promised to become the father of a great nation, yet it wasn't before he and his wife lost the vigor of youth (or maybe until they learned to not measure God by what they receive from Him, but to trust Him notwithstanding) that they received the child of promise (Isaac).
2. Joseph, destined for greatness as assured by God through dreams from his childhood, was hated and almost murdered by his brothers, sold into slavery, wrongfully imprisoned, but triumphant at last.
3. Here David, though anointed as the next king of Israel, succeeding Saul was hated by his predecessor and was constantly pursued for his life. But it got worse, because even in his own household, among his very sons, he still had to be looking over his shoulder. Notwithstanding these struggles David became the model king of Israel, hence Jesus being referred to as the Son of David.
Jesus indicated that this trend of unending struggle (tire-shredding) would not cease - even for us, we can expect. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33. And as indicated in the last phrase of this passage, as also evident in the scenarios above, although there will be struggles triumph is assured. Indeed those who seek God will rejoice and be glad in Him (ripped tires and all).
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