GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM

When I began working on this message, The Wall Street Journal reported that the entire world had come under a great cloud of fear. Immediately, my thoughts turned to those who attend Times Square Church. They show no such fear. Instead, while we all have a great soberness about these times, we also have a deep, abiding joy.

I was led to Psalm 37, written by David:

“The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil [calamitous] time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied” (Psalm 37:18–19, my italics).

Psalm 37 tells us that the Lord rises to action against societies whose sins have outraged heaven.

“The arms [power] of the wicked shall be broken” (37:17).

David’s amazing prophecy for God’s people is being fulfilled before our eyes. Yet this same psalm is also one of great hope. It contains an incredible promise to those who put their trust fully in the Lord.

TIME FOR PAYBACK

There comes a time Isaiah describes as “the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of [payback] for the controversy of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8).

“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face. . . . I will not keep silence, but will recompense” (Isaiah 65:2–3, 6).

We know our God is not asleep. What we see happening to our economy is not only His vengeance but it has to do with the very honor and glory of Almighty God. He will not stand by as His ways are maligned by the wicked.

At the same time the Lord is recompensing the ungodly, He will reward those who trust in Him.