Uncle Tom's Cabin: a long post
Timothy is studying about Harriet Beecher Stowe and the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. There is a moment in which a man named George is very bitter over those who have wronged him. I mean wronged him in a big way: sold his sister away from his family. Eliza, a small slave girl in the story, asks him if he can believe in God's promises and the promise that God take care of those who wrong His children. George answers that he doesn't believe in God, and cannot because his heart is full of bitterness. In order to help comfort George, a Quaker named Simon reads Ps. 73:
1. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4. They have no struggles: their bodies are healthy and strong
5. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
6. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8. They scoff, and speak with malice; in thier arrogance they threaten oppression.
9. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11. They say, "how can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12. This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15. If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children.
16. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17. till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20. As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22. I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength ofmy heart and my portion forever.
27. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
My thought is this. In general, we are a spoiled bunch. Very few of us have experienced the true hardship of the generations that have come before us. So when we have been offended, it is usually very small in comparison. My dad has a saying: "There is absolutely nothing that happens in the life of a believer that isn't within the realm of God's love." With that in mind, and the previous chapter in mind, we can rest in the knowledge that as life events unfold, God can handle it, and He WILL handle it with our best interest in mind.
Blessings!
1. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4. They have no struggles: their bodies are healthy and strong
5. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
6. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8. They scoff, and speak with malice; in thier arrogance they threaten oppression.
9. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11. They say, "how can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12. This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15. If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children.
16. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17. till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20. As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22. I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength ofmy heart and my portion forever.
27. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
My thought is this. In general, we are a spoiled bunch. Very few of us have experienced the true hardship of the generations that have come before us. So when we have been offended, it is usually very small in comparison. My dad has a saying: "There is absolutely nothing that happens in the life of a believer that isn't within the realm of God's love." With that in mind, and the previous chapter in mind, we can rest in the knowledge that as life events unfold, God can handle it, and He WILL handle it with our best interest in mind.
Blessings!
Comments
Yes, HE can! Thanks for a good devotion for today. It was great!
Mama Boo