O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
In ancient Judaism, there was a sincere belief that those who were “righteous”—those who followed the Law and who were good to others along the way—would experience the Lord’s favor. For them, “the Lord’s favor” meant health, protection, and goodness. This is not to say that ancient Jews believed in a “health-wealth gospel.” Yet it is a perspective that tied worldly blessing directly to faithfulness and righteousness. Note, for example, the response of Job’s friends to his calamity (they wondered what sin he had committed to earn such suffering). Note also the many psalms that address this exact issue.
A problem arises, however, when a person (or a group of people) is faithful and righteous, but they do not as a result experience “God’s favor,” at least as they would define it. What happens when people are good and righteous and faithful, yet they still suffer from calamity and distress and pain and the “arrows” of the enemy? How is this to be explained? This is reality—it is something that many, many followers of God face on a daily basis.
There are no easy answers. Yet we are children of a God who, ultimately, “preserves the lives of his saints.” God is never out of touch with us. Because of this, he is not unaware of our trials and our pain. The deliverance that we seek may not happen in our preferred timeframe, but it will happen. God is constantly watching over those who are his. This is a blessing beyond measure.
Have a great day.
–Ricky