Being Put to the Test

 Psalms 26, Job 1:6-22

These two scriptures have been put together quite interestingly. In Psalms 26, David is asking to be tested while in Job the accuser, some believe to be the devil, asks that the righteous Job be put to the test.

David is known as a man after God’s heart as expressed in this Psalm, but he is also known as one of the greatest sinners. Did David with Bathsheba stand up to the test?

Job is described as blameless and upright. So, what is the temptation sent to him? It’s losing everything and terrible sores on his body. Yet he passes the test. He does not curse God. I love his statement that I myself was able to claim after I lost my dream car in an accident, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

David in his Psalm gives reasons why he himself is blameless and upright. He talks about walking in integrity and faithfulness. Walking is a metaphor used to describe how one behaves in all aspects of life. He has unwavering trust in the Lord and doesn’t keep company with evildoers. He is innocent, he has clean hands. He then tells how he worships the Lord singing songs of thanksgiving.

In verses 9-12 he contrasts himself with sinners who are blood thirsty. Their hands are not innocent since they have evil devices – schemes and are full of bribes. In verse 10 the term evil devices or evil schemes is the same word used to refer to sexual immorality in other Old Testament passages. This raises the question, “Was this written before or after Bathsheba?” Does pride come before a fall? But David ends the Psalm with declaring again that he walks in integrity.

I see Job as a humble man who does not declare his righteousness. Later in the book of Job he will declare his innocence in responding to his, “so called,” friends who want him to confess whatever sin he must have done to demand God’s punishment.

So many people still blame God for the tough times. Others believe still today that God is either punishing them or teaching them a lesson. I’m not saying that Satan is involved in creating troubles but more likely they come as a result of a fallen world. Bad things can and will happen to the best of Christians, but our faith comes in that God is with us during the rough times and will ride them through with us. When tests come and test our faith are we ready to curse God and die like Job’s wife asks, or do we continually keep unwavering trust in the Lord, continually walking in faith and integrity. Amen.

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