God Takes Care of the Righteous

1
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• In the midst of Gods rebuke for the wicked we
  can fail to see what God is doing for the
  righteous!

2
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• In the midst of Gods rebuke for the wicked we
  can fail to see what God is doing for the
  righteous!
• I remember once I was in a class that had a high
  percentage of trouble makers.

3
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• In the midst of Gods rebuke for the wicked we
  can fail to see what God is doing for the
  righteous!
• I remember once I was in a class that had a high
  percentage of trouble makers.
• I did not approve of what they did nor could I
  change them. Still I suffered punishments because
  of them.

4
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• In addition to the punishments of the teachers on
  the class, I also had to suffer because I
  did not go along with the rebellious.

5
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• In addition to the punishments of the teachers on
  the class, I also had to suffer because I
  did not go along with the rebellious.
• While the focus of the prophets is on the
  condition of the nation as a whole, those
  serving God are recognized and taken care of.

6
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• We generally do not hear their voices but we know
  they are there.

7
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• We generally do not hear their voices but we know
  they are there.
• The future promises of Gods kingdom and the
  Messiah have little comfort to the worldly. They
  are only interested in the here and now!

8
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• We generally do not hear their voices but we know
  they are there.
• The future promises of Gods kingdom and the
  Messiah have little comfort to the worldly. They
  are only interested in the here and now!
• The pain of the righteous can be heard in the
  Psalm of Asaph. (Psa 7311-17)

9
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• Psalm 7311-17 11 And they say, "How does God
  know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
  12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always
  at ease They increase in riches. 13 Surely I
  have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my
  hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have
  been plagued, And chastened every morning.

10
God Takes Care of the Righteous

• 15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I
  would have been untrue to the generation of Your
  children. 16 When I thought how to understand
  this, It was too painful for me -- 17 Until I
  went into the sanctuary of God Then I understood
  their end.

11
The Testing of the Righteous

• Have you ever looked around you and said These
  are the people of God??? (Hab 11-4)

12
The Testing of the Righteous

• Habakkuk 11-4 The burden which the prophet
  Habakkuk saw. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry,
  And You will not hear? Even cry out to You,
  "Violence!" And You will not save. 3 Why do You
  show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble?
  For plundering and violence are before me There
  is strife, and contention arises.

13
The Testing of the Righteous

• 4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice
  never goes forth. For the wicked surround the
  righteous Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

14
The Testing of the Righteous

• Hypocrites can cause many to turn away from God.
  Prophets, priests and kings were talking
  about God but living wickedly. This is hard to
  swallow!

15
The Testing of the Righteous

• Hypocrites can cause many to turn away from God.
  Prophets, priests and kings were talking
  about God but living wickedly. This is hard to
  swallow!
• Like Asaph, Habakkuk wondered what God was doing.

16
The Testing of the Righteous

• This is a common test we must pass. Do not let a
  hypocrite come between you and God. (Rom 223-24
  34)

17
The Testing of the Righteous

• Romans 223-24 23 You who make your boast in
  the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the
  law? 24 For "the name of God is blasphemed among
  the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.

18
The Testing of the Righteous

• Romans 34 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be
  true but every man a liar. As it is written
  "That You may be justified in Your words, And may
  overcome when You are judged.

19
The Testing of the Righteous

• If your faithfulness depends on numbers then
  you will fail the test when it comes.

20
The Testing of the Righteous

• If your faithfulness depends on numbers then
  you will fail the test when it comes.
• An even greater pain comes when those who should
  be the people of God persecute you. (Amos
  26-7)

21
The Testing of the Righteous

• Amos 26-7 - Thus says the LORD "For three
  transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will
  not turn away its punishment, Because they sell
  the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair
  of sandals. 7 They pant after the dust of the
  earth which is on the head of the poor, And
  pervert the way of the humble. A man and his
  father go in to the same girl, To defile My holy
  name.

22
The Testing of the Righteous

• Can you imagine righteousness being powerless
  among the people of God?

23
The Testing of the Righteous

• Can you imagine righteousness being powerless
  among the people of God?
• Here is where the righteous keep silent and
  wait on the Lord. (Amos 512-13)

24
The Testing of the Righteous

• Amos 512-13 - For I know your manifold
  transgressions And your mighty sins Afflicting
  the just and taking bribes Diverting the poor
  from justice at the gate. 13 Therefore the
  prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an
  evil time.

25
The Testing of the Righteous

• How hard is it to keep silent when you are
  slandered and taken advantage of?

26
The Testing of the Righteous

• Imagine working with a dishonest businessman. He
  has money and is praised! God knows the truth.
  (Amos 84-6)

27
The Testing of the Righteous

• Amos 84-6 4 Hear this, you who swallow up the
  needy, And make the poor of the land fail, 5
  Saying "When will the New Moon be past, That we
  may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may
  trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the
  shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit, 6
  That we may buy the poor for silver, And the
  needy for a pair of sandals -- Even sell the bad
  wheat?

28
The Testing of the Righteous

• Just like in Jobs day, people say God is with
  the successful and against those who
  suffer. They say Something wrong with you!

29
The Testing of the Righteous

• Just like in Jobs day, people say God is with
  the successful and against those who
  suffer. They say Something wrong with you!
• If you do speak up for the will of God then you
  endure scorn and worse. (Mt 76)

30
The Testing of the Righteous

• Matthew 76 6 "Do not give what is holy to the
  dogs nor cast your pearls before swine, lest
  they trample them under their feet, and turn and
  tear you in pieces.

31
The Testing of the Righteous

• It is painful to know God will punish the people
  and there is nothing you can do.

32
The Testing of the Righteous

• It is painful to know God will punish the people
  and there is nothing you can do.
• Habakkuk prayed to God and received a troubling
  answer. (Hab 15-6, 12-13)

33
The Testing of the Righteous

• Habakkuk 15-6 - " Look among the nations and
  watch -- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a
  work in your days Which you would not believe,
  though it were told you. 6 For indeed I am
  raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty
  nation Which marches through the breadth of the
  earth, To possess dwelling places that are not
  theirs.

34
The Testing of the Righteous

• Habakkuk 112-13 - Are You not from everlasting,
  O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O
  LORD, You have appointed them for judgment O
  Rock, You have marked them for correction. 13
  You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And
  cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on
  those who deal treacherously, And hold Your
  tongue when the wicked devours A person more
  righteous than he?

35
The Testing of the Righteous

• He prayed again, hoping for a different answer
  but got the same one. (Hab 21-3)

36
The Testing of the Righteous

• Habakkuk 21-3 - I will stand my watch And set
  myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He
  will say to me, And what I will answer when I am
  corrected. 2 Then the LORD answered me and said
  "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets,
  That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision
  is yet for an appointed time But at the end it
  will speak, and it will not lie

37
The Testing of the Righteous

• Have you ever warned a loved one only to wait for
  the coming train wreck?

38
The Suffering of the Righteous

• In addition to the previous persecution from
  within, they will suffer when the
  trumpets of judgment sound for the nation.

39
The Suffering of the Righteous

• In addition to the previous persecution from
  within, they will suffer when the
  trumpets of judgment sound for the nation.
• In the book of Revelation trumpets represented
  judgments. (Rev 86-9)

40
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Revelation 86-9 6 So the seven angels who had
  the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
  7 The first angel sounded And hail and fire
  followed, mingled with blood, and they were
  thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees
  were burned up, and all green grass was burned
  up.

41
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 8 Then the second angel sounded And something
  like a great mountain burning with fire was
  thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea
  became blood. 9 And a third of the living
  creatures in the sea died, and a third of the
  ships were destroyed.

42
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Will the righteous be hungry when the nation is?
  (Hab 316-17)

43
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Habakkuk 316-17 - When I heard, my body
  trembled My lips quivered at the voice
  Rottenness entered my bones And I trembled in
  myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble.
  When he comes up to the people, He will invade
  them with his troops.

44
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit
  be on the vines Though the labor of the olive
  may fail, And the fields yield no food Though
  the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there
  be no herd in the stalls

45
The Suffering of the Righteous

• How did you feel on September 11, 2001? How would
  you feel if our country suffered economic
  collapse? Will Christians be exempt from
  consequences?

46
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Look at the suffering of the righteous, but also
  at the humility and self inspection this brought.
  (Micah 71-10)

47
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Micah 71-10 Woe is me! For I am like those who
  gather summer fruits, Like those who glean
  vintage grapes There is no cluster to eat Of the
  first-ripe fruit which my soul desires. 2 The
  faithful man has perished from the earth, And
  there is no one upright among men. They all lie
  in wait for blood Every man hunts his brother
  with a net.

48
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 3 That they may successfully do evil with both
  hands -- The prince asks for gifts, The judge
  seeks a bribe, And the great man utters his evil
  desire So they scheme together. 4 The best of
  them is like a brier The most upright is sharper
  than a thorn hedge The day of your watchman and
  your punishment comes Now shall be their
  perplexity.

49
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 5 Do not trust in a friend Do not put your
  confidence in a companion Guard the doors of
  your mouth From her who lies in your bosom. 6
  For son dishonors father, Daughter rises against
  her mother, Daughter-in-law against her
  mother-in-law A man's enemies are the men of his
  own household.

50
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 7 Therefore I will look to the LORD I will wait
  for the God of my salvation My God will hear me.
  8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy When I fall,
  I will arise When I sit in darkness, The LORD
  will be a light to me.

51
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD,
  Because I have sinned against Him, Until He
  pleads my case And executes justice for me. He
  will bring me forth to the light I will see His
  righteousness. 10 Then she who is my enemy will
  see, And shame will cover her who said to me,
  "Where is the LORD your God?" My eyes will see
  her Now she will be trampled down Like mud in
  the streets.

52
The Suffering of the Righteous

• God will act individually to help the righteous.
  (Ps 3415-19)

53
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Psalm 3415-19 - The eyes of the LORD are on the
  righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.
  16 The face of the LORD is against those who do
  evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the
  earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD
  hears, And delivers them out of all their
  troubles.

54
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken
  heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
  19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But
  the LORD delivers him out of them all.

55
The Suffering of the Righteous

• How can a child of God overcome the loss of
  physical things? Remember Asaph!

56
The Suffering of the Righteous

• How can a child of God overcome the loss of
  physical things? Remember Asaph!
• The child of God has resources of nourishment and
  strength that no man or nation can take
  away! (Mal 316-18)

57
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Malachi 316-18 - Then those who feared the LORD
  spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and
  heard them So a book of remembrance was written
  before Him For those who fear the LORD And who
  meditate on His name.

58
The Suffering of the Righteous

• 17 "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts,
  "On the day that I make them My jewels. And I
  will spare them As a man spares his own son who
  serves him." 18 Then you shall again discern
  Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one
  who serves God And one who does not serve Him.

59
The Suffering of the Righteous

• What does worship allow us to see?

60
The Suffering of the Righteous

• There is never a time where the child of God can
  do nothing. Pray! (Hab 31-2)

61
The Suffering of the Righteous

• Habakkuk 31-2 A prayer of Habakkuk the
  prophet, on Shigionoth. 2 O LORD, I have heard
  your speech and was afraid O LORD, revive Your
  work in the midst of the years! In the midst of
  the years make it known In wrath remember mercy.
  

62
How God comforts the Righteous

• There are the powerful promises of God. (Hab 313)

63
How God comforts the Righteous

• Habakkuk 313 - You went forth for the salvation
  of Your people, For salvation with Your Anointed.
  You struck the head from the house of the wicked,
  By laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah

64
How God comforts the Righteous

• The righteous knew that the nation of Israel
  existed for a purpose.

65
How God comforts the Righteous

• The not only knew in advance of the captivity,
  but how long it would last and that their
  return would bring the Messiah. (Zeph 319-20
  Micah 41-3, 9-10)

66
How God comforts the Righteous

• Zephaniah 319-20 19 Behold, at that time I
  will deal with all who afflict you I will save
  the lame, And gather those who were driven out I
  will appoint them for praise and fame In every
  land where they were put to shame. 20 At that
  time I will bring you back, Even at the time I
  gather you For I will give you fame and praise
  Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return
  your captives before your eyes," Says the LORD.

67
How God comforts the Righteous

• Micah 41-3 Now it shall come to pass in the
  latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house
  Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
  And shall be exalted above the hills And peoples
  shall flow to it.

68
How God comforts the Righteous

• 2 Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let
  us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the
  house of the God of Jacob He will teach us His
  ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of
  Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the
  LORD from Jerusalem.

69
How God comforts the Righteous

• 3 He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke
  strong nations afar off They shall beat their
  swords into plowshares, And their spears into
  pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up sword
  against nation, Neither shall they learn war any
  more.

70
How God comforts the Righteous

• Micah 49-10 9 Now why do you cry aloud? Is
  there no king in your midst? Has your counselor
  perished? For pangs have seized you like a woman
  in labor. 10 Be in pain, and labor to bring
  forth, O daughter of Zion, Like a woman in birth
  pangs. For now you shall go forth from the city,
  You shall dwell in the field, And to Babylon you
  shall go. There you shall be delivered There the
  LORD will redeem you From the hand of your
  enemies.

71
How God comforts the Righteous

• They knew that God would bring good from the
  judgments on Israel. (Zeph 38-14)

72
How God comforts the Righteous

• Zephaniah 38-14 8 " Therefore wait for Me,"
  says the LORD, "Until the day I rise up for
  plunder My determination is to gather the
  nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on
  them My indignation, All my fierce anger All the
  earth shall be devoured With the fire of My
  jealousy.

73
How God comforts the Righteous

• 9 "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure
  language, That they all may call on the name of
  the LORD, To serve Him with one accord. 10 From
  beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The
  daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My
  offering.

74
How God comforts the Righteous

• 11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of
  your deeds In which you transgress against Me
  For then I will take away from your midst Those
  who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no
  longer be haughty In My holy mountain. 12 I will
  leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And
  they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

75
How God comforts the Righteous

• 13 The remnant of Israel shall do no
  unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a
  deceitful tongue be found in their mouth For
  they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no
  one shall make them afraid." 14 Sing, O daughter
  of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice
  with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

76
How God comforts the Righteous

• It is so important that we do not take the road
  of ease in our serving God!

77
How God comforts the Righteous

• There is the nature of God.

78
How God comforts the Righteous

• There is the nature of God.
• Jesus used the past workings of God to give Him
  comfort on the cross. (Ps 223-5)

79
How God comforts the Righteous

• Psalm 223-5 3 But You are holy, Enthroned in
  the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in
  You They trusted, and You delivered them. 5
  They cried to You, and were delivered They
  trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

80
How God comforts the Righteous

• God told this remnant how much He loved them!
  (Zech 916-17)

81
How God comforts the Righteous

• Zechariah 916-17 - The LORD their God will
  save them in that day, As the flock of His
  people. For they shall be like the jewels of a
  crown, Lifted like a banner over His land -- 17
  For how great is its goodness And how great its
  beauty! Grain shall make the young men thrive,
  And new wine the young women.

82
How God comforts the Righteous

• They knew that waiting on the Lord would bring
  deliverance to Gods people.

83
How God comforts the Righteous

• They knew that waiting on the Lord would bring
  deliverance to Gods people.
• We must let God be our rock and deliverer.

84
How God comforts the Righteous

• Questions to Consider

85
How God comforts the Righteous

• Questions to Consider
• 1. Why are the righteous tested when they see
  wicked men prospering and righteous men suffering?

86
How God comforts the Righteous

• 2. What are the effects of hypocrisy upon the
  world and the people of God? What happens when
  hypocrisy becomes the norm among the people of
  God?

87
How God comforts the Righteous

• 2. What are the effects of hypocrisy upon the
  world and the people of God? What happens when
  hypocrisy becomes the norm among the people of
  God?
• 3. What can the righteous do when justice does
  not prevail in a nation?

88
How God comforts the Righteous

• 2. What are the effects of hypocrisy upon the
  world and the people of God? What happens when
  hypocrisy becomes the norm among the people of
  God?
• 3. What can the righteous do when justice does
  not prevail in a nation?
• 4. What will and will not happen to the righteous
  when God brings physical judgments upon a nation?

89
How God comforts the Righteous

• 5. What promises of God do we have that will
  sustain us in troubling times?

90
How God comforts the Righteous

• 5. What promises of God do we have that will
  sustain us in troubling times?
• 6. How does Gods nature give us comfort?

91
How God comforts the Righteous

• 5. What promises of God do we have that will
  sustain us in troubling times?
• 6. How does Gods nature give us comfort?
• 7. What can a handful of righteous people do to
  help a nation?