Keith shares a brief devotional thought on what to do when life and relationships seem overwhelming.
Micah 7: 6-7 NASB
5 Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips.
What does this concept mean? “Do not trust in a neighbor;”
Job had this to about his friends:
14 “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.
15 “My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi,
Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,
Job 6:14,15 (NASB)
in Jeremiah’s time, he also earned against friends and brothers who would deal craftily and was slanderous. There is good news though, the psalmist assured us that we can take comfort in seeking the Lord (Psalm 118:8,9).
Jesus gave us this warning when dealing with those who are untrustworthy: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16)
The issue of guarding your lips, even with someone your intimate with, goes all the way back to Samson and Delilah. For the whole account, refer to Judges 16:5-20.
6 For son treats father contemptuously, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
We have record of contempt between father and son going back to Noah and his sons (Genesis 9:22-24). There was conflict between David and his son Absalom (2 Samuel 16:21-23). Ezekiel warned about trouble between friends as well (Ezekiel 22:7).
It wasn’t any better in Jesus’ day , (Matthew 10:21,35,36), the fact is that he claimed to be the cause of trouble in families.
Why will people be so untrustworthy? They are prideful, self-absorbed, and to interested in their own self-worth and comfort. They are generally ungrateful, and simply hate things that are true and good. (2 Timothy 3:2,3).
7 ¶But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
The answer of course is to expectantly seek after God and his ways.
Psalm 34:5,6 (NASB)
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
Even when we are in a rage, and grumbling about our circumstance, God wants to hear that prayer. And crying out to the Lord, seek, wait, be patient. He assures us he will listen and deliver. He may seem to be hiding, but his desire is to rescue us for his glory.
His answer may look differently than our expectation. Even Jesus prayed for deliverance in the garden of Gethsemane. No matter the depth of our hard times, it is always to serve a greater and in God’s glory. He is the rock that we can always trust and set our anchors on. When others fail us, we can be confident that he answers prayers.
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