SOME SAY “SEEING IS BELIEVING” Study in the Psalms (4:6-8)
“Seeing is believing” is a popular concept, is it true? Indeed, the truth may often be just the opposite – that believing is seeing. Too often what we believe governs what we see. We all want to see anything that is really good, and we don’t care who shows it to us, even if it be the devil himself. It’s hard to believe, there were many of David’s own followers who had much rather see than to believe. Often times it’s that way with us, we groan after the sense and sight of prosperity, and are sad when darkness covers all good from our view. As for worldlings, this is their unceasing cry, “Who will shew us any good (Ps.4:6)?” Never satisfied, their empty hearts are ready to drink in any carnal delusion; and when these fail, they even yield to despair and declare that there is no good thing in heaven or earth. “Many, said David, ask who will show us any good; meaning riches, and honor, and pleasure, which are not good. But when he came to godliness itself, he leaves out “many” and prays in his own person, Lord lift You up the light of Your countenance upon us” (Henry Smith). Wanting to see God do something is one of the great difficulties of this ministry. Often I cry to the Lord, “how long Lord, will You not show this community Your power?” He reminds me, Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we can’t see. Jesus told His doubting disciple, Thomas, that it was more blessed to believe without seeing. The true believer is a man of a very different sect, the blessing is that He has put gladness (the gospel) in his heart”: more than in the season when their grain and wine increased” (Ps.7). The light of God’s countenance is enough for him. This is his riches, his honor, his health, his ambition, his ease. Give him this, and he will ask no more. This is joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Oh, for more of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that our fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ may be constant abiding! The Lord may never perform a great work in this community; and if you are hanging around to see before you believe, you may never believe. The big works say “God must be with us, He has filled up our barn.” “Let my granary be empty, I am full of blessings if Jesus Christ smiles upon me; but if I have all the world, I am poor without Him” (CHS). Why should we watch through fear if He is with us? Why should we fret to go on if He has confirmed our moving forward by His word, “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Ps.4:8). Oh the security of those words. “When Christ reveals himself – there is satisfaction in the slenderest earthly portion and without Christ there is emptiness in the greatest earthly fullness” (Alexander Grosse). ~~Terry Worthan (1938-2022)
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