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"Trusting God in Opposition"
Dr. Jack Klem, CBTS
It is not pleasant to think about or to experience opposition in any form. We all want to be liked and to be well received at home, in the workplace, and in the classroom. But the truth is that people will oppose our ideas, our beliefs, our work, and us in general. Everyone is not going to like us and many of us will face opposition from the ungodly for who we are, for what we believe, and for what we do. Because opposition and oppression from the wicked is certain it is a theme that is addressed throughout the Scriptures. The Psalms often explore this reality of life in order to provide perspective for the individual in the midst of opposition from the ungodly.
So what should I do when I am opposed? How should I respond to opposition? What is my perspective?
Psalms 10, 11, and 12 answer these questions with several enduring principles.The simple but critical first response is to trust the Lord (11:1). Although that sounds right and pious, let’s ask a more specific question, “What am I trusting about the Lord in the midst of opposition?”
The Psalmist specifies that we are trusting the Lord who is King forever and ever (10:16) and whose throne is in the heaven (10:4).
So what does this mean and how does this apply to the hurt I feel now from the wicked? It means that from this eternal and exalted place the Lord sees and hears the trouble and the grief of the righteous (10:14) and He tests the sons of men (11:4). It means that the wicked who oppose us will never be able to overthrow the eternal King of heaven and earth.
Next, the Psalmist encourages us to trust in the Lord as our helper (10:14; 11:7). Because the Lord loves the righteous, the poor, and the fatherless, He is committed to helping them.
But how? How does He help?
The Lord will help the righteous in His time by ultimately punishing the wicked. Our holy Lord will rule His world with a holy righteousness. Specifically, He will test the righteous to evaluate and form them and He will test the sons of men to pour out His wrath upon them (11:4-7).
Finally, the Lord will help with His flawless Word (12:6). The proud and boastful words of the ungodly will be silenced but the flawless Word of the Lord will endure.
May God help us in the midst of opposition to see and to trust in the Lord and His Word (cf. John 15)….
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