Being Proven

Psalm 81:7 says, "You called in trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I proved you at the waters of Meribah. Selah." Guess Who is speaking here? You guessed it! The Lord our God!

Now, we all like the first part and the second, but when we get to part C, we back up a little bit. What does THAT mean? Yes, He was speaking to Israel, but as Spurgeon says, "The story of Israel is only our own history in another shape." All too true! Who says the Old Testament is irrelevant? NOT!!! People who say that are among those who never learn from history.

Regarding 'the C part' of that verse, Spurgeon also says, "They had proved him and found Him faithful, He afterwards proved them in return. Precious things are tested, therefore Israel's loyalty to her King was put to trial, and alas, it failed lamentably. The God who was adored one day for His goodness was reviled the next, when the people for a moment felt the pangs of hunger and thirst." Are we any different? We praise Him Friday because we had a good week at work, then grumble at Him on Saturday because it's raining and ruined our plans.

But the part that catches my attention is "Precious things are tested." Ooohhh...that sounds so nice...at first. He calls us precious. But then we realize He tests us because we are precious. Then our attitude shifts a little. Can't we just be precious WITHOUT being tested? Well, let's think about that. What if we had been given electricity without it having been tested? That could be BAD!!! What if we'd been given medication that hadn't been tested? BAD!!! Or water? Yes, we could go on and on.

And we might STILL argue, but why do WE need to be tested? God knows what's in our hearts anyway, right? Yes, He does. So maybe He tests us so WE'll know what's in our hearts! Yeah, we can start thinking we're pretty good...we've really grown up in Christ...yeah, we are probably going to have a REALLY GREAT inheritance! And then He proves us at the waters of Meribah. Oh, boy...I guess I wasn't as far along as I thought I was, we lament. We can get puffed up so easily. His testing is merely a part of His grace. Each testing can work a little more humility into us...or a little more resentment. The choice is ours. But, yes, the testing is necessary.