Daily Readings and Thought for April 5th. “THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE IN EVERY PLACE”
Modern technology is making it possible for the authorities to have “eyes” in many places. This enables them to sometimes identify and track down offenders – or issue publicity to achieve this. In the Proverbs we see the same point is made. Long before human technology came into being Solomon was conscious that “the eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and on the good.” [Ch.15 v.3]
Man is only conscious of trying, often unsuccessfully, to control the evil. However, our Creator is equally conscious of the good and our Proverbs chapter goes on to state that “the LORD … loves him who pursues righteousness” [v.9] Furthermore, “the thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure” [v.26] “The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous” [v.29]
God’s attitude to the wicked has been demonstrated in our Numbers readings as so many of the people, unappreciative of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and losing their awe of God’s presence with them, failed to develop faith and trust in God and Moses and, as a result, perished in the wilderness. Think what made these people “wicked” in the sight of God!
Paul calls upon the Ephesians to realize, we read today, “what is the immeasurable greatness of his (God’s) power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead” [Ch.1 v.19,20] It is impossible for us to fully understand “his power”, but it is “toward us”! We begin to see that just as God plotted out the pathways of Israel in the wilderness and gave them times of testing, so our Lord plots out our pathways. Paul learnt this and makes this point today, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” [Ch.2 v.10]
