Psalms 94:3 - Homilies By S. Conway

How long shall the wicked triumph?

I. SUPPOSE THEY NEVER DID .

1 . Then the devil would be right when he asked, "Doth Job serve God for nought?" He meant to say that men serve God only from selfish, interested motives.

2 . Men would want to sin, though from fear they held back . The heart would remain unchanged, character would be the same.

3 . The essential discipline and test of the righteous would be destroyed . We are tested when, though we see the wicked triumph, we still cleave to God.

4 . The wicked would wax worse and worse . "The strength of sin is the Law."

5 . It would be a confession that men cannot be governed by higher motives than earthly gain .

II. SUPPOSE THEY ALWAYS DID .

1 . Earth would become hell, because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

2 . The faith and fear of God would disappear .

III. SUPPOSE THEY SOMETIMES DO . This is the case. And sometimes they appear generally to triumph. Nevertheless, it is not always, nor for long. But the present order avails:

1 . To glorify God by the fidelity of his people .

2 . To lift them to a higher life .

3 . To convince the world of the reality of the faith the believer holds . — S.C.