Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
The childlike rejoice to see Jesus. They are the ones who are able to recognize in him the desire of nations, the desire of their hearts. People who aren't childlike have too much of their own stuff going own. They are too busy with their own work to attend the feast. But children receive the invitation from the king and go at once.
Turning to the disciples in private he said,
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
To remain children we have to walk in the victory Christ wins. We have to live knowing that Satan has fallen like lightning from the sky and that we do not need to fear anything the evil one can do. But as children this remains true for us only as long as we continue to trust in the one who alone is victorious.
Even Job, who was already blameless and upright (see Job 1:1), needed to come to a more absolute trust in the LORD. And so do all of us. We need to learn to trust in God and to not rely on our own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5). This does not mean God is irrational, unjust, or cruel, as Job might have been tempted to suspect. It means rather that at times when he is disciplining us we know better than to second guess him. Even in discipline we remain children faithful to our father. When we hold on to God in such time he is able to more fully reveal himself.
I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.
I have dealt with great things that I do not understand;
things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.
Before we had only heard of him. Now we know him. Now we can trust in his victory and have no fear. Now, too, it is safe for the LORD to bless us, for now these blessings will not drive us away from him.
Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job
more than his earlier ones.
It is hard to say with the psalmist that it is good that we have been afflicted. But this is what it means to trust in God's plan. He makes all things work together for the good of those who love him (see Romans 8:28). Our eyes rejoice to see it. Our souls have peace because our names are written in the book of life.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.
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