A SIGN FOR GOOD

"Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me." (Psa 86:17, NKJV)

WHAT A MARVELOUS PRAYER this is, and how wonderful to ponder its implications! The Psalmist is painfully aware of his enemies. They criticize his faith, and represent him as being a foolish man. He does not choose to argue with them, or to engage in efforts to justify himself before them. Those of us who have attempted such folly know the vanity of that approach.

DAVID ASKS THE LORD to show such mercy to him as will assure his heart. This would take place when the Lord delivers him out of trouble before the face of his enemies. It would also occur when the Lord blessed him by preparing him a table "in the presence" of his enemies (Psa 23:5).

RIGHT HERE SOME CONFUSION falls upon the legalist, who has embraced lifeless religion, or a form of godliness that denies the power thereof (1 Tim 3:5). I can almost hear him shouting now, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign" (Matt 12:39). But is the petition of our text what the Lord Jesus was referring to? Will any person dare to charge David with being "evil and adulterous?"

GIDEON ALSO SOUGHT for a "sign" (Judges 6:17). Was he "evil and adulterous" also? The early church as well asked for a Divine indication of blessing (Acts 4:30). That certainly was not a petition proceeding from wickedness.

GIDEON, DAVID, NOT THE EARLY CHURCH asked for a sign because they did not believe. They all made their petition in view of their enemies, who seemed to be devouring them. They asked because they sought confidence that confirmed the Lord was with them. Though some may stand in criticism of such an approach, you will not find a single word of denunciation or rebuke coming from the Lord in answer to these requests – not a single syllable! The only generation that was denied this request, and even rebuked for making it, was one that was walking away from God instead of toward Him, and who doubted that Jesus was the Christ.

THE HOLY SPIRIT speaks to us about our enemies being "ashamed" concerning their views of us and conduct toward us (1 Pet 3:16). It is a benefit not to be despised. There are people in this world who look at believers as though they were eccentric, thoughtless, and uninformed. They do not like their message or the manner in which they live. Ordinarily, this does not drag the child of God down. There are times, however, when it becomes like a weight to the soul. It is not that we want people to think well of us, or are courting their favor. We are not envious for their approval.

THERE ARE TIMES, however, when the heart longs to cry out, "Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed." It is not wrong to lift that cry to God! It is a request to survive the prison like Joseph, the lion's den like Daniel, and the furnace like the three Hebrew children. It is the desire to shake off the deadly serpent before the eyes of skeptics, like Paul did, and come out of prison like Peter. There are times when the heart needs to lifted up and the load made lighter. It is an infirmity accompanying life in this world, but there is provision for such times.

THE ENEMIES OF THE LORD are scrutinizing His people. They will see when the Lord "helps" and "comforts" them. When their assaults have no impact upon us, they behold and ponder the circumstance. Just as surely as it was "hard" for Saul of Tarsus to "kick against the pricks" generated by the stoning of peaceful Stephen, so consistent spiritual comportment can bring feelings of shame upon those who "falsely accuse" us.

THIS IS A REALITY upon which you must reckon. Those who hate you will not always tell you when they see God blessing you, and consequently are ashamed. Those are matters governed by God, not you. But you can ask the Lord to do this for you. In the power of this blessing, you can "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt 5:44, NKJV). Those are things you cannot do mechanically, out of mere routine and habit, or simply because you are commanded to do so.

WHEN JOSEPH'S BROTHERS saw him on the throne of Egypt, it had an impact upon them that no commandment could have had. When the opposing council heard Peter and John confidently and boldly speak of Jesus, "they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

IT SEEMS TO ME this is an area of great possibility – particularly in a time when truth and a hunger for it are so exceedingly rare. Why not ask the Lord to give us a "sign for good," to strengthen our hearts and confirm before our enemies that He has blessed us?

– Given O. Blakely