Matthew 12:22-30; Psalm 102

Matthew 12:22-30
Here we find Jesus back among the Pharisees. He heals a man who was blind and mute, something the Pharisees could not or would not do. The people were amazed wonder whether Jesus could be the Messiah. vv. 22-23 When the Pharisees heard about this miracle, they accused Jesus of casting out demons through the power of Beelzebub (Satan). v. 24 Jesus knew their thoughts just as He knows ours.

In vv. 25-28 Jesus systematically exposes how illogical this accusation is. A country embroiled in civil war will eventually come to ruin. A household or any group that fights among themselves will fail. And furthermore, if Satan empowers someone to cast out demons, what about the Jewish exorcists who were apparently able to have success? Did their success come from Satan too? And so we come to the conclusion that Jesus drove out demons by the Spirit of God, and He is indeed the Messiah. Jesus is the "strong man" found in v. 25 who has been able to enter Satan's "house" and defeat him.

We cannot be neutral about Jesus. We must either be for Him or we are against Him. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." v. 30

Psalm 102
The headnote of this psalm calls it the prayer of an afflicted or suffering man. And so it begins with the very first thing we should do when we are suffering for any reason. We should call on the Lord! "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide  your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." vv. 1-2  Is this what we normally do? I'm afraid not! We stew, worry, fret, try to figure it out, complain to our family and friends, etc. THEN maybe we'll turn to God. Let's try to change that pattern!

Then the psalmist goes on to tell about his troubles. He is growing older, and he is in pain. He has no appetite, he is sick, and he can't sleep. His enemies taunt him, and God seems to be far away. vv. 3-11, 23

Then he remembers God! vv. 12-28  It helps us to remember God when we are feeling low just as it helped this poor afflicted man. What details about God did he remember?

• "But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever;" v. 12
• "...your renown endures through all generations." v. 12
• He will have compassion on Israel, and He will have compassion on us as well. vv. 13-16
• He will respond to the prayer of the destitute. v. 17
• He will leave a record (the Bible) "for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord." What a great thought!
• He is the creator. "In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands." v. 25
• He will remain forever though the created world will grow old and worn out, and eventually it will perish. vv. 26-27 

For our meditation: "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide  your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." Psalm 102:1-2