Trust Without Murmuring

The people in the wilderness murmured when bread was not yet in their hands; the psalm teaches another way: trust in the Lord, do good, wait patiently, and do not fret over those who flourish for a moment. Hezekiah, when death stood before him, did not complain against God but turned his face to the wall and prayed. And the Lord, who rules even the shadow on the steps, heard him. In Jerusalem the Lord Jesus entered as King, yet not to flatter the crowd. He sought fruit, cleansed the temple, and taught that prayer must be joined to faith and forgiveness.

So today the church is taught one lesson from many witnesses: do not let the mouth run ahead of obedience. Israel murmured; the fig tree had leaves without fruit; the traders filled the holy place with noise; all these show the emptiness of a life that has appearance without faithful works. “Your murmuring is not against us, but against the Lord our God. Exodus 16:8” The one who trusts God must stop grumbling, ask rightly, forgive his brother, and bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.

The meek are not idle. They wait for the Lord by keeping His commandments, by refraining from anger, by giving thanks for daily bread, by setting their house in order when death seems near, and by making prayer without doubting. As it is written: “But be thou meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Be long-suffering and pitiful and guileless and gentle and good and always trembling at the words which thou hast heard.” Let your faith be proved today in a guarded tongue, a cleansed house, a forgiven enemy, and steadfast prayer.