Take Your Problem To The Lord.

Criticism of Jacob by Laban (Genesis 31), criticism of Jesus by the Pharisees (the criticism of the disciples is implicitly a criticism of Jesus - Matthew 12:1-2), criticism of the Psalmist ("O Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!" - Psalm 9:13) - criticism is directed against the Lord's people in every generation. Whatever criticism there may be, we must learn to hear, with faith, the Word of the Lord - "Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight" (Matthew 12:18). These words are, supremely, true of Jesus. Nevertheless, they are also true of Jacob who took his place in the ongoing purpose of God, David who "declared God's praises ... and rejoiced in His salvation" (Psalm 9:14) and ourselves who have been saved by His grace. In our conflict with evil, we must take our problem to the Lord, praying, with the Psalmist - "Arise, O Lord, let not man triumph" (Psalm 9:19).