14 Yahweh is in His holy temple; Yahweh’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 Yahweh tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Psalms 11:4-5 (LSB)
According to some professing Christians, if anything unpleasant comes into their lives then it proves that God is displeased with them. They say it proves that God is punishing them. Also, they proclaim that the ones suffering are simply victims in the ongoing battle between God and Satan. Is there another explanation? Let’s see!
In Psalms 11:4-5 (above) David used a word that is translated here as “test” and “tests.” This Hebrew word means, “to try, prove, test, examine, search out, purify, to look out, to watch. This word denotes an investigation to determine the essential qualities of the object, especially integrity. It is used almost exclusively in the spiritual sense, attaining knowledge intuitively.” So, when the Lord “tests” the righteous, what does this involve?
2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. 4 And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (LSB)