Saturday, April 3, 2010

For Me - Psalm 118 (part 1)

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Oh let Israel say,
'His lovingkindness is everlasting.'
Oh let the house of Aaron say,
'His lovingkindness is everlasting.'
Oh let those who fear the LORD say,
'His lovingkindness is everlasting.'
From my distress I called upon the LORD;
the LORD answered me
and set me in a large place.
The LORD is for me; I will not fear;
what can man do to me?
The LORD is for me among those who help me;
therefore I shall look with satisfaction
on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes."
(Psalm 118:1-9)

Here in Psalm 118 David is continuing his themes of love for God, praise to God, and thanksgiving for His marvelous mercies. In verses 1-4 he is celebrating the greatness of God's goodness and the eternality of God's lovingkindness. Not only is he celebrating but he is spurring others to join him in the celebration. "Come on Israel, house of Aaron and all of you who fear the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting."

David understands God's goodness and lovingkindness first-hand. His entire life is an Ebenezer of those things. In his distress he called out to God and the Lord answered him and set him in a large place (vs 5). David had a need and God more than met that need. He did much more than David was able to even ask or imagine. He "set him in a large place." David had drunk deeply of difficulty and each chalice of suffering caused him to taste and savor more and more of the goodness of God. What difficulties are you having to swallow this day? Are you crying out to the good and everlastingly lovingkind God as David did? In His way and in His time He will answer you and set you in a large place. Trust Him and thank Him.

Trust Him and thank Him because as your good and lovingkind God He has promised that He is for you. Do you hear that? GOD IS FOR YOU oh suffering saint!! All hell may be against you. All of fallen man may rail at you. All of the redeemed yet still sinful saints may hurl insults at you. It matters not because GOD IS FOR YOU!

"The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" What precious words. What a grand promise. God is on my side. And as Paul has proclaimed:

"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? ... But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:31-37)

Beloved, let us not fear for "perfect love casts out fear" (1 Jn 4:18) and God has loved us perfectly!! Those who hate us are not greater than Him who loves us.

Rest in Him. Rest in His goodness and lovingkindness. Rest in the refuge of His goodness and mercy. They shall surely follow you all the days of your life (Ps 23:6). With David may we recognize that "it is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes."

May He help us to give thanks for His marvelously divine character which is "for us". And may we rest in Him who alone is our safety our surety and our song!

In His glorious goodness,
Lori

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