When I am afraid, I will trust

-
hymns & psalms
hymns & psalms (Photo credit: khrawlings)
David was in Gath and had feigned himself mad. His faith was not strong enough to keep him from an unworthy disguise, but still faith was there, and this psalm states that, vv. 3, 4, 11. The background to the psalm is found in 2 Samuel 21:18ff, the same as for Psalm 34. It is a strange combination—feigning madness in terror, and compiling psalms in heroic trust. The existence of fear with trust is acknowledged by the psalmist, v. 3. There are two main sections to the psalm, each ending with the same refrain, vv. 4, 10, 11. In both he passes from fear to confidence and that because of trust in God.

He prays for mercy, v. 1, and that because of his enemies who surround him like voracious animals, vv. 1, 2. His fear is a reality, yet it is a blessed fear that drives us to trust, v. 3. Trust may vanquish fear, or may like Peter, as he was drowning, have strength only to cry, ‘Lord save me, I perish’. Faith does not make us cease to be men with men’s emotions, but in the very midst of fear there comes to us a still small voice which says, ‘Fear not, for I am with thee’.

The psalmist is very emphatic about his trust. Note the first pronoun singular in verse 4. Note, too, the repetition of the words ‘in God’. His faith is valid because of the faithfulness of the One in whom he trusts.

Then he returns to his present distress, v. 5, and to his enemies who misrepresent his words and seek his destruction. He spreads his case before the Lord and puts himself under divine protection. He encourages himself by describing the tenderness of his God. God knew all about the wanderings of his life and the insecurity. God kept an exact account of those wanderings. His tears, registered in heaven, were precious in God’s sight. What a sweet thought is here suggested of God’s remembrance of His people’s afflictions. No tear of any child of God falls unnoticed, or is forgotten by Him.

Against all adversaries, God is for him, v. 9; cf. Rom. 8:31. The end of the psalm shows that faith has banished fear and replaced it with exuberant confidence. Deliverance is so sure that he thinks of preparing his sacrifice of praise. How good it is to render thanks to God for good received.


Related articles

Enhanced by Zemanta

Popular posts from this blog

Speaking in tongues for today - Charles Stanley

-
Image
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. … But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. … And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. … Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way - 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 28, 30—31 The Lord Jesus Christ had come and gone. The church—newly birthed—was in a transition time. The new covenant was seen as a threat to the Jewish leaders; therefore, there was persecution for those who had chosen to follow Christ. The new religion, in its infant stages, had no Bible, few leaders, and absolutely no support from the government. Astounding that it survived, isn’t it?  How in the world did it survive with so little going for it? Power. Not just a force, but mighty, visible power. This new church
Read more

What is the glory (kabod) of God?

-
Image
2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." Scripture places a high value on God 's glory, and it is not hard to figure out why. Since the inherent glory of the Lord is something that He will not share with others (Isa. 42:8), we know that His glory is something that He prizes highly; indeed, He prizes it more highly than anything else. We should, therefore, set the glory of God as the goal and overarching emphasis of our lives. Whatever we lose for the sake of making the Lord's glory known will be worth it when we see the dazzling light and beauty of; the divine glory (28:5; Rev. 21:23). Glory has to do with light and beauty, but those aspects do not sum up what the Bible means when it speaks of the glory of God. Interestingly, the Hebrew word kabod , which is translated into English as "glory," has the root meaning of "weight" or "heaviness."
Read more

The Holy Spirit causes us to cry out: Abba, Father

-
Image
Pentecostés. Óleo sobre lienzo, 275 × 127 cm. Madrid, Museo del Prado. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) To bring out the same truth in another way, Paul says God sent Jesus (as a Man) to live under the Law in order “to redeem those under law, that we [Jews and Gentiles ] might receive the full rights [adoption] of sons” ( Galatians 4:5).  By “full rights” or “adoption” he means entering into the privileges and responsibilities of sonship. He uses it also of the sonship of Israel (Romans 9:4). Galatians 4:1, 2 indicate that the son and heir of a wealthy family in Paul’s day would be treated as a slave until he became of age.  Then he would receive the adoption, that is, all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that belonged to an adult member of that family. Adoption was also used in the modern sense, so that Gentiles who were not sons of Abraham became true heirs, true sons of God , by faith.  Jesus died, not just to save us from the fires of hell, but to make it p
Read more