Distrusting the LORD'S Goodness and His Ability
Reading the Bible in the midst of discouragement can prove very challenging. I determined to read through the Psalms this week, but I found myself having to do as Paul repeatedly did and “beat my body and make it my slave” (1 Cor. 9:27NIV) because in the midst of discouragement I found my body revolting against the idea of reading through scriptures for hours at a time, but I didn’t fret too much because I, like Paul, recognized that “nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Romans 7:18). So long as we’re in these sinful bodies seeking the Lord will always be a battle, but a battle we can overcome because of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. I rejoice in the word of God, but “I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand” (Romans 7:21). Christ reigns in the believer, but until He returns and we attain the resurrection we’ll find that sin will continue to wage an insurgency even after its dethronement in our lives.
God as a Refuge
As I read through the Psalms I began to understand more clearly why the LORD described David as “a man after His own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). There are so many ways in which David pleased the Lord, but space does not permit I cover them all. I saw in the Psalms how David continually sought to please God by conforming himself to the LORD’s likeness in that he even sought to hate what the LORD hates and love what the LORD loves. Though he may have sounded self-righteous at times (a charge we are so quick to make at anyone’s sincere efforts at Christ-likeness) we find that he is indeed not self-righteous (more on this later), but continually confessed his sin before the Lord, “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin” (Ps. 38:18). David’s boldness and confidence is based on nothing less then his relationship with the LORD. He trusted in the LORD'S mercy. He knew that,
• Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Psalms 2:12)
• Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them (Ps. 5:11)
• Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand (Ps. 17:7)
• The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Ps. 18:2).
• But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works (Ps. 73:28)
David “taps” into (for lack of a better way to put it) God’s heart by humbling himself and looking to God for salvation. This is God’s very heart. He delights and takes pleasure in playing the hero. He loves to save anyone who calls on him because it results in praise. His power is placed on display for all to see. He is glorified for His rescue work. This is God’s default disposition. He has about him a divine eagerness and readiness to save those who cast off self-trust and self-reliance and run to Him for protection. God is love. Everyone readily accepts this truth. This is why we find difficulty in accepting the truth that God becomes angry and “full of wrath” towards individuals. Even to the point of hatred. What provokes God to such anger? The people he brought out of Egypt serve as a perfect example of a people that continually tested and provoked God. How did God feel about them? He says, “For forty years I loathed that generation” (Ps. 95:10). Why? “Because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power” (Ps. 78:22). No. They weren’t atheists. They certainly believed God existed. They just didn’t believe that he was good or that he was able. "Because they did not believe in [a good] God..." In their eyes God not only lacked benevolence, but they believed he was also impotent (“they...did not trust his saving power”). This, in God’s eyes, was an attack on His very nature. What about you? Do you find yourself not believing in God’s goodness and his ability to rescue you of whatever situation you find yourself in? Make God your refuge today. Read the Psalms and better acquaint yourself with “His ways” (Ps. 95:10) that he may be pleased when we realize we are helpless without Him and thus run to Him in faith.
God as a Refuge
As I read through the Psalms I began to understand more clearly why the LORD described David as “a man after His own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). There are so many ways in which David pleased the Lord, but space does not permit I cover them all. I saw in the Psalms how David continually sought to please God by conforming himself to the LORD’s likeness in that he even sought to hate what the LORD hates and love what the LORD loves. Though he may have sounded self-righteous at times (a charge we are so quick to make at anyone’s sincere efforts at Christ-likeness) we find that he is indeed not self-righteous (more on this later), but continually confessed his sin before the Lord, “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin” (Ps. 38:18). David’s boldness and confidence is based on nothing less then his relationship with the LORD. He trusted in the LORD'S mercy. He knew that,
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:18-13).Therefore David repeatedly runs to the LORD for protection. He takes refuge in the “shadow of [the LORD’s] wings” (Ps. 17:8; 36:7). He confessed, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1). The LORD is David’s “Rock,” his “Fortress,” the God in whom he “trusts.” It becomes evident that this protection is only for those who fear God and make Him their “dwelling place” (Ps. 91:9). I cannot stress enough that God as “refuge” is a continual theme of David throughout the entirety of the Psalms. Here are a few examples.
• Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Psalms 2:12)
• Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them (Ps. 5:11)
• Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand (Ps. 17:7)
• The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Ps. 18:2).
• But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works (Ps. 73:28)
David “taps” into (for lack of a better way to put it) God’s heart by humbling himself and looking to God for salvation. This is God’s very heart. He delights and takes pleasure in playing the hero. He loves to save anyone who calls on him because it results in praise. His power is placed on display for all to see. He is glorified for His rescue work. This is God’s default disposition. He has about him a divine eagerness and readiness to save those who cast off self-trust and self-reliance and run to Him for protection. God is love. Everyone readily accepts this truth. This is why we find difficulty in accepting the truth that God becomes angry and “full of wrath” towards individuals. Even to the point of hatred. What provokes God to such anger? The people he brought out of Egypt serve as a perfect example of a people that continually tested and provoked God. How did God feel about them? He says, “For forty years I loathed that generation” (Ps. 95:10). Why? “Because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power” (Ps. 78:22). No. They weren’t atheists. They certainly believed God existed. They just didn’t believe that he was good or that he was able. "Because they did not believe in [a good] God..." In their eyes God not only lacked benevolence, but they believed he was also impotent (“they...did not trust his saving power”). This, in God’s eyes, was an attack on His very nature. What about you? Do you find yourself not believing in God’s goodness and his ability to rescue you of whatever situation you find yourself in? Make God your refuge today. Read the Psalms and better acquaint yourself with “His ways” (Ps. 95:10) that he may be pleased when we realize we are helpless without Him and thus run to Him in faith.
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