Thursday, August 14

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014

Nehemiah 7:61–9:21

1 Corinthians 9:1–18

Psalm 33:12–22

Proverbs 21:11,12

 

 

Today’s passage from Psalm 33 highlights God’s sovereignty and providence for those who “wait in hope” for Him.

 

I have recently started a study with a group over the book Trusting God by Jerry Bridges.  In the book, Bridges argues that we typically think of God’s providence as only bringing “good” outcomes, where we define “good” in a worldly, temporal sense.  His providence may involve what appear to be “rocky” paths, but we may trust in His goodness and His purposes.  Following after Romans 8:28,29, Bridges explains that God’s purposes always support His glory and the good of His people, and the two are never in conflict.  The “good of His people” includes our continued growth in Christlikeness (“conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers”).  Our discussion group waded on the topic of moving our understanding of these key questions from our heads to our hearts, experiencing these truths viscerally and not just intellectually.

 

 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,

                the people he chose for his inheritance.

From heaven the LORD looks down

and sees all mankind;

from his dwelling place he watches

all who live on earth—

he who forms the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do.” (Psalm 33:12–15)

 

The psalmist shows keen interest in God’s care for His people and their attitudes in light of His presence.  The Bible makes clear that God does “choose” His people and that He has the strength to effect His will in our world.  With Paul, we acknowledge:  “‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

 

 

“No king is saved by the size of his army;

no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.” (vv. 17–19)

 

God takes an active interest in observing this world and intervenes as His people call upon Him.  Often, I find myself living like the person trusting in the horse, vainly and desperately seeking to bring security instead of leaning upon God’s sovereign care.  As I have reflected on this shortcoming, it seems that I would do well to recognize God’s presence more clearly and to remember His faithfulness.  It involves a moment-by-moment attacking of the lies with which we are consistently bombarded, turning them on their heads with the truth of Scripture and the comfort of His presence.  One verse for this moment:  “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

 

 

“We wait in hope for the LORD;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, O LORD,

even as we put our hope in you.”

 

In these closing verses, the people praise God as their “help” and “shield.”  The hope to which the psalmist refers does not mean a wishful but uncertain desire, but rather an anchored reality in the bedrock of truth and God’s character.  Related again to Trusting God, we discussed how we may join in the hope-birthing process through sowing good thoughts and bearing God-honoring feelings (“affections”), as noted in Philippians 4:8.  We also must wrestle with the temporal vs. the eternal, recognizing that temporal realities may sometimes cloud eternal realities.  Yet, God does not change, and His sovereignty over both is complete.

 

 

Lord God, we bow before You in humility and trust.  We are incapable of trusting You completely under our strength; we need a greater revelation of Your presence and character into our hearts.  Take our hearts and transform them according to Your purpose.  Help us to find hope in You at all times, as we trust in Your unfailing love and goodness.  Bring to mind the truth of eternal, secure realities in the midst of the uncertainty and pain in this life.

 

We also pray for our sister Valerie Johnson.  Thank You, Lord, for her sweetness and loving heart.  Thank You for the joy of knowing her and the outstanding ways in which You have used her to be a blessing for so many.  Stand with her, Lord, and comfort her deeply at this time.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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