Thursday, April 23

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015

Judges 1:1–2:9

Luke 21:29–22:13

Psalm 90:1–91:16

Proverbs 13:24,25

 

 

Today’s two psalms today, both from Moses, declare the sovereignty and lovingkindness of our great God.  I have taken a few snippets and offer mini-reflections below.

 

 

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place

    throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born

    or you brought forth the whole world,

    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 90:1,2)

 

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

                will rest in the shadow of the of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,

                my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1,2)

 

How encouraging to know that God has seen all of history – all that has transpired and all that will transpire – and remains sovereign in everything!  In my darker moments, life experience causes me to doubt or question His provision and sovereignty, reasoning that He might have fallen asleep at the wheel.  Perish the thought!  He is always active and always present.  He is indeed our “dwelling place throughout all generations”; there is no other refuge like Him.

 

Trusting Him does indeed usher us into His shelter, the shadow of the Almighty.  When we embrace all He has for us, we become fully covered by His wing.  His all-sufficient grace then carries us (Psalm 91:3–8).

 

 

“A thousand years in your sight

    are like a day that has just gone by,

    or like a watch in the night….

Teach us to number our days,

    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:4,12)

 

My temporal perspective struggles to see beyond even today.  We place overwhelming importance on the day-to-day and may lose sight of the greater, eternal perspective.  As the Source of all wisdom, God may direct our hearts and mind to “number our days,” spending our time on what really matters.  In light of eternity, how may we better allocate today and tomorrow?  It boils down to engagement with His purposes:  to love Him, to love others, and to make disciples.  We love Him and serve others as we work, for example, if we carry out an attitude of putting Him first.

 

 

“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’

    and you make the Most High your dwelling,

no harm will overtake you,

    no disaster will come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9,10)

 

I read a helpful blog post that argued that nothing is truly a disaster if God intended it.  That is, God will continue working His good purposes through even the greatest struggles we face.  Many times, we cannot find the “good” in these difficult moments, but we know that God will still be there.  As Jerry Bridges writes in Trusting God, “in His wisdom, He always knows what is best, and, in His sovereignty, He has the power to bring it about….  Our suffering has meaning and purpose in God’s eternal plan, and He brings or allows to come into our lives that which is for His glory and our good.”  These challenges bring us further into God’s presence and bring about His will of Christlikeness in His children. (Romans 8:28,29)

 

 

Lord God, we need You desperately.  We wish to live in Your shelter, the shadow of Your presence.  Point out to our hearts how Your sovereignty and majesty proceed from all times and in all circumstances.  Give us vision of Your glory and holiness.  Increase our faith so that we may continue faithfully towards You, even when the road is bumpy.  Help us to become instruments of peace and praise to a hurting world.  You are worthy of all honor and glory forever and ever.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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