11/09/2020
Are we a people who begins our confrontation with trouble by leaning on the Lord for help, but who over time begins to waver in our faith? Are we like the Israelites who trusted in God for their protection in the wilderness only to lose hope when the armies of Pharaoh were approaching, and their backs were against the sea? How steadfast are we, and how firm is our grasp on the promises of our Father?
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalm 55:22 ESV
We aren’t told to carefully hand our cares to God, but to CAST them upon Him. Our faith and trust in Him should be sufficiently strong that we can throw our most pressing and difficult problems upon Him without a single doubt regarding His ability to shoulder them. How many times have we said that our God was great, strong, faithful, or our rock, only to quake with fear when our adversaries, or troubles appeared larger than we were, and our prayers for protection have been prayed... and not yet answered?
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
David faced great trials, but as he did so he bolstered his faith, and soothed his fears, in song. He demonstrated his trust in God by singing, and let the sound of his song overcome the tears of fear that sought to destroy his hope. Even when victory appeared uncertain, David looked forward to rejoicing in victory because he trusted completely in God. When our calamity strikes us how do we approach God? Do we run to Him fearfully, wet in our tears, or do we sing boldly to Him of our trust in His love, and the assurance of His promises?
“But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.”
Psalm 13:5 ESV
Unlike David who only had the prophecy of the coming Messiah, we have the remembrance of the life of Jesus Christ to serve as our witness of God’s goodness, and the wood of the cross to lean on. We trust in our redemption, and the victory of Jesus over sin and death to strengthen us because it was witnessed by his disciples, and written for all Christian believers to take heart in. So if David, who hadn’t yet seen, had faith in what was to come, then greater should our faith be... having seen what has already revealed itself.
“Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””
John 20:29 ESV
Knowing Jesus as we do, we should be unafraid to cast our troubles on God, and to place our burdens on Jesus, but do we? Even in those times when we hand our fears to Him, do we leave them there, or begin to doubt, and take them back in an attempt to do what we have lost faith in the Lord to do for us?
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Today we should have faith that our Father will defend us, and that His will for us is good. Today in the presence of Christ we should have absolute faith that He can shoulder our burdens, and give us rest... even in the presence of our enemies! Of these promises we should sing, and rejoice.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:5-6 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your promise to provide for us, and protect us. We thank you Lord for your Son Jesus who you sent to defeat sin, and conquer death that our faith would be strengthened by His suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension to sit at your right hand. Your promise became flesh Father, and in Him we find that our hands can touch His wounds, and that our faith becomes real in the remembrance of His life. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who not only promises to protect and provide for us, but who marches before us into spiritual battle, and triumphs over our enemies on the battlefields of the earth. Praised be your name for every promise you have made because you fulfill them, and never fail us. Hear my prayers, and the singing, as I lift up my voice to you. Stand by us Father in our darkest hours, not just in the light. Let your Holy Spirit pray for us when we are at a loss for words, let Jesus intercede for us before you, and let the sound of your voice thrill us as you exult over us in song, and we are welcomed into your house forevermore.
“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:14-17 ESV
Rich Forbes