Sunday Devotional 14th August 2022
by Bruce Billington
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. This week we will look at Psalm 42, a Psalm of David’s and Psalm 44 – from the sons of Korah.
Psalm 42:8
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
What an amazing verse with a wonderful promise from the Lord and a heartfelt petition from David. God’s love to us is established in a sovereign decree that David is quoting here. No day or night will ever arrive where we are forsaken by God. This verse assures us that our expressions of worship and praise, our cries, groans, and all our circumstances of life, both highs and lows, rise to our glorious Lord – our God and King, who is sovereign over all things. We are always surrounded by His steadfast love.
This verse is not a lament about a hard time David was facing – as some of his Psalms are. It is in fact, an expression of delight that David has discovered in his relationship with God. We see this in the use of the term “God of my life.” This is a lovely statement of warmth and security where David views his relationship with God as the essence of his life.
So what should we remind ourselves here? That God is the God of our life, in whom we live and move, and have our being (Colossians 1).
Psalm 44:3 – For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them.
The Psalmist here wants to make it clear that Israel did not get out of Egypt and enter the Promised Land, through their own means. It was by God’s power, expressed on their behalf, that enabled them to achieve so many great victories in the Land He had given them.
As we clearly see in the recordings of these events, the warriors of Israel were not inactive, but all of their efforts were secondary to the amazing power of the most high God.
When we read the story of the walls coming down in Jericho (Joshua 6) we read that the hearts of the inhabitants failed because of the fear within them, and no fight came from them. Incredible, because these people were battle hardened warriors.
God acted on behalf of Israel simply because He loved them and chose them as the recipients of His favour. They did not deserve the bountiful gifts God gave them, nor had they done anything to earn them. God delighted in them, and it pleased Him to shower them with His grace.
The favour of God upon His people (all those in Christ today) is an irresistible force that will enable us to overcome anything that stands before us and His purpose for our lives, no matter how powerful or overwhelming the circumstances may seem. The Lord delights in His people to the point where He will take up the fight on our behalf and produce whatever it takes to bring us to ultimate victory.
As a result, we must give God the credit for every victory and blessing that comes our way. Although we may fight and labour, it is God who makes us successful. With Him, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
The wonderful inheritance we have been given, of eternal life with Him, is not due to anything we have done. It is entirely the gift of God’s mercy and grace toward us. We can do nothing to earn it or purchase it. It is ours through the work of Jesus Christ, who secured it for us through His sacrificial death on the cross.
Because God loves us, He chose us and bestowed His unmerited favour upon us, making us the heirs of eternal life through faith in His Son (Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:4–7).
However, there is something we can do – continually offer Him praise and worship and our total allegiance to Him and His Kingdom. This brings much joy to Him. We should never miss an opportunity to bring Him the honour He so richly deserves.
Psalm 44:8 – In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah.
God bless you.
Bruce Billington