Sunday Devotional 6th of August 2023
by Bruce Billington
Sunday Devotional – 6th August, 2023
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. This week we look at some verses from Psalm 68 – a Psalm of David.
Psalm 86:7-10 – “7 O God, when You went forth before Your people, When You marched through the wilderness, Selah. 8 The earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9 You shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God; You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched. 10 Your creatures settled in it; You provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.”
The wonderful statement in verse 7, says that we are called God’s people. He loves us enough to declare that over us. What a privilege!! And note what happens when the presence of God is involved. Everything is affected from people, climate and mountains and all sorts of provisions are given. As they travelled through the wilderness with Him, the course of nature was repeatedly altered, as if the very elements had trembled at the presence of the Lord. Upon Mount Sinai, He made displays of his awesome power. Thunder and lightning rattled throughout the land and the atmosphere. It was, as David attempts to express here, the most glorious spectacle of the Divine majesty which was ever beheld. Not only were the people awed by this – they were also the recipients of it.
The plentiful rain represents all that God did to refresh His weary people along the way. He provided water when they were thirsty, manna when they were hungry, and even meat when they were dissatisfied with the manna. In fact, Scripture states that God rained bread and meat, upon them (Exodus 16:4; Psalm 78:24–27). The people of Israel were God’s inheritance—His heritage, His “own unique possession” (Deuteronomy 4:20; Psalm 28:9).
The so called “wanderings” of Israel were not aimless. They were a carefully orchestrated plan taking them to a place in God both geographically and spiritually. He confirmed His relationship with them by providing for their needs, despite their constant complaining and murmuring.
Even though their forty-year delay in the wilderness was God’s discipline for their faithlessness, He never gave up on them. He was with them each long day of their journey, protecting and providing for them. He was with them even when they were rebellious. Wow – what a comforting thought! What an amazing and long suffering Saviour.
The key to all of this is the fact that God went out before the people. Each day as we go about our daily life, we need to ask God to go out before us. Then, when we experience the inevitable temptations, challenges, trials and even dangers, we can be confident that He will lead us through them, because He is greater than any circumstances that we may encounter.
As we relate to Him through the New Covenant, we can take even more assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us and is watching over our lives to ensure that every situation we face, will work together for our good.
However, even though He has gone out before us, we are expected to put on His armour, arm ourselves with His Word and devote ourselves to prayer – meaning to be conscious of His presence and calling on Him in every event of our life. It is through doing this that we will discover that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). Psalm 23 describes this well.
Psalm 23:4-6 – “4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
God bless you.
Bruce Billington.