Weekly Devotional 26th of April, 2024
by Bruce Billington
Weekly Devotional 26th of April, 2024
We are continuing to explore the knowledge of God as expressed in the Psalms. This week we look at the final verses of Psalm 91.
Psalm 91:15-16 – “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honour him. With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
This Psalm teaches us that as believers will never be exempt from troubles and hardships. God does not promise us a life of ease and luxury, but deliverance from our tribulations.
Through the means of prayer, as we call upon God, we shall find relief. God promises that He will be with us in trouble, whatever it may be and how severe it is. But, as if that wasn’t enough, God will also honour us. He first gives us conquering grace (Romans 8:37) and then rewards us for it by causing all things to work together for God (Romans 8:28).
The Lord promises to faithfully care for the person who is faithfully devoted to Him and has a personal relationship with Him, which will result in a satisfying and fulfilling life. This is all a part of an eternal relationship with Him, both in this life and the next.
Of course, we have some role to play in this. What does this require of us – to love the Lord with our entire being – all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). We should study His Word and meditate on it so that we might know Him better (John 17:3; Philippians 3:10; 2 Peter 3:18). As a result, through the Holy Spirit, we can walk in His ways, keep His commandments, serve Him, and bring glory to His name.
Micah 6:8 tells us to “do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God”.
Matthew Henry gives some great advice from this Psalm here.
To whom these promises do belong; they are described by three characters: — (1.) They are such as know God’s name. His nature we cannot fully know; but by his name, he has made himself known, and with that, we must acquaint ourselves. (2.) They are such as have set their love upon him; and those who rightly know him will love him, will place their love upon him as the only adequate object of it, will let out their love towards him with pleasure and enlargement, and will fix their love upon him with a resolution never to remove it to any rival. (3.) They are such as call upon him, as by prayer keep up a constant correspondence with him, and in every difficult case refer themselves to him.
We should note the true blessings of God come, not by riches and material blessings alone (these may or may not be part of our journey) but by true wealth which begins with the revelation of who God is, what He is about and how we are invited and empowered to have this incredible relationship with Him for eternity.
Even if we are taken out of the world earlier than some, we will be more satisfied with our shorter life than the wicked, even if they lived for thousands of years. It is divine favour alone that can bring true satisfaction and fulfilment.
Our pursuit, our wealth and our true purpose for life are summed up well by the prophet Jeremiah in Chapter 9.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – “Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”
May God bless you and keep you.
Bruce Billington.