Sunday, March 16, 2008

Monday Morning Devotions

Ps. 84:12- "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in you!" (NKJV)

Try to put yourself in the shoes of those who heard this psalm for the first time; to a Jew, or gentile, who had known no religion but the paganism of the surrounding peoples, the words of this verse would be liberating. The "gods" of the surrounding nations, who were supersized versions of their inhabitants, cared not at all for the plight of individuals. These gods had to be placated by man before they would move on man's behalf, if these gods chose to move at all. This was the belief of the pagan nations concerning their gods. Whether one walked upright or not, these gods were fickle, their worshippers could not be sure how their gods would act towards them. Men and women had no promises regarding the gods that they could rely on.

What a contrast to those who followed the God of the Jews, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There was no way this God could be bribed to act in a certain manner. If one walked upright, there was nothing God would not do to protect that one. Total trust on the part of the upright man or woman removes the uncertainty experienced by the pagans of the ancient world and that experienced today by those who have not yet chosen to follow Him. God is not like man. He does not change his mind concerning those who trust in Him. All that man needs to live in safety as well to experience a life of abundance and joy, God is happy to supply. This life of freedom was certainly a revelation to those who only knew the bondages provided by other religions. These two verses taught them, as well as ourselves, that God is real, and those who trust in Him can have a real relationship with Him.

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