The Shadow of His Wings

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Hope, Love, Pandemic, Peace, Protection, Security, Strength

“for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:7-8, ESV).

            With evocative imagery, David describes the wonderful security and support of trusting in the Lord.  His reliance on God brings an inner satisfaction (v.5), and a sense of supreme safety, as of a little bird sheltering beneath the wings of its parent (v.7).  The further image of the “right hand” emphasizes God’s strength exercised on behalf of His servant (v.8).

            Rest in God’s mighty strength.  The images in these verses should impress upon us God’s compassion for His people, and the security we can know in reliance upon Him.  The world’s rage is nothing compared to the right hand of the Lord; what can harm those who take refuge in the shadow of His wings?

Once Spoken, Twice Heard

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faith, God, Hope, Love, Pandemic, Salvation, Strength

“Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love” (Psalm 62:11-12, ESV).

            At the end, David underlines the twofold basis of trust in God: His power and His love.  Why wait upon the Lord (vv.1, 5)?  Why rely upon Him as your stronghold against danger (vv.2, 6, 8)?  Because God is able and willing to save.  With a little poetic crescendo, David extols God’s might and mercy.

            Trust in the Lord, who is strong beyond measure, who is abundant in steadfast love.  Make the character of God your confidence—the unchanging, uncontestable might and mercy of your heavenly Father, not the shifting circumstances of this life.  Fix your faith upon God, who is able and willing to save.

Mighty and Merciful

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God, Hope, Love, Mercy, Pandemic, Peace, Strength

“O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.  My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies” (Psalm 59:9-10, ESV).

            This is another psalm of David where he pleads with God for deliverance from the machinations of men.  The arrogance of the wicked is countered, and overcome, by the saving might of God.  Despite the plots of evil men, David knows confidence because of God’s merciful perfection; thrice in the psalm this twin theme is repeated, of God as a secure fortress and of God’s “steadfast love”, on which His servant relies (vv.9-10, 16, 17).

            Steel yourself in the blessed comfort of God’s strength and mercy.  The Lord is able to save from any situation, to defend against any danger; the Lord is kind to those who call on Him, and compassionate to His children.  Take refuge in God Almighty.

Tuesday Tea-ology, 01/19/21

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Culture, God, Gospel, Islam, Love, Postmodernity, Salvation, Theology, Trinity, Truth, Tuesday Tea-ology, Union with Christ

Tuesday Tea-ology: Continuing to contemplate the divine Trinity, and all the difference it makes in life now and for eternity. Also, the quest for the greatest Earl Grey continues!

Redeeming Power

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Love, Mercy, Pandemic, Power, Redemption, Salvation

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5, ESV).

            The psalmist follows his statement of longing for God (vv.1-2) with words of mourning and anguish, reflecting on a joyful fellowship with God that seems broken (vv.3-4; cf. vv.9-10).  Then he comes to this question and corresponding charge (v.5), which may be taken as the key theme in the psalm, for it recurs exactly at the end, in verse 11.  He interrogates his soul, searching for the reason behind its anguished grief; and he points himself to the hope of all the righteous: the redeeming power of God.

            Hope in God, when you are downcast; call out to Him in the depths of your sorrow, and even in despair.  God is able to save.  God is able to redeem, restore, and heal.  With God, the future is always bright with possibilities, for no one and no situation is beyond the power of His redeeming love.

The Gift

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Advent, Christianity, Christmas, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, God the Son, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love, Pandemic, Strength

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10, ESV).

God has shown the awesome depths of His love in the gift of His Son.  In all our hardships and sufferings, we can hold secure to the truth of God’s abiding love; He gave His Son for us.  No greater gift has ever been given.  He who gave His Son for us will watch over His children, and bring them safely home.

The Shadow of His Wings

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God, Gospel, Love, Pandemic, Protection, Security

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7, ESV).

            In his contrast of the faithful God with the treacherous wicked, David has already declared the vastness of the Lord’s “steadfast love” (v.5).  Now the wonder of it bursts forth in exuberant praise.  With a touching metaphorical image, the psalmist compares God’s compassion and protection to a bird sheltering its young beneath its wings.  The image may strike us as a strange one to use for God, but it accomplishes well the purpose of picturing His fatherly love and protection.

            Take a moment to meditate on the wonder of God’s steadfast love.  The Lord of all the universe takes notice of, protects, and has compassion on those who come to Him in faith.  Turn to Him with your sorrows and fears, and He will shelter you.

To the Heavens

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Christianity, Compassion, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faithfulness, Forgiveness, God, Grace, Love, Mercy, Pandemic, Security

“Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds” (Psalm 36:5, ESV).

            In Psalm 36, David appeals to God, who brings down the proud wicked but looks kindly upon those who humbly turn to Him.  Arrogance and falseness characterize those who delight in evil (vv.1-4); but God is gracious and trustworthy (v.5).  In this poetic statement of the vastness of God’s love and faithfulness, we are reminded that we can look to Him for deliverance from all evil.

            God’s love is unfathomably vast.  His grace and mercy are like the infinite expanse above.  He is trustworthy, reliable, dependable; He keeps His promises.  Those who turn to God for forgiveness and life can have every confidence that their heavenly Father is merciful to forgive and faithful to save.  Take courage in the everlasting love of God Almighty.

God Sees, God Hears

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Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Divine Sovereignty, God, Kindness, Love, Omnipresence, Pandemic, Security, Strength

“The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry” (Psalm 34:15, ESV).

            David’s praise turns from God’s deliverance to His gracious provision.  God blesses and cares for those who seek Him (vv.9-10), and following God is the way of life (vv.11-14).  God sees His people and hears them when they cry out; God cares about our needs and hurts, and can carry us through all the struggles of this life.

            Our trials are never out of God’s sight, and our cries are never beyond His hearing.  His omnipresence is the greatest comfort to His children, because we know that our heavenly Father has us in His care, whatever we go through.  Turn to Him with your needs and fears, and take refuge in the Almighty.

Tuesday Tea-ology, 11/17/20

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Authority, Bible, Christianity, Divine Sovereignty, God, Gospel, Grace, Love, Mercy, Scripture, Theology, Truth, Tuesday Tea-ology

Today on Tuesday Tea-ology, the Finality of God’s Word. As Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35, NIV).