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.

Taste and See

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Goodness, Gospel, Jesus Christ, Mercy, Pandemic, Protection, Redemption, Salvation, Security

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, ESV).

            David has been reflecting on the goodness of God, who saves those who cry out to Him.  He has experienced God’s deliverance (vv.4-6), and attests the Lord’s protection of His people—“those who fear him” (v.7).  Now he calls people to experience for themselves God’s goodness, using the profoundly sensory language of tasting.  God can be known, and His kindness enjoyed by those who turn to Him.

            God is good, and we can know Him.  This is one dimension of the gospel promise: by faith in Jesus Christ, we can take refuge in God, and know His kindness and protection.  Take your burdens and fears to the Lord; He is strong to save all who call upon Him.

Radiant

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Christianity, Compassion, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Hope, Mercy, Pandemic, Power, Redemption, Salvation, Security

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:4-5).

            David declares the mighty deliverance of God in this psalm; God is extolled in the words of His grateful servant, and others are urged to join in the praise (vv.1-3).  This is the testimony of one who has experienced the Lord’s rescue.  He declares God’s faithfulness, that others may look to the Lord, and find salvation.

            God can deliver us from all our fears.  No situation is beyond His power, no person is beyond the reach of His redeeming love.  The testimonies of the saints throughout the ages, even in Old Testament times, should be a great encouragement as we face our own struggles.  God has redeemed His people; God can lift you up, and make you radiant, victorious and unashamed.

The Eye of the Lord

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Divine Sovereignty, God, Hope, Pandemic, Peace, Security

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine” (Psalm 33:18-19, ESV).

            The latter half of Psalm 33 declares the futility of other sources of deliverance, and counsels the wise to seek the Lord for salvation.  Worldly power is vain (vv.16-17), but God watches over His people and rescues them (vv.18-19).  We all live in the sight of God (vv.13-15, 18), and should look to Him, rather than trusting in ourselves or the things of this world.

            God never falters or fails.  He may allow us to endure hardships, sorrows, and dangers, but at the last His salvation is assured.  Whatever life brings your way, you can depend upon God.  Look to Him for deliverance, and your hope will be secure in all things.

God’s Plans

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Divine Sovereignty, God, Hope, Jesus Christ, Life, Pandemic, Peace, Security

“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11, ESV).

            Psalm 33 calls on God’s people to lift up their voices in praise (vv.1-3), for God is worthy and has done mighty deeds (vv.4-9), especially in His wondrous work of creation.  And the Creator is sovereign over His creation.  He accomplishes His purposes, and overrules the will of men (v.10).  In this context, we look with awe on the sureness and permanence of God’s design.  This is a great comfort to those who rely on the Lord.

            God’s will accomplish His design for this world.  When life seems uncertain, we can take comfort in the sureness and security of God’s unshakable wisdom and almighty power.  What He has promised, He will bring to pass.  Redemption is absolutely assured for all who trust in Jesus Christ.  God’s Word is the rock of security amid the storms of this life.

A Hiding Place

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Forgiveness, God, Hope, Pandemic, Peace, Security, Strength

“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7, ESV).

            In Psalm 32, David reflects gratefully on the loving mercy of God.  He declares how blessed it is to know God’s forgiveness (v.1), and describes the freedom he found in confession and repentance before the Lord (vv.2-5).  God is a refuge, and we should seek Him (v.6), and echo the wonderful words of comfort of this verse.            

Take refuge in the mercy of God.  When you are afraid, when you are in danger, when you are troubled, take refuge in God.  His strength is invincible, His compassion is unfathomable, His wisdom is uncontestable.  He can shield you from harm, and give you peace in the midst of trouble.  Shelter in the arms of the Almighty.

Embrace Peace

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Joy, Pandemic, Peace, Security, Trust

“For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.  Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God” (Psalm 31:3-5, ESV).

In this psalm, David moves between pleas for God’s deliverance and recognition of God’s protecting power.  He begins with the petition that God would save him, making particular use of the image of a fortress or place of defense (vv.1-2).  The following verses carry a tone of confidence, recognizing that God is indeed his place of safety, his protector—and so he entrusts himself to the Lord’s care.

Entrust yourself to God.  He cares for His children; for them, He is a stronghold of safety, a trustworthy guide, a mighty deliverer.  Against the dangers and uncertainties of the world, God is the faithful defender of His own.  Let us rest ourselves in Him, and embrace the peace that comes from praying to God, “Into your hand I commit my spirit”.

The Saving Refuge

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, God, Hope, Pandemic, Security, Strength

“The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed” (Psalm 28:8, ESV).

            The psalmist repeats the meditation of the previous verse, generalizing it to all the people of God.  This proclamation precedes a final exuberant petition that God would, indeed, be the deliverer of His people (v.9).  The images in this verse are “strength” and “refuge”, both of which signify protection.  God is a champion and a fortress for His people.

            Those who belong to Jesus Christ have an invincible refuge and strength.  If God is our protector, there is nothing we need to fear.  Have you taken refuge in your Savior with the troubles you are facing today?  Take shelter in Him, and lean upon His Almighty strength.

Exult in His Strength

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, God, Hope, Joy, Pandemic, Security, Strength

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him” (Psalm 28:7, ESV).

            David calls out to God, confident that He will be heard because of God’s steadfast love.  Yet again we read words of confidence coming at the end of a petitionary passage.  For the first five verses of this psalm, David has cried out to God for deliverance and for judgment upon the wicked.  But at length he turns to assurance, and blesses God, who hears his pleas (v.6).  God is his protection, and he knows that in the Lord he will find help; praise results (v.7).            

Do we take refuge in God, and find the comfort and delight of those who know His deliverance?  God’s strength is a great comfort to His people, for He is their strength and protection against harm and trouble.  Trusting in Him, we will be able to sing songs of grateful praise, even in the midst of danger.  The thanks of the faithful begins with expectation, and rejoicing in God our Deliverer.

In the Day of Trouble

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Christianity, Coronavirus, Courage, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Hope, Pandemic, Peace, Security, Strength

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5, ESV).

            As Psalm 27 continues, the theme of protection develops.  The psalmist has confidence against the assaults of his enemies; their advance will fail (v.2), and he will keep courage even when opposed by a host of foes (v.3).  In a very moving verse, he expresses his delight in the presence of the Lord (v.4).  This desire for God’s fellowship is connected with the peace and safety he finds in God his defender.  It is interesting that verse 4 makes the same point with two contrasting images—being hidden away “under the cover of his tent” and being raised up “high upon a rock.”  But both images convey safety, and offer a movement from concealment to exaltation.

            God is the defender of His people.  He is strong to protect and preserve.  He can shelter us from harm, and He can lift us up beyond the reach of the wicked.  Though He allows us to pass through dangers and trials, He does not leave us to face these things on our own, and He promises to bring us safely through in the end.  Take heart, and take shelter in the mighty arm of the Lord God Almighty.