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.

He Alone

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Hope, Mercy, Pandemic, Strength, Trust

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV).

            In another psalm, David reflects on his confidence in God’s protection against the schemes of the wicked.  Though enemies assail him, (vv.3-4), he will trust in God’s deliverance (vv.5-7).  Notable in this psalm is the repeated reference to God as the only hope, the sole reliance of His people (vv.1, 2, 5, 6).  In God alone should we hope; He is able to bring us through every trial.

            Even when you must wait, wait confidently upon the Lord.  God is compassionate and gracious, matchless in might, faithful and good.  He is all the confidence His people need, and He is the only one who never fails.  May you face every struggle in reliance upon His infinite strength.

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.

When I Am Afraid

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

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3, ESV).

            Psalm 56 brings us again a hymn-prayer of David in time of danger.  The psalmist is beset by foes, who seem to have, for the moment, overcome him (vv.1-2).  But his response is a confident reliance on God.  Who can harm the man protected by the Almighty (v.4)?  The Lord is the great deliverer, and His faithful people respond with praise (vv.12-13).

            Where do you turn when you are afraid?  Meet your fears with faith.  No difficulty is too great for God’s wisdom, no enemy a challenge to His power.  Trust in the Lord as you go through your days, and keep your hope in Him.

Call to God

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Hope, Pandemic, Prayer, Strength

“But I call to God, and the LORD will save me” (Psalm 55:16, ESV).

            This verse reflects the confidence of David’s trust in the Lord.  He looks to God for deliverance from evil men (vv.1-3), and calls for judgment upon them (v.9).  Amid his troubles and the grief that weighs upon him, God is his hope; this is the example of faith for all the people of God, who trust in His redeeming might.

            Let your troubles, let your fears, let your burdens turn your heart to earnest prayer.  God is able to save in every situation.  God is loving at all times, merciful and compassionate to those who call to Him.  In every situation, those who trust in Christ should keep focus on Him, call upon the Lord, and wait for His deliverance.

Our Helper

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Pandemic, Redemption, Salvation, Strength

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life” (Psalm 54:4, ESV).

            Psalm 54 emphasizes God’s power to protect against the schemes of the wicked.  David calls out to the Lord for rescue from the hands of those who conspire against him (vv.1-3).  Verse 4 is the hinge, where the psalm turns from petition to confidence in God’s protection (vv.4-5); the expectation of grateful worship follows (v.6), built on assurance of God’s salvation (v.7).

            You are not alone, whatever you may face.  Christians have the greatest possible comfort in this life, knowing that God Almighty cares for them and will carry them through every danger, and shield them from every fear.  Take heart, and trust in the Lord.

The Most High

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Glory, God, Kingdom of God, Lordship, Pandemic, Security, Strength

“For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2, ESV).

            This psalm of rejoicing emphasizes God’s sovereign dominion over the world and its kingdoms.  The intensive title for God draws attention to His glorious authority.  We may not immediately think of joy as the response to the message that God “is to be feared”, but that is clearly the theme of the psalm, which begins with a call to jubilant praise.  The awesome might of the Lord Almighty means deliverance and protection for His people; in His supremacy, we rejoice.

            Let the glorious sovereignty of the Lord be a joy and comfort to your soul.  God is majestic and mighty, the King above all kings.  He will judge the wicked, and vindicate His children.  He sees your sufferings, and cares for your griefs; and He will lift you up, at the time of His wisdom.  Take courage, and rejoice in the reign of God.

Lord of Hosts

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

“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:7, ESV).

            As with Psalm 42:5, we have in Psalm 46:7 a passage that stands out as the theme of the psalm due to its exact repetition at the end (v.11).  This couplet expresses, with potent parallelism, the security that God’s people find in Him.  The presence and stability of God leads up to this verse (vv.4-6), and the absolute sovereignty of God carries the psalm to its conclusion (vv.8-10).  An invincible warrior, an unbreakable stronghold, God is the strength of His people.

The Lord is the Almighty; in Him we have nothing to fear.  Notice, in this verse, the emphasis on God’s presence and protection.  If you make the Lord your trust, you can stand against whatever this life may bring.  No power can rival the Lord of hosts; no danger can harm those He shelters.

Merciful Might

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Pandemic, Peace, Power, Protection, Security, Strength

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, ESV).

            Here the sons of Korah declare the marvelous security of those who trust in the Lord.  The image is of a stronghold or place of safety where God’s people may shelter against even the fiercest catastrophe.  Thus the following verses describe the supreme safety of the Lord’s presence against world-shaking cataclysm (vv.2-3), and the psalm’s refrain reiterates this theme of God as fortress (vv.7, 11).

            Rely on God’s merciful might to protect you.  God is the shelter of His people; in every danger, He can save; in every struggle, He can lift you up.  Place your confidence in Him.  Though the road may be perilous, He will bring you safely home.