“Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.” Psalm 118:5-9
How has your Monday started? Are you pleased with how the weekend went or do you find yourself in the same place you were before last week ended. Tired, distressed, uncertain, doubting? Well… take a look at Psalm 118: 5-9 again. God ahead…I will wait.
God’s people…David perhaps…often find ourselves in need way beyond what we can even diagnosis or deal with. We know something is wrong but we can’t get a handle on it. We find ourselves this way because as Christians we either forget or we don’t “really” believe what we are commanded to say and to believe, “Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever.’”(Ps. 118:4) Is that really it? I am not sure… but I do know one thing, according to this text, David knew where to turn when he was in distress, “Out of my distress I called on the LORD” Martin Luther once told his congregation, “You must learn to call, not to sit there by yourself, or lie there on your bed, or hang and shake your head, or bite and devour yourself with your thoughts; but come on, you indolent knave, get down on your knees and send up your hands and eyes to heaven, take a Psalm or a prayer, and set forth your distress with tears before God.” The problem is this…we don’t often (if ever) do this!
David called on the LORD because He knew that the LORD would answer his plea and set him free, because, “His steadfast love endures forever.” But set him free from what? It seems he was set free from the stress of the distress not necessarily the distress itself, as we will see in the next verse, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” It is interesting that David doesn’t ask God to remove what is causing the distress. He seems to understand his need for ongoing sanctification, which enables him to “fear” God…to love God with all his mind, soul and strength so he no longer is concerned about what it is that is distressing him thus enabling him to endure the actual problem until it as well goes away.
In the next 4 verses we see David repeating himself for emphasis these 2 phrases, “The LORD is on my side… It is better to take refuge in the LORD”. He seemingly is doing this to remind Himself of who God is and what He is ready, willing , and able to do for him and consequently for us. (Oh, and unless you missed it he reminds Himself of who God is by repeating His personal name LORD/ Yahweh, 6 times in 5 verses) This personal/intimate God will deliver us from the evil around us when we put and keep our trust in Him. For God is always on the side of His children…just like parents always want what’s best for their children. God is always our Helper and our Refuge. Men will always let us down but when we cry out to the LORD He will always hear and He will always answer when we have submissive and obedient hearts seeking to walk in His ways…again! With God on our side who can be against us? No one!
But one final thought or two or three, if you are still wondering. It is better to take refuge in the LORD because it is the wise thing to do. It is better because it fulfills God’s will. It is better because it is the safer place to be. God is always trustworthy; men or the opinion of men not so much! And lastly, it is better because there is a better outcome…for today as we are brought to trust Him more and for tomorrow when we finally experience eternal life.
I am praying for y’all today…consider these verses throughout the day and rest in the Lord even in the midst of trouble or a troubled spirit.
God Bless.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
