The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 56:3-4,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?"
As David asks God for mercy in the midst of enemies attacking him, he proclaims his trust in God. He says that when he feels fear he puts his trust in God and thereby is no longer afraid. He asks the question, "What can mere mortals do to me?" Verses 3-4.
Later in the psalm he says much the same thing, "In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?" Verses 10-11.
As David says, "what can mere mortals do to me" and "What can man do to me", it is within the context of trusting in God. Placing our trust in God places us in his favor. When we enjoy God's favor he becomes a refuge and a strength for us. As Paul asks the rhetorical question, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" No one! (Romans 8:31b).
Proverbs 1:7a tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...". To know God is to hold him in reverence and awe, "the fear of the Lord." The term "God fearers" was used by the Jews back in the day to refer to others who had embraced the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
However, outside of our fear of the Lord, fear can be debilitating in our lives. Whether we may experience fear from others who threaten us, fear of failure, fear of death, or whatever. As David, we find solace from our fears in God.
When we rest secure in the refuge of God, there simply is nothing that can separate us from him, his love for us, and his care for us. As we experience that, we find we are in full agreement with David and Paul. When we trust in God, there remains nothing to fear!
Afterall, what is the worst that can happen? Death? If we die as those who put their trust in God, we are ushered into eternal paradise with him!
Trusting in God means we care for what God does with us, and not what "mere mortals" can do to us.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?"
As David asks God for mercy in the midst of enemies attacking him, he proclaims his trust in God. He says that when he feels fear he puts his trust in God and thereby is no longer afraid. He asks the question, "What can mere mortals do to me?" Verses 3-4.
Later in the psalm he says much the same thing, "In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?" Verses 10-11.
As David says, "what can mere mortals do to me" and "What can man do to me", it is within the context of trusting in God. Placing our trust in God places us in his favor. When we enjoy God's favor he becomes a refuge and a strength for us. As Paul asks the rhetorical question, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" No one! (Romans 8:31b).
Proverbs 1:7a tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...". To know God is to hold him in reverence and awe, "the fear of the Lord." The term "God fearers" was used by the Jews back in the day to refer to others who had embraced the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
However, outside of our fear of the Lord, fear can be debilitating in our lives. Whether we may experience fear from others who threaten us, fear of failure, fear of death, or whatever. As David, we find solace from our fears in God.
When we rest secure in the refuge of God, there simply is nothing that can separate us from him, his love for us, and his care for us. As we experience that, we find we are in full agreement with David and Paul. When we trust in God, there remains nothing to fear!
Afterall, what is the worst that can happen? Death? If we die as those who put their trust in God, we are ushered into eternal paradise with him!
Trusting in God means we care for what God does with us, and not what "mere mortals" can do to us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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