“I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him, so that My hand shall be established with him; My arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.” Psalm 89:20-23
Devotional Thought For The Day
As we have warned before, all of these glorious promises to David and his descendants stand firm and sure even within the context of all of the trials and struggles that the house of David passed through and endured, including all of the sufferings endured by the greater Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ – Whose great sufferings for our eternal redemption and salvation we celebrate this very week. The circumstances of David’s life frequently parallel our own – we have a multitude of wondrous promises of God’s grace, mercy, blessing, and ultimate vindication, and yet so often it seems that we are between a rock and a hard place, that our enemies do “outwit” us and “humble” us. Of course, we have often noted that appearances can be deceiving, and this is always the case when it appears that God’s children are under duress and in threat of defeat. The bottom line remains to this very day, and will certainly be borne out on the Last Day, that God will crush our foes before us and strike down all who hate us.
So let us consider the gracious blessings God has bestowed upon us, how He has also “found” us and brought us to know and believe the great love He has for us. He also has “anointed” us – with things more blessed than the holy anointing oil that Samuel poured out upon David – in our baptism, where in accord with His promise He has given us forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2:38,39] “Whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” [Tit. 3:6] So we also are assured that God’s hand shall be established with us, and that His arm also shall strengthen us. This means that God’s will, His good and gracious will to bless us, will be carried out without fail – regardless of the appearances of our circumstances – to the very end. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His short burial, and His glorious resurrection, exaltation, and ascension, is the perfect evidence of this. Even now He reigns over all things as God’s Word proclaims: “When He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power – for He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.” [1 Cor. 15:24,25] And so shall we reign with Him – as God’s Word asserts: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.” [2 Tim. 2:12]
Do not grow depressed then, or lose courage and confidence, in the face of the many things that are not right, the many instances where wrong appears to be prevailing over right, when evil is crushing good. Yes, cry out to God and bid Him to set things right – as the psalmist does throughout this psalm. But never lose faith and trust; rather continue to assert and rejoice in the many things God has promised us, the assurances of His presence, power, and love, and look for the final outcome when we too will be vindicated along with God. The time is short, and our time in this world is short – and the “sufferings of this present world cannot compare with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” [Rom. 8:18] We have been found by God, anointed by Him, and so we shall be established and strengthened by Him. May the experiences of our dear Savior, the Son of David, which we meditate upon this week, continue to strengthen our faith and elevate our joy, as we also wait patiently for the salvation of our God!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thanks and praise be to You for Your humble, patient, and persistent courage and fortitude in all that You suffered for us and for our salvation. Forbid that we should crumble in the face of great evil, and lose our faith and confidence in You. Remind us of the anointing and blessing You have placed upon us, and of Your power and will to save us. We look forward even now to seeing You in Your glorious and wondrous kingdom! Amen.