King Jesus Shall Never Be Moved (Psalm 21:7)

For the king trusts in the LORD,

and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

-Psalm 21:7

Just as we saw in Psalm 20, Psalm 21 is written on behalf of the king. We should see this psalm fulfilled in Jesus Christ, messianically applying to him—the only King of kings.

Applied to Jesus, this verse brings great comfort to the Christian. I will show you two comforts: King Jesus trusts in the Father for us, and King Jesus stands forever fixed over us.

First, King Jesus trusts in the Father for us. Have you ever thought about the faithfulness of God to God? God exists as Three in One—Father, Son & Holy Spirit, from all eternity. They have always been in perfect unity: what the Father appoints, the Son accomplishes and the Spirit applies to our hearts. This verse reminds us how Jesus, very God of God, trusts completely in the Father’s will. You may not have thought about it this way, but our salvation rests completely on God being faithful to Himself. And because that is his nature, we can be confident in who God is for us.

Do you know why this is good news? If Jesus is always faithful to the Father, then the promises we find in Scripture are 100% guaranteed—even if our faith is frail. Listen to 2 Timothy 2:13: “if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” Did you catch that, believer? Jesus cannot deny himself. If he has chosen to save you, he will never turn his back on you (Heb 13:5). If he started his work in you, he will bring it to completion (Phil 1:6). He will never break the bruised reed or snuff out the whimpering flame of your faith (Isa 42:3). Take heart today: every promise of Scripture is secure because King Jesus trusts in the Father for you. May your heart be lifted in humble adoration at the faithfulness of Jesus.

Second, King Jesus stands forever fixed over us. The psalm declares how the king “shall not be moved.” How is this true? Only through the steadfast love of the Most High. The word for “steadfast love” is God’s covenant, faithful, binding love [ḥeseḏ in Hebrew]. This word is canvassed all over the Old Testament. It describes God’s covenant promise for his people: what he has promised, he will secure. This is based on his grace, mercy, longsuffering, and zeal to redeem his people. Be assured of this: if God’s covenant love is at work, “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us” from it (Rm 8:37–39). Likewise, we have the utmost confidence that Jesus is firmly fixed as our Savior forever: by God’s covenant love he shall not be moved.

Again, why is this good news? If Jesus will never be moved, then it means—right now—he sits at the right hand of the Most High, interceding on our behalf. It means the work is finished, for “after making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3). In the Old Testament, the high priest never sat down because there was always another sacrifice he had to make. In other words, he was always moving. Jesus never moves. He sits down because the work is complete. There is no more need for a sacrifice for sins. Jesus is the once-for-all, all-encompassing, every-sin-paid-for Savior. He shall never be moved.

This means that on your worst day—your most sin-ridden day—you can look up to heaven and see the Son of God still firmly fixed at God’s right hand, assuring you, reminding you, and calling your heart to remember the power of his sacrifice. You’re forgiven. You’re clean. You’re justified. Why? Because through the steadfast love of the Most High, Jesus will never be moved.

Nothing can tear you away from his victory over sin. He’s triumphant. He’s firm. Do you believe it?

Neither death nor hell can undo the work of the cross. Your sin is covered. The tomb is empty. Do you believe it?
He’s never turning back from what he has said. Believe it today, Christian—he can’t turn back on you now. King Jesus stands forever fixed over you.

Meditations of the Heart (Psalm 19:14)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

– Psalm 19:14

If David knew one truth about God, it was that God considers the inner man before He looks at the outer. When God first called David to be king, he famously told Samuel, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). Thus David’s prayer here in Psalm 19: God, let the thoughts that run through my heart and the words that come out of my mouth be pleasing to you!

Here’s the reality: what matters most to God is your inner life. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Mt 23:27). They had all the religious ceremony, yet lacked a repentant condition. They were high on self-righteousness, but low on self-reflection. They had everything they wanted for temporary satisfaction, yet lacked everything they needed for eternal salvation. They praised God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Isa 29:13).

Notice this: David didn’t separate the inner life from the outer like the Pharisees did. He says in the same sentence, “let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight.” He knew that an inner life of wonder and meditation on God’s grace led to an outer proclamation with his mouth. There was no dichotomy, no separation. Indeed, as Jesus taught, it is always “out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks” (Lk 6:45). Your words will show you what’s in your heart, and your heart is the source for what comes out of your mouth. What you treasure, value, esteem, idolize—it all starts in your heart. It’s a question of worship.

What a sad thing it would be to live your whole life only to have Christ reveal at the end of time that the “meditations of your heart” were far from Him, focused inwardly, selfishly, and pridefully. We can externally appear righteous and clean, but God knows the inner thoughts of our hearts and minds. This is why this prayer is so important. In effect David is asking: God, change my heart and my mind! Let your goodness and grace be such a present reality in my life that every thought and word is lifted up to You!

The truth is that the murmurings of our heart often flit by too rapidly and undetected for us to accurately diagnose our own condition. That is why we need the Word of God. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps 119:105). It is a sharp, double-edged sword, able to pierce into the inner thoughts of our hearts (Heb 4:12). We cannot pray David’s prayer earnestly unless we also let the Word of God search us. By God’s grace, we need the divine spotlight to disclose our inner sin—the meditations of our hearts which are too often fixated on ourselves, our possessions, our dreams, achievements, relationships, worries or wants. Then, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we need new hearts. And herein lies the good news of the gospel: our hearts can be transformed through the power of His sacrifice for our sins, the inner workings of His love, and the day-by-day renewal of our minds as we meditate on the grace that is now ours in Christ Jesus. The question is, has the gospel sunk down so deep into your life that the very meditations of your heart are transformed? I challenge you, pray this prayer and see what God will do in your life.

Your Inheritance in Christ (Psalm 16:6)

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance

Psalm 16:6

In this verse, David references the physical property of one’s inheritance, specifically relating to the time in Israel’s history when the 12 tribes entered the Promised Land and divided the land according to tribal “lines” (see Josh 13-19). In this way, David spiritualizes the historic, physical inheritance of the nation Israel to speak about a current, spiritual inheritance he now has in his relationship with the Lord. The central premise of Psalm 16 is that because David has banked his entire refuge in the Lord (v.1), he now lives a life of joy in God’s presence (v.11). This is David’s “beautiful” inheritance: God’s presence forevermore.

Reader, how often do you meditate on the “glorious inheritance in the saints” you now possess in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:18)? Now, in light of the coming of Christ, this inheritance motif takes on profound depth and beauty. Paul picks this up in Ephesians 1 when he declares how our gracious God and Father “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3). The believer’s inheritance, guaranteed by Christ’s death, resurrection and the sealing of the Holy Spirit, is this: we have already received every spiritual blessing in Christ, yet we eagerly await the final day of our inheritance when he returns. Theologians speak of this dynamic as the “already but not yet.” We have already received salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness, power and glory; yet we long for the renewal of all creation when Christ returns in glory.

So what is our inheritance in Christ? What are the spiritual blessings we have already been given? Following Ephesians 1, Paul tells how we were chosen “before the foundation of the world…to be holy and blameless before him” (v.4) Think about this: God, in his sovereign goodness, before we did anything good or bad, orchestrated and decreed our salvation. Before you were created the cross was in view, the Son of God setting his eyes in love to become the sinless sacrifice for your sin. What wonder and grace!

Paul also tells us “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ” (v.5). In his sovereign foreknowledge, God decreed he would claim us as his own. The language of adoption is deeply intimate and abundantly rich—we are not impersonally granted an inheritance like a business interaction; no, we are warmly embraced as a son into God’s family. This is not a distant salvation; if you are in Christ, you are united to the Father as a son, enjoying all the privileges of an heir in the house of God. Hallelujah!

Next, Paul tells us that in Christ “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (v.7). Here is the pinnacle of our inheritance: salvation. Christ shed his precious blood to purchase our redemption from the bondage of sin. We once were slaves, dead, lost without hope, rebels against our Creator. But Jesus Christ, the glorious King and good Shepherd, laid down his life for his enemies and his sheep. An undeserved act of mercy in sparing us. An unimaginable act of love in giving us his righteousness. What an indescribable gift! The perfect Son dying in the place of rebel sinners, pouring out his own blood to cover the debt of sinful man!

Finally, while we could marvel at every word in this passage, we will highlight one last spiritual blessing. No Christian can stand without it; no saint can claim any of it his own. It is the bedrock of the Christian’s complete life and joy, the ground and completion of our inheritance. What is it?

Grace. “The riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us” (v.7-8). As the song says, “Grace, grace, God’s grace / Grace that is greater than all our sin!” Grace is the lavish favor God pours out on us; the motivated, unrelenting, implacable bend of his will to save, sustain, and secure his sheep forever; the power which grants us a new life, a new love, and a new longing for Christ; the preserving force of his love to keeps us secure in Christ. Our inheritance is grounded in grace alone. Your life has been stamped with the signature of grace. The Christian life is wrapped up in this very reality—the reality which you own, right now, in Jesus Christ.

This and so much more is our “glorious inheritance in the saints.” Let us marvel at everything that our Father has already accomplished for us in Christ, guaranteed to us by the Spirit, and lavished upon us by grace. Like David, we sing: “Indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance!”

Who Can Dwell with God?(Psalm 15:1)

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
Psalm 15:1

This psalm begins with a question of presence: who is able to dwell with God? David harkens back to the time when the Israelites were in the desert: when God dwelt among them in the tent of the tabernacle, guiding them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He also refers here to the city of Jerusalem: the “holy hill,” the Mount Zion which is the place of God’s presence.

Now the rest of the psalm seeks to answer this question, and this is something we should think about carefully. Most of us assume entering God’s presence is something like meeting a friend for coffee: it’s casual, carefree, and conversational. But in the Bible we never see a mere human approaching God in this manner. Now listen, I’m not saying God isn’t our friend, or that we cannot come to Him with everything…hear me clearly. Instead, all I’m saying is that we do not take the presence of the Almighty God as seriously as we should.

Listen to just a few of the requirements David goes on to make for the person who is able to dwell with God:

Walks blamelessly (v.2)
Does what is right (v.2)
Speaks truth in his heart (v.2)

Does not slander with his tongue (v.3)
Does no evil to his neighbor (v.3)
Nor takes up reproach against his friend (v.3)

If I’m honest, I fall short at the very first one! And you do too. For who can truly walk blamelessly all their days before a perfect God? Who among us is without sin? How can we really say we have measured up to loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind—all the time?

So we find the entrance into God’s presence more impossible than we think. In other words, the answer to David’s question “who shall dwell on your holy hill?” seems to be a rhetorical “no one!”

You see, if you read this psalm and try to put yourself in it, it leads only to despair. But let me now take you to the gospel. Yes, while you are incapable of walking blamelessly—and thereby incapable of entering the presence of a holy God—there is One who is indeed quite capable, One who has always dwelt in the presence of the Father, and One who became a human like you and me to walk blamelessly for us. This blameless One is the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah.

We need to stop and take this in, for it really is good news. According to Psalm 15, you and I are effectively banished from God’s presence, for sin and perfection cannot mix. Not only does our sin make us incapable of dwelling securely with God, but it also makes us rebel and reject the goodness of it. In other words, you and I naturally avoid dwelling with God. We know that if we were placed before God as we were, we would be done. Finished.

But if we read Psalm 15 in light of Jesus, then the chasm of us entering God’s presence is bridged. The door has been unlocked. Indeed, the good news is not only that Jesus lived a perfect life (for if that were all He did, all we could do is admire and fear Him), but He also gave up His very life as a sacrifice (for only a perfect man can make a true sacrifice for sin). This truth cannot be any clearer than in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” In simple terms, Jesus allows us to enter God’s presence. And He changes us from the inside out to now desire God’s presence.

Now, if after all this you’re really thinking, well now I don’t even know if I want to enter God’s presence. It sounds too terrifying. Won’t I be walking on thin ice? I believe you have half-understood me. There’s some truth to thinking this way. After all, when Moses saw God in the burning bush, he “hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God” (Ex 3:6). And when Isaiah saw that vision of God on His mighty throne, he said “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips…” (Isa 6:5). So yes, if you enter God’s presence, your sin will be exposed. And yes, if you enter God’s presence, you cannot remain the same. And these are absolutely terrifying things to experience. But they are necessary, for once you have truly met the Almighty God, you know that His presence is where you must be. He is too good, too beautiful, too lovely, to ignore.

So it all rests on Jesus. Because of Him, you can be sure of this: because of His perfect life, you can approach the throne of grace with boldness, knowing God is for you (Heb 4:16; Rm 8:31). And because of the transformation that takes place when you believe in Him, you don’t have to remain the same: you have been crucified with Christ; the old way of life is gone; and behold, the new is here.

So don’t hide. Don’t run. Go up to that holy hill today in prayer today, for Jesus has opened up the way to the Father.

You May Actually Be An Atheist (Psalm 14:1a)

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God”…
Psalm 14:1a

According to the Bible there is only one trait which makes you a fool in this world: denying God. It is a fruitless and futile enterprise, or as Derek Kidner puts it, “intellectual and moral suicide.” ¹

Now, my fear today is not so much that you do not believe in the God of the Bible—indeed, you likely know of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit; you believe Jesus died and rose again for your sins; you believe the Holy Spirit lives within you; and you believe Christ will come back again to redeem you—I am not concerned about you knowing the facts of Christianity. Instead, I am concerned about something much more insidious—namely, the temptation which you and I are faced with every day to functionally live as if God does not exist. We may not be explicit atheists who declare outright unbelief in God, but we frequently live as functional atheists who claim to know Christ yet live as if nothing is different. What exactly do I mean by this?

Perhaps the best way I can get this across to you is to ask you the question: if the truths you find in the Bible really are true, how should it change how you live? In other words, if the God of the entire cosmos is perfectly and terrifyingly holy—and we are utterly and treacherously sinful—then do you really believe it is good news that the Son of God has come in the flesh as Jesus Christ to reunite you with God? If you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8)—good in his forgiveness of all your sin, good in his grace to renew you every day, good in his constant provision over your life, and good in his faithfulness to keep you secure forever—then again I ask, how should that change how you live?

You see, if you really believed, grasped, comprehended, and mined the riches of the good news of Jesus Christ for you, you would live as a different type of person. You would view your circumstances differently. You would view your relationships differently. You would view the purpose of your life differently. You would be changed.

No, I am not saying that the mere conjuring up of more faith will make your life better—please don’t misunderstand me. Instead, I’m saying that if you truly abide in the never-ending, super-abounding, ever-faithful love of Jesus poured into your heart through the Holy Spirit, then your life will be changed. You see, the work has already been done: Jesus has given you all you need to enjoy the privileges and favor of God as one of his children. This is called grace. Therefore, the question is not “how do I become closer to God?”, as if you doing anything could merit that honor. Instead, the question is, “am I truly living today as if God’s grace for me is a present reality, able to help me in my time of need, change me in the middle of my failures, and strengthen me in the time of my weakness?” The shift in perspective makes all the difference.

I assure you today: God’s grace is real, Christ has given you a new life, and the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. So don’t live your life so far away from the realities of the Bible; don’t say in your heart “there is no God.” Live it instead to the fullest—the fullest of a faith-filled life, the assurance that God in Christ Jesus has indeed given us “everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him” through “his very great and precious promises” (2 Pt 1:3-4, NIV). Do you really believe that today?

I assure you if you do, your life won’t be the same.

Derek Kidner, Psalms 1-72, Kidner Classic Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2014), 96.
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What’s the Tune of Your Heart? (Psalm 13:6)

I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalm 13:6

How often do you sing to the Lord in response to who he is and what he’s done for you? A sure indicator of how well you are keeping in step with God’s Spirit is how often and with what devotion praise exudes from your heart. We would do well to emulate David’s response here; in fact, it may very well change our lives.

Allow me to share two examples. First, consider the grouchy man (whom we all know). In the morning he wakes up and complains he must go to work. He is tired, stressed, and bored of his daily life. He complains about the traffic; he complains about his co-workers. He gets home and complains to his wife, only then to be annoyed by his children’s needs and pestering. Trying to escape through some evening entertainment on the couch, he falls asleep and does it all over again in the morning.

But now consider who you know as the grateful man (whom we rarely know). In the morning he wakes up and thanks God for another day. He prays, reads the Word, and memorizes Scripture. On the way to work in the traffic he listens to an encouraging sermon; he then tells his co-workers about what he listened to. After working hard he gets home, eager to see his wife and kids. He knows his real day begins at 5pm when he helps cook dinner, cleans the dishes and does devotions with his family. He prays with his wife before bed and lays his head on the pillow—tired, yes—but thanking God for another day.

Now tell me: what is the difference between these two men? I’ll be quick to tell you it was not their circumstances; indeed, they each had very similar life situations. Rather, it was the constant tune of their hearts throughout the day. You’ll notice the heart of the grouchy man was inward…selfish. The song of his heart was complaint, entitlement, and “woe-is-me.” But for the grateful man? The song of his heart was thanksgiving, servitude, and “God is good.” The grouchy man was singing the blues about his situation; the grateful man was singing to the Lord.

You see, it is never the case of your circumstances which determines your outlook on life. Rather, it is how well you understand (or don’t understand) the grace of God. When the gospel invades your life—when you realize the power of God’s grace to forgive, cleanse, transform and empower you—then you see everyday as a chance to live out that grace. Of course there will be tragedy, temptation, trial and testing. Of course you live in a fallen world. Yet those who continually trust in Christ’s sustaining grace for their lives will always be singing to Him.

O, my soul, what kind of song are you singing today? Is the melody of my mind pleasing to you, O Lord? Is it in response to your mercies and grace for me in Christ Jesus and by the help of your Spirit? O God, do help me realize today how you love me with an everlasting love, how you are for me with ever-powerful force, and how you work in my life with ever-present help.

O Lord, I will sing to you today, for you have dealt so bountifully with me.

Why You Need God’s Word (Psalm 12:6)

The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.
Psalm 12:6

Why is it so important for you to read your Bible on a daily basis? Like a silver bar smelted and refined seven times, I will give you seven reasons today.

First, the words of the LORD are pure words. There is nothing like the Bible. It contains truth of truth, right of right, the only way to know the one true God. When water is pure you can see both your reflection and the bottom of the pond. So it is with God’s Word; when you read it, you see yourself more accurately, yet you also see to the depths of who God is in His beauty.

Second, the words of the LORD are saving words. The Bible is one grand story about these themes: creation, fall, redemption and new creation. It answers the question: “how can sinful humanity be made right with a perfect God?” The answer of course is in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ—the entire focal point of the Scriptures—the One who came to die for your sins and rise again for your justification. Do you want to know how to be saved? Read your Bible, and it will tell you to “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved” (Rm 10:9).

Third, the words of the LORD are piercing words. Hebrews 4:12-13 says the Word of God “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…no creature is hidden from his sight.” Do you want to know why so many people hate the Bible? Because it points out their sin. Do not read the Bible if you believe you are a good person before a holy God, for you will sorely be disappointed. But do read the Bible if you humbly can admit your need for grace, for surely you will find it.

Fourth, the words of the LORD are guiding words. The psalmist asks the question, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” Then he goes right on to answer it: “By guarding it according to your word” (Ps 119:9). In the Word we read of our inability to be perfect, yes, but in the Word we also see the transforming power of the gospel which gives us the grace we need to be a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). The Bible is not about cheap behavioral fixes to get what you want; no, the target of the Bible is your heart—and God alone knows how to change it.

Fifth, the words of the LORD are inspired words. Not inspired in the sense where someone has a “lightbulb moment,” but inspired in the sense that these are God’s very words to us. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is breathed out by God…” Do you want to hear God speak to you today? I assure you, you don’t need a voice from heaven or pie in the sky; you need the Bible. God speaks to you in His Word, and His Word speaks to you about the Son.

Sixth, the words of the LORD are sufficient words. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 continues by saying “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable…that the man of God may be complete.” Every day you are tempted to replace God’s Word with the newest way to have the “good life.” The world around you will advertise relentlessly to tell you what you need. Comfort. Material goods. Success. Wealth. The list goes on. Friends, there is only one source where you can have your deepest needs fulfilled: the fountain of God’s Word, and more specifically, in the living waters of Jesus Christ, who gives you the intimacy and fellowship you so desperately need with God. Do you lack anything today? The Scriptures can make you complete.

Finally, the words of the LORD are everlasting words. Isaiah 40:8 says “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Oh believer, do not give yourself to the fleeting world and all its pursuits, for it will all come crashing down like sand. Instead, build your life upon the solid Rock, the Word of God, the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. When your life comes to a close, what will you carry with you into the next? If you have gained Christ, you have gained eternity; if you have gained the world, you have lost everything.

There are innumerable reasons why you need the Word of God, but I pray these seven alone are enough to convince you to mine the treasures yourself.

So what are you waiting for?

Don’t Flee & Don’t Hide Your Faith (Psalm 11:1)

In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain…?”
Psalm 11:1

Anyone who desires to live a godly life will be persecuted (2 Tm 3:12). Therefore in this verse, it is no surprise why there are those who taunt David, someone who takes refuge in the LORD.

Your enemies today may not be of the flesh like David’s were. Rather, Paul testifies that we “do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). In other words—Christian—your enemies are more likely the spiritual forces which wage war against your faith in Christ. The goal of these attacks and taunts is to make you doubt, waver, and eventually fold on your faith—to forsake your first love.

The world we live in today is full of such defections from a “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor 11:3). The plot is insidious. Satan thinks: if I can simply keep them distracted from what really matters—yes, if I can make them “gain the world yet lose their soul”—then I have won. Is it any wonder then how the pursuit of the American Dream promises us what only God can give: comfort, peace, purpose, and satisfaction? Or consider this plot from the enemy: if I can convince them that God’s Word is not really the truth, but instead that their human opinions or the current cultural current dictate what is right and wrong—then I have won. Is it any wonder then why tolerance, acceptance, and allowing everyone to have “their own truth” are the reigning dogmas of the day?

Like David, the Christian today faces the same taunt: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!” In other words, “Cower back, you fool! You and your God have no place here; run away!” If we listen to these taunts, the temptation will be to hunker down, build our own walled-up fortresses, and separate ourselves completely from those who oppose yet need the gospel.

But this is not how we should capitulate to an ever-changing culture.

Consider these truths today: “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rm 8:37). Therefore “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rm 8:31). And “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect…Who is to condemn?” (Rm 8:33-34). If nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” then we should fear no man, no idea, no word, no persecution, no abuse, nor taunt which tells us to doubt who Jesus is and who we are in Christ.

Instead, there are two actions which every Christian must take in today’s climate. First, take refuge in the LORD. Love His Word. Devote yourself to the One who gave Himself for you. Do not forsake your first love. He promises to never leave you or forsake you, so no one can snatch you out of His hand (Jn 10:28). When you are tempted—whether from without or within—to abandon your first love, ask, like Peter did, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).

Second, O Soldier for Christ, stand in the face of the taunts. If you truly seek the Lord, these will inevitably come. The goal of the Christian life is not to avoid all persecution, suffering, or discomfort for bearing the name of Jesus, but instead to never “be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord” (2 Tm 1:8). If the One who stretched out His arms to be pierced for you has claimed you as His own, don’t be ashamed of Him. There will always be those who mock. There will always be those who stumble over the gospel. But there is One who remains true, and He is the precious Savior, the light of the world.

You have every reason to stand in confidence today in the face of those mocking doubts. Say to those who taunt and jeer: Because I take refuge in the LORD and stand in the confidence of His promises for me, how can you say to me: “flee like a bird to your mountain?”

The Big Nose Called Pride (Psalm 10:4)

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
Psalm 10:4

The greatest killer of love for God is love for self. Pride is the deadly expression of believing in your own strength, wisdom, or abilities above God’s. In this verse, there are three “A’s” that pride produces in our lives: arrogance, avoidance, and abandonment. We will look at each briefly.

First, pride produces arrogance. The Hebrew of the first part of this verse literally reads that the one who does not seek God is as “wicked as the height of his nose.” Can you picture that? Pride is like someone with an abnormally large nose. He is so full of himself that he can’t see past his own two nostrils!

Like the big nose, this is what pride does: it focuses all your thoughts inwardly and selfishly. Someone did you wrong? You must take revenge. You don’t get what you want? You’re entitled to it. Do you see the danger in this? When your head gets so full of your own desires and self-declared “needs,” your vision becomes so narrow that you miss the point of your life: to live for God, and not for yourself.

And this will inevitably lead to the second production of pride: avoidance. The psalmist says that “in the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him.” This is actually very logical. How can someone who is so focused on themselves ever make time for God? There is great application here for us, a caution against seeing our time as primarily ours. Think about the measure of your day. Is there time for seeking God in it? Do you have a regular, daily time of prayer and reading the Word? If you honestly assess your life, what do you spend time on? What is the first thought and desire when you get out of bed? Be careful to not allow self-absorption to turn into a drastic lack of seeking God. Our tendency to rely on ourselves for purpose, strength, success, and control in our lives ironically keeps us from depending on the One who knows exactly what we need. Do not allow your nose of self-interests and self-desires to become so big you can’t bow your face to the ground in worship of God!

If not stopped, ongoing pride may lead to this last devastating effect in our lives: abandonment. Notice the thought life of the person described in this psalm: “all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’” This is no longer a casual “I forgot about God” due to becoming so focused on ourselves; this is an outright rebellion against Him because we believe in our own power and self-direction. In reality, this is like the very first sin of the Garden: throwing off God’s authority and Word in exchange for becoming wise in our own eyes. This is subtle; it doesn’t happen in one day. Rather, continued avoidance of seeking God due to focusing on our own dreams and desires will slowly produce in us an apathy towards the things of God, and, in turn, will cause us to no longer sense our need for Him. Why trust God for my needs when I can do it myself? Why pray when I have so much to do? Most of us will not readily admit to having such blatant thoughts, but isn’t this the underlying current of our lives when we don’t seek Him?

In application, let us be careful to avoid the pitfalls of pride today. Instead, let’s heed the words of our humble Savior who strongly reminds us: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24).

Or, as the psalmist would put it, don’t have such a big nose.

Knowing His Name Helps You Trust Him (Psalm 9:10)

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:10

Over time, discovering someone’s true character will either create trust or distrust in a relationship. For instance, a healthy marriage is built on years of trust demonstrated by loyalty, fidelity, and kindness to one another. As soon as one of these is broken by an act of selfishness or lust, trust is decimated.

This principle holds true in our relationship with God—except we are the only ones whose character needs improvement. Have you ever thought of this? God’s character is perfect. He is perfectly good, trustworthy, loving, kind, just, patient, and faithful. David phrases it this way: those who know your name put their trust in you. In other words, the more you know who God is for you in Jesus Christ, the more you should trust Him.

There is an old song that says “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word” Now how could the hymnist write this line? Because she knows the character of her God. How can you ever take someone at his word if you do not first trust where he will lead you? Oh! The good news is that our God will always lead us into His goodness and mercy; in fact, they follow after us! (Ps 23:6) There is nothing sweeter than to trust in the One who pursued us “while we were enemies” (Rm 5:10). ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus today!

I love the other reason David gives for why he has put his trust in God: for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Note how the LORD is in all-caps: this stands for Yahweh, God’s covenant name with Israel. Anytime God’s name is mentioned in this way, it should remind us of His never-ceasing, faithful, irrevocable, covenant love for His people. David understands this when he declares Yahweh has not forsaken His people.

Hear this today beloved: if you are in Jesus Christ, if you have trusted in His sweet, precious name, then your God will never forsake you. Like a good Shepherd keeps the sheep within his pen at all times, there will never be a moment your God lets you slip out of His sight. Though at times you may feel lost at sea, the Anchor of God’s grace keeps you steady-bound. And though often your own mind tempts you to despair and doubt these very promises, the Holy Spirit is your everlasting Comforter, always drawing you back toward the true light of Jesus Christ.

Finally, note our responsibility in this verse: Yahweh does not forsake those who seek him. Not that your salvation and assurance is kept by how well you seek God; rather, seeking Yahweh is the posture of someone who truly has experienced God’s grace. Do you have a desire to be with the Lord? Does the thought of simply seeing His face conjure emotions of awe and longing? Oh beloved, how I pray for you to love seeking Jesus. Like searching for a priceless treasure, our souls will not be content until we find Him. We could travel the whole world and see all its beauties but never be satisfied until we have beheld the Son of God. But here is the good news: He is not hidden. Indeed, the light of the world has come; we only need to look into the Word and “behold the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29).

To end, make these lines of hymnody your prayer to God today, for you know His sweet name, and you have put your trust forever in Him:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!

How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust him more!

Tag: psalms