Psalm 117: Praise the Lord for His Steadfast Love

Today’s reading is Psalm 117.

Let’s Take a Little Side Trip

In 1 Samuel 18:3-4, though Jonathan was in line for the throne of Israel, he made a covenant with David whom God had promised would be the king of Israel instead. In 1 Samuel 20:8, when Jonathan was learning his own father wanted to kill David to protect his dynasty, Jonathan gave his support to David. As he did, he pleaded, “Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you” (ESV). “Deal kindly” translates the well-known “chesed” translated “steadfast love” in Psalm 117:2.

In 1 Samuel 20:14-15, Jonathan requested:

If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die; and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth (ESV).

Sadly, Jonathan didn’t survive the battles with the Philistines in which Saul also was killed. Following their deaths, David’s own reign was established among Judah and ultimately over all Israel. In 2 Samuel 9:1, when David could take vengeance on all the household of Saul, as most kings establishing a new dynasty would do (as Saul had actually tried to do to David), he asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (ESV). “Kindness” translates “chesed,” the same word we tracked above.

David was told about Mephibosheth, a crippled son of Jonathan. Mephibosheth had done absolutely nothing to earn any kindness from David. His own personal weakness made him incapable of bringing any meaningful aid to David. Yet, David showed Mephibosheth steadfast love because of his covenant with Jonathan. David restored Saul’s lands to Mephibosheth and invited him to eat at the king’s table always.

That is “steadfast love.” That is “chesed.”

Back to Psalm 117

When Psalm 117 says, “Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us” the psalmist is talking about the kind of love, mercy, and kindness David showed Mephibosheth. The praise is not glorifying God because He gives us what we deserve. The praise is not glorifying God because He pays us back for what we give to Him. The praise is glorifying God because He made a covenant with Adam and Eve, with Noah, with Abraham, with Moses, with David, with Israel, with all nations. For the sake of His covenant, for the sake of His promise, He shows loving kindness, mercy, and love.

Israel could rejoice because the Lord would deliver them. Why? Because of their greatness? Because of their worth? Because of their strength and might? No. Because of His covenant and steadfast love. We can praise God for the same reason. Our Lord keeps covenants. Our Lord bestows covenant loyal love.

Reciprocate

Let’s make sure we do not miss the steadfast love of the Lord deserves praise. It deserves thanksgiving. God has made the covenant with all nations and all peoples unconditionally. Every family can experience the steadfast love of the Lord. He didn’t wait for us to deserve this steadfast love before offering and bestowing it. However, if we reject it, if we ignore it, if we dismiss it, we will not experience the blessings of it.

Thus, the psalmist calls us all to praise the Lord for His steadfast love. That is how we show steadfast love to the Lord as a response to His steadfast love for us. But why wouldn’t we show that? Can you imagine Mephibosheth betraying David? How ridiculous would that be? Of course, that possibility might lead us on another side trip. But you’ll have to take that trip on your own (see 2 Samuel 16:1-4; 19:24-30).

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 117.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 117 prompt or improve your trust in the Lord?

Psalm 59: Like King, Like Kingdom

Today’s reading is Psalm 59.

The ancient heading of Psalm 59 places it smack in the middle of 1 Samuel 19:11. Saul had personally tried to kill David at least three times, but David escaped. He sent David out on a fool’s errand to kill a hundred Philistines as a bride-price to marry Saul’s daughter, Michal, but David survived. Saul made David commander of his armies, but David had more success than all the servants of Saul. “Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning” (ESV). Michal covered for David, letting him out through a window, then placing a decoy in the bed. When she sent the message David was sick and unable to get out of bed, Saul demanded his messengers bring the entire bed so Saul could kill him in it.

No wonder David cries out in this psalm, “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men” (Psalm 59:1-2, ESV). Frankly, it is not likely David wrote this psalm during that stressful night while being let down out of a window and sneaking out of town. Perhaps, but unlikely. Rather, written later, this psalm memorializes the events and the deliverance God provided.

However, keep reading the psalm and see if it doesn’t seem like David actually wrote this psalm much later. In Psalm 59:5, David asks God to punish all the nations. Then in vs. 8, Yahweh laughs and holds the nations in derision. In vs. 11, David wants “my people” to remember. That sounds like the words of a king.

Possibly, David wrote this strictly about that night when Saul sought to kill him, speaking with the knowledge that God had anointed him king, looking forward to having a people. More likely, David wrote this psalm as king when facing a national enemy. As his kingdom faces a treacherous enemy, he recalls the night God delivered him from Saul. The odds were overwhelming. How could David possibly survive a night like that? Yet God delivered. If God would do that for David, the man merely anointed to be king, what would He do for the kingdom? David realizes like king, like kingdom. If God would deliver him from Saul, He will deliver Israel from the nations. Though bloodthirsty plotters raise armies against Israel, God will deliver. He always has. He always will. Praise the Lord!

When we face the enemy, we recall we are God’s kingdom. We too can look back. Doing so, we recall God’s deliverance of His anointed and His people again and again and again: Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Daniel, and more. We also recall the victories given us in our own lives. Can you think of times when you thought, “This must be a God thing”? Can you think of times you were anxious, worried, afraid, but you survived, perhaps even thrived? Every good gift is from above.

God delivered His king. He will deliver His kingdom. God will deliver us.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What in Psalm 59 prompts, provokes, or improves praise for you?

Trust: “God is My Helper”

Today’s reading is Psalm 54.

In this psalm, David trusted God.

He had six hundred warriors with him. He had the friendship of Jonathan. However, when he extolled his helpers, the one that mattered was God.

Apparently, the translations of Psalm 54:4 fall into two camps. The more literal camp, which allow God to be “with” or “among” David’s helpers. The more theocentric camp, which have God alone helping David. The latter want us to understand God’s help is singularly significant. The former want us to recognize our other helpers only matter if God is helping.

Psalm 118:7 brings to mind this point from Psalm 54. Psalm 118:7a says, “The Lord is on my side as my helper,” bringing Psalm 54:4 to mind. Psalm 118:7b says, “I shall look in triumph on those who hate me,” bring to mind Psalm 54:7, “my eye has looked in triumph on my enemy.” If we continue reading in Psalm 118 we find, “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” (ESV).

I may receive help from many sources, unless God is one of them and behind all of them, though they be an army of thousands, their help counts for little. I may receive help from few sources, even only one, but if God is that one, it is more than an army of thousands.

Trust God. He is the helper that counts.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 54.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Do you find other reasons to trust God from Psalm 54? If so, what are they?
3. What hinders trusting God when we face trouble as David did?
4. What advice would you give others to increase our trust in God even in the face of difficulties like David’s?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?