For Reading: Psalm 36:1-12
"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies." (36:5)
How wonderful it is, in an age where unfaithfulness abounds, to focus our gaze on those Scriptures that point to the trustworthiness of our God. The one before us today is quite wonderful, but consider also these:
"O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you" (Psa. 89:8).
"Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash round his waist" (Isa. 11:5).
"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself" (2 Tim. 2:13).
Can't you just feel the energy flowing from these Scriptures, buttressing your confidence in God? For God to be unfaithful would be to act contrary to His nature, and if He ever was (we are only speculating because He could never do so) then He would cease to be God. Focus again with me on the text at the top of the page. We are told God's faithfulness extends to the skies. This is the psalmist's picturesque way of expressing the fact that far above all finite comprehension is the unchanging faithfulness of God. Everything about God is vast and incomparable, including his faithfulness. He never forgets a thing, never makes a mistake, never fails to keep a promise, never falters over a decision, never retracts a statement He has made, and has never breached a contract. Every declaration He has made, every promise He has given, every covenant He has struck is vouchsafed by His faithful character.
Prayer:
O God, how great Thou art. Great in power, great in majesty, great in love, great in mercy - great in so many things. But above all You are great in faithfulness. How I rejoice in that. Amen.
Further Study:
I Cor. 1:1-9; Heb. 6:18; I Pet. 4:19
What did Paul assure the Corinthians?
What is it impossible for God to do?
God's faithfulness is incredible. And we are supposed to be like God, which means I need to be working on being as faithful as he is. What a huge responsibility! How often do I break promises because it's easy? It's something I need to think about...
ReplyDeleteHow far does faith travel and to what extent should it be carried out? I know like many other I try my best to be true to my word, hold fast to my beliefs, and do what is right in accordance with the bible. Does there ever come a time when one should break away from a promise that has been given, and if so from what guidance? I know the best way to keep from an event such as this is to be extremely careful of committing to something, but it is inevitable and at some point a simple statement becomes overly complicated.
ReplyDeleteBryan,
ReplyDeleteI don't know the exact answer to your question, but Numbers 30:1-2 talks about certain types of vows. Maybe it will help you out?