Tag Archives: David

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.” (Psalm 36:5-6, NIV)

When we take the time to look around us, it is easy to be impressed by God’s virtuosity. The twinkling stars and other heavenly bodies mystify and fascinate us as much today as they did in David’s time. On earth, the plants of the earth purify the air we breath, delight our eyes with their buds and flowers, and nourish our bodies as food. We also have a common Creator with all of the animals, whether wild or domesticated — and He preserves all.

Beware of becoming a “practical atheist” through inattention to all that is around us. Look up; look around — and believe.  – Luther

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“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7, NIV)

The “horses” and “chariots” of today are no less alluring than in David’s time. 

As disciples of Jesus, the Lord God is not our “last resort”; as in someone we call on when all of our other schemes have failed, and our other means have been exhausted. On the contrary: The Lord God is our first resource.

In the words of the hymn (“What a Friend we have in Jesus”): “O what peace we often forfeit; o what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry; everything to God in prayer.”  – Luther

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“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” (Psalm 4:8, NLT)

We are reminded daily of the perils of our time: Disease, injury, war, pestilence, mayhem, shortages. . .  It is enough to keep you up at night!

Times were just as tough and uncertain in David’s time (and his time was probably a good bit tougher that we have it today). Yet, David — the author of today’s psalm — declares that “in peace I will lie down and sleep.” 

David did not derive his peace from his wealth, his military might, his physicians, or his own intelligence.  His confidence was based entirely on God. We do well to do likewise.  – Luther

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