Psalms 60-62
As we approach Psalm 60, we can see just how intricate is David’s relationship with God. Every facet of his life is interwoven with his faith.
This psalm starts out sounding dire and full of fear. Yet we know that this psalm was written when David and his men were fighting Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah. Surely these were tough times; great armies were against them.
Notice the end of the psalm, however. Good old David knows he can count on God.
“Through our God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down the enemy.”(60:12)
Then what rejoicing we see in Psalm 61! “You have been a shelter for me; a strong tower from the enemy.”(61:3) He is the Rock that is higher than David – or you – or me.
Which leads us to the concept in Psalm 62.
“Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor….Power belongs to God!”(62:9)Men are insignificant compared to God, yet His mercy is always toward them. They – and we – can count on His goodness and faithfulness toward us.
Romans 5
The mystery of Christ is still being elaborated.
We are justified by faith in Jesus and His sacrifice for us personally. We talked about that in the last chapter. Now we learn that we walk out our whole lives (we stand in His grace), through faith also.
Through one man, Adam, sin entered the world and as its result, death. All mankind suffered from this because of the original sin. Now One Man, Jesus, took the sin of man to the cross, paying the price for all. “For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.”(V. 15).
So grace is extended as a gift to all who will believe in Jesus. All who accept the free gift of righteousness will accept God’s grace.
So what is grace exactly? It’s sometimes called “God’s unmerited favor.” Yet it’s more than that. God’s grace might be described as His power toward us to change and become the people He created us to be. On the other hand, His grace might also be described as God’s favor on us right now – just as we are.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for “lovingkindness” was the most significant word used to describe God. In the New Testament, the word “grace” is the most significant. And the two are related. The word means three different things: God’s love, his strength, and His steadfastness, or faithfulness.
Think about this. God’s love is being faithfully poured out upon us at full strength. His strength, His love, and His faithfulness all combined.
If we can ever get this, we will never be the same. If those around us ever get it, the world will be different also.
I hope we get this!
