Meditation
02/19/2025
Psalm 103
As we consider the first two verses of Psalm 103, we might find ourselves wondering what happy circumstance in David’s life would have elicited such praise. But, in fact, as we read the Psalm, it seems apparent to me that the psalmist was not rejoicing so much about some recent victory or a pleasant occurrence in his life. Rather, I think, David’s soul was responding to something much more sublime; I believe the Holy Spirit led David to consider the amazing mercy and goodness of God for His people, and all the wonderful plans that God has for his own. In David’s life, as it should be in ours, the praise that is called for does not depend at all upon present circumstances. Israel, even in times of difficulty, could bless the God whose mercies were as great as the heavens are high above the earth (verse 11); and whatever their situation over the centuries, the faithful of Israel could always rejoice in God’s lovingkindness towards His people, as well as in the ultimate blessings He had in mind for them as a nation. Regardless of the difficulties or failures of the present, God has wonderful plans for His children!
In verse 2 of this Psalm, we are called upon to “forget not all His benefits.” Do we remember the benefits of the Lord even during the difficult times? They are just as real then. What are some of these benefits? We read in verses 3-5, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s”. My dear Christian friend, just like a father provides good things for his children, God daily blesses His own.
On any day, we who are believers can remember that God forgives our iniquities and heals our diseases. How blessed we are to be able to say, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us,” (verse 12). This is the magnificent truth for all who have trusted in Christ! And as for our diseases, while many of us may still have sickness or feel the effects of advancing age, we can always be cheered to know that despite our declining health, we have eternal life in Christ. We also can know that the God of the universe understands our weaknesses and actively helps His own all along our wilderness path: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust,” (verses 13,14). Come what may in our lives, we have a great High Priest who can sympathize with us in our infirmities, having walked on this earth as a man, and this same One knows how to help us and sustain us all along our journey through this life. He shall not suffer thy foot to be moved (Psalm 121:3).
Even in our darkest hour, we can look to the cross and see the greatest gift of love the world has ever known, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” (John 3:16.) The Lord Jesus Christ, in His finished work on Calvary’s cross, has purchased our pardon through His blood; and we through faith in Him, have forgiveness for our sins, are become the children of God, and have great glory before us. We who have trusted in Christ for our salvation are most blessed, and this is true whatever the ease or difficulty of our path here below! “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
Blessings to all,
Steven J. Faulkner
02/12/2025
Psalm 61 — The Rock that is higher than I
In the prayerful words of Psalm 61, we hear the cry of a child of God who is being overwhelmed by some awful crisis that is pressing upon him like a great and terrible flood. I can only imagine the dire circumstances that must have weighed upon the mind of the psalmist, as we hear his heartfelt petition, seemingly from the very limits of his endurance: “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I,” (verses 1-2). Whether the emergency prompting this prayer was a specific incident in David’s life, or whether it was more a reflection on a combination of past experiences, David was looking to the Lord alone for help in times that must have been trying in the extreme. But, notice what it is that this faithful one cries out for. We do not hear him petition for the great trials to be removed, but rather for the rock which will lift him above all cares and concerns of this life; for the rock which the Lord alone will certainly lead him to. This rock is high enough to raise him up above the floods of trouble, and to lift him to a higher plane.
Does it not seem, at times, that desperate circumstances come upon us in waves, threatening to surround and overwhelm us like a great flood? Such times can be terrifying, as we see the floodwaters rise, and there is no relief in sight. What we need at such times is a rock rising above the troubles waters; a solid rock, a place of rest and safety far above the threatening circumstances of this world. We need the rock that is higher than I.
Now, David does not seek just any rock, but only the rock which the Lord Himself will lead him to. David calls upon the Lord to conduct him safely to this rock, and to set his feet there upon that place, far above the rising floods. What’s more, this child of God knows with all his fiber that he can depend upon the Lord to bring him to this place of peace and rest.
My dear friend, I wonder if you have experienced such a time of overwhelming circumstances in your life. Perhaps you are in the midst of such a flood of trouble just now as you read these words. Maybe you are under severe attack by enemies that seek to ruin you, or business or financial woes have encompassed you all around. Perhaps the grip of serious illness is upon you, and there seems to be nothing but the rising waters of suffering before you. If this is your case, my dear friend, I’m sure you will find it comforting to know that the very God of the universe, the One whose eye was upon David so long ago, has His eye upon you personally just now. We read in Psalm 34:15: “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.” But just like with David of old, the Lord may not choose to remove the flood of trials that have come upon us, yet we must never mistake this for a lack of care for His own. If He will not remove the flood, then surely He will set us above our fears by the knowledge of his presence with us, knowing of His perfect plan and good intentions for those who are His own: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end,” (Jeremiah 29:11).
In times of trouble, we can and must call upon Him for that Rock that is higher than I. But, what exactly is that Rock? I believe we find the answer stated very clearly in Psalm 18:1 where we read, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower”. For believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, that is for you and for me, He is our Rock, and it is to Christ Himself that we seek in those times that try the soul.
David knew, as we can know too, that the Lord is faithful and good, and He will be with us in every trial, and will certainly lead us to Himself when we cry out to Him in faith in those times of our extremity; He will lead us to the rock that is higher than I. In Hebrews 13:5 we read: “…for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Blessings to all,
Steven J. Faulkner