You can absolutely have confidence in God. I realize that sometimes we feel that God is far away from us and almost seems to be too busy for our small problems and concerns. However, He cares so deeply for us. God can help you regardless of your condition. He loves you with an everlasting love and with unmatched grace. We just have to trust Him.
God honors those who trust Him
In verse 1 we see that God really does honor those who trust Him. There are many things we can trust in the world. We can place trust in our jobs, our pastors, our friends, our spouses, and so many other things that generally let us down from time to time. But God is different.
He is faithful to all His promises (Psalm 145:13). We can trust Him. We can trust Him with the big things and the small things that seem big. We can trust Him with illness and with death. We can trust Him with our electricity bills and all other needs. He promises to take care of us. In fact, this verse says that those who trust in the Lord are like the temple mount in Jerusalem; they are secure, unshakable, and immovable.
This temple mount was built by King Solomon and has been considered to be the holiest place for Jews. Think about what God is telling us in this verse. We are secure in Him as we trust Him.
God protects those who trust Him
Protection is something we all need. If you were a traveler slowly moving from your hometown to Jerusalem to worship God you needed protection. There were all kinds of danger around every corner. Robbers and thieves and beggars and those who simply wanted to hurt. But God demonstrated His protection by giving us a picture of Jerusalem and the mountains which surround it.
Verse 2 tells us that the mountains which surrounded Jerusalem provided protection for the city and that is exactly how God looks at those who trust Him. He protects us just like He protected Jerusalem. He protects us because He loves us and cares for us. Do you see that? God protects us on every side.
God delivers those who trust Him
So many times we feel like God is allowing us to go through difficulty and we get to a point where we cannot take it any longer. It seems God shows up just when we need Him. Israel was susceptible to foreign nations establishing a stronghold in Jerusalem. From time to time this would happen.
But God promises to deliver them and not allow the rule of a foreign nation to cause believers to do wrong. Just when it seems we can no longer put up with the foolishness of forgetting God He provides a way of escape for those who trust Him.
God hears those who trust Him
Do you pray? Do you cry out to God for things? Do you worship God through your prayers? The psalmist prays directly in verse 4 to God and asks for his favor. He asks God to do good to those who are good and righteous in their hearts. Do you see the prerequisite? Do you see the trust? They were good and upright in their hearts.
I know for me that I feel sometimes very inadequate to pray because I don’t always feel good and righteous. What right do I have to ask God for anything? What right do I have to ask God for any protection? What right do I have to ask God for any favor? But this verse gives us the answer. True trust in God is a requisite for God to hear our prayers and move in our lives.
God despises those who replace Him
The psalmist closes this chapter in verse 5 by mentioning those who turn aside and who replace Him with evil and crooked ways. He says those will be lead away with evildoers. This is a very harsh verse as the psalmist prays. Those who turn aside are hypocrites. They run with the wrong crowd and God allows it to happen.
You know, sometimes God gives us what we deserve. I know that God is full of grace, but God is also just. When we make selfish and ungodly decisions God gives us what we deserve. He allows us to run with the ungodly. I would rather run with those who trust God than those who find other things to place my trust in and forego His solid foundation, His valuable protection, His loving deliverance, and His attentive ear when we pray.
I pray today that God will draw you close to Him as you realize His love for you provides all those things because of His grace and goodness to those who trust Him.
Some Questions…
- What are you doing today to stay close to God?
- How does God’s protection give you some comfort?
- We know God hears our prayers. How are you praying?