“O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in Your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.” – Psalm 143:1
Have you ever tried to bargain with God?
How’d that go for you?
You’ve at least heard it if you haven’t said it yourself…
“God, if You get me out of this, I’ll never do XYZ again.”
It’s an interesting negotiation if you think about it. God gives us a command and we break it. We, justly, should be disciplined. However, our bargaining position is that if God doesn’t discipline us or, even more boldly, also removes the natural consequences of our sin, we won’t break His command again.
That’s not a bargain at all!
It’s really more of a threat, isn’t it? It implies that if God doesn’t save us that we will keep breaking His commands, all the more deserving those consequences.
David shows us a different way of asking God for mercy.
Rather than trying to convince God to show mercy because of something he (David) had done or some characteristic he (David) embodied, David appeals to God’s own characteristics and actions.
“in Your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.“
God is a God who loves to show mercy. He has said so, Himself. He also has made promises to love us, be with us, forgive us, etc. David appeals to this. He is basically saying,
“God, please listen to me and help me because that’s who you are. You are faithful and righteous even when we aren’t.”
We’re All Beggars David’s approach is so much better than attempting to bargain with God. See, the truth is, we have nothing to bargain with. The most we can possibly offer is to try to be what He created us to be, holy, obedient, and righteous. That’s not adding anything. It’s like a chair being proud that it holds people up when they sit on it. That’s what it’s supposed to do. Furthermore, God knows we’re going to fail even at that.
Thankfully, God doesn’t show mercy because we deserve it or offer something worth the mercy. He shows mercy because He loves to show mercy. He helps us because He loves to help us.
This is shown most clearly on the cross. We didn’t do anything to deserve Jesus taking our punishment, quite the contrary. We deserved that punishment. Yet, there He was. As Jesus said,
“No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” – John 10:18
He chose to die on that cross because He wanted to save us. God puts it this way in Hebrews 12,
“[look] to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2
So, cry out to Jesus.
When you are in need, when you are in danger, when you are facing the consequences of your sin, cry out to Jesus. He will listen to your cry, not because you deserve it and not if you make the right offer, but because that’s who He is. He promised to be there for us, to help us, and to forgive us and God is faithful!
Dear Jesus,
I know I have nothing to offer You, yet You love me anyway. You are faithful and righteous.
If you have something for which you need to cry out to God, do it.
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
How faithful are you to God?
This seems to be the focus of much of Christianity. People checking up on each other to make sure they are living right. Pastors preaching on how we need to do better or trust more. Some even tell us that if we would just have more faith and live more faithful lives, God would do amazing things.
Yet, the Bible focuses not on your faithfulness, but God’s. Sure the Bible talks about how we should be faithful, but that isn’t the emphasis. The emphasis is God’s faithfulness even in the face of our unfaithfulness.
The Example of Israel Many Sunday School lessons make examples of the “heroes” of the Bible. David defeats Goliath. Abraham trusts God. Samson destroys the Philistines. Yet, sometimes we forget to mention that David committed adultery and murder, Abraham several times did not trust God, and Samson disobeyed God in arrogance pursuing Delilah.
The story of Israel is one not of the amazingly faithful People of God, but the People of God constantly grumbling against God and turning from Him to false gods. Yet, God remained faithful despite their unfaithfulness.
“Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11
God’s Faithfulness Israel is an example for us. In the history of Israel, we see God’s great faithfulness to a people who don’t deserve it and who constantly turn from God. We also see God’s great mercy. When they turn from Him, He works to bring them back. When they turn and repent (usually in desperation), God shows mercy, receives them, and blesses them.
Why do we need this example?
If we’re honest, we already know. More often than not, our lives look more like Abraham’s lack of trust or Samson’s arrogance than they do David’s defeat of Goliath. We need this example to be reminded of God’s great faithfulness to us, even when we are not faithful…especially when we are not faithful.
God pursues us, too, and works to bring us back. We know that we can turn and repent and He will show mercy, receive us, forgive us, and bless us. Great is His Faithfulness!
Heavenly Father,
Great is my faithlessness. I confess that I have sinned against You and others. However, greater is Your faithfulness. Please forgive me and renew me.
Amen.
Why not sing some praises to God today with the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”?
“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” – Psalm 56:4
Where do we find the phrase, “In God we trust.”?
If you said U.S. money, you are correct. It’s actually a pretty amazing thing. Historically, it was the king or career who was praised on the money.
In fact, many national leaders over the course of history have claimed to be God (or a god). The Pharaohs of Egypt and many of the Caesars of Rome claimed to be gods and demanded the worship of their citizens.
In Rome, it was known as Caesar Worship and for the Caesars who practiced it, they required all people in the Roman empire to worship them under threat of death. Can you imagine being a Christian during this time? Many Christians were killed for refusing.
“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
According to a letter from Smyrna, these were the (translated) words of Polycarp, one of the church fathers who was a disciple of the Apostle John. In his 80s, he was arrested and brought into an arena. The Roman Proconsul actually seemed to want to save Polycarp’s life and pleaded with him to just swear by Caesar and be released. He refused.
The Proconsul then threatened to burn Polycarp at the stake. Polycarp responded,
“You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly.”
According to this account, Polycarp understood what David wrote about centuries before in Psalm 56. It is in God we trust, for God is greater and God is faithful.
Yes, the tyrants of this world may hurt or imprison or even kill us, but they are not greater than the one who overcame death. They cannot threaten with something greater than eternal condemnation nor can their threats overrule the one who offers eternal life.
So, let us trust the Lord in all circumstances, good or bad. He is greater. He is faithful. We have nothing to fear.
Heavenly Father,
Hold me firmly in the faith. Help me to endure even in the face of threat and harm. May I trust in You no matter what.
“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” – Isaiah 25:1
What are you doing next weekend?
How about next year?
We often make plans. Sometimes we do them. Sometimes not. I’ve been planning to fix-up the paint on some of the walls in my house…for about 2 years now.
When God makes plans He always follows through and He has made some awesome plans!
How wonderful to consider that when God blesses us, He planned that a long time ago and He faithfully followed through. He always does.
Do we need to worry? Nope. God knows the plans He has for us…and they are awesome! So, you can rest.
Heavenly Father,
You know the plans You have for me. They are good. Thank You for loving me and caring for me. Thank You for following through on all Your plans and all Your promises.