Escape from death
Sometimes reading the Old Testament can be a bit of a treasure hunt. This week's gem comes from within a Psalm that describes the destruction due to those who oppose God, which makes it that much more precious.
Our verses are Psalm 68:19-20:
It's like a summary of the New Testament hidden in the Old Testament. In the midst of King David's graphic Psalm about God's unstoppable victory in battle, there is this bit of softness and hope. It's God's personal touch in David's life, but also a metaphor for how God would help mankind through Jesus.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior. Our God is a lord, a ruler who has power over others and wealth and authority to draw from. We can easily say good things about him because of that. Do we take time time to praise God for who he is, and not just when he gives us what we want in the moment?
Who daily bears our burdens. God bears our burdens daily. He helps us through hardship, smooths over our flaws and the drama we create, and provides for our needs. He does this constantly, not just on special days like Christmas. Do we notice?
Our God is a God who saves. God saves us from disasters, and from ourselves. To save someone you have to love them on some level. Otherwise you just stand there mocking them while doom gobbles them up, telling them they deserve what has befallen them. God isn't like that. God saves. Do you believe that God would save you?
From the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. God is sovereign. That means he doesn't have to answer to anyone. He is not ruled by anyone. Nobody has power over him. Nobody can pressure him or manipulate him. Do we see him that way? Or do we engage in Christian witchcraft, where if we say a prayer enough times, or with enough people, or if the right Christians say the prayer, he has to do it, as if under some binding contractual agreement?
From him comes escape from death. In David's verses, he probably meant escaping death in battle. But it's true for death itself, eternally. From God comes our escape from death. If we die, we live again. It's a wall that's been made into a speed bump, thanks to Jesus. Do we see death as something we can escape with God's help? Or is it still permanent and ominous in our eyes?
Let's take a moment to praise God, who loves us, who is faithful, who saves us, who puts up with our faults and bankrolls our needs, who is both sovereign and devoted to us. He has always been like that, from the first day until now. And he will continue to be ours, every bit as awesome as he always has been.
Our verses are Psalm 68:19-20:
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
It's like a summary of the New Testament hidden in the Old Testament. In the midst of King David's graphic Psalm about God's unstoppable victory in battle, there is this bit of softness and hope. It's God's personal touch in David's life, but also a metaphor for how God would help mankind through Jesus.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior. Our God is a lord, a ruler who has power over others and wealth and authority to draw from. We can easily say good things about him because of that. Do we take time time to praise God for who he is, and not just when he gives us what we want in the moment?
Who daily bears our burdens. God bears our burdens daily. He helps us through hardship, smooths over our flaws and the drama we create, and provides for our needs. He does this constantly, not just on special days like Christmas. Do we notice?
Our God is a God who saves. God saves us from disasters, and from ourselves. To save someone you have to love them on some level. Otherwise you just stand there mocking them while doom gobbles them up, telling them they deserve what has befallen them. God isn't like that. God saves. Do you believe that God would save you?
From the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. God is sovereign. That means he doesn't have to answer to anyone. He is not ruled by anyone. Nobody has power over him. Nobody can pressure him or manipulate him. Do we see him that way? Or do we engage in Christian witchcraft, where if we say a prayer enough times, or with enough people, or if the right Christians say the prayer, he has to do it, as if under some binding contractual agreement?
From him comes escape from death. In David's verses, he probably meant escaping death in battle. But it's true for death itself, eternally. From God comes our escape from death. If we die, we live again. It's a wall that's been made into a speed bump, thanks to Jesus. Do we see death as something we can escape with God's help? Or is it still permanent and ominous in our eyes?
Let's take a moment to praise God, who loves us, who is faithful, who saves us, who puts up with our faults and bankrolls our needs, who is both sovereign and devoted to us. He has always been like that, from the first day until now. And he will continue to be ours, every bit as awesome as he always has been.
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