Like the King, We Trust In the Lord

Meditations on the Psalms 

August 2, 2022

Like the King, We Trust In the Lord

 

For the king trusts in the Lord.

    The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling.

Psalm 21:7

In northern Israel, Tel Megiddo overlooks the Jezreel Valley. This place is better known to Christians by its Greek name, Armageddon. In ancient times, Megiddo was an important city-state. Excavations have discovered many layers of ruins, indicating a long period of settlement. Megiddo is strategically located at the hub of trade routes for three civilizations: Europe; Asia and Africa. Israel’s central location made it a prized possession in ancient times and was thus the place of constant battles between competing nations.

Warfare was part of the fabric of life for the Israelites, and much of the Old Testament reflects the imagery of war. Psalm 21 was probably written in anticipation of a battle. At the core of Israel’s national identity was a belief that she had been called to be the people of God. Through her covenant with God, she understood herself to be the Divine Army used by God to execute judgment upon the sinfulness and idolatry of other nations. The two parts of this psalm reflect on God’s affirmation of Israel and God’s judgment of evil.

This psalm is also understood as being fulfilled by Jesus in his epic battle against sin and death. The climax of this battle was on the Cross where Jesus encountered the full wrath of the forces of evil. But God is stronger than evil, and Jesus’ resurrection destroyed the power of evil to bind God’s children with a yoke of sin and death. Hallelujah!

Although the power of evil has been broken, the forces of evil still wage war against God’s people and God’s creation. Unlike Israel, the Christian church does not see herself as the Divine Army used by God to execute judgment upon the sinfulness and idolatry of others. As the followers of Jesus, we look to Jesus, who fulfilled the Old Covenant and ushered in the New Covenant, to show us how to respond to the forces of evil. Having the same mind as Christ (see Philippians 2:5-11), we go into our world armed with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, and prayer (Ephesians 6:12-18).

My Takeaway: The king in Psalm 21 affirmed that as he trusted in the Lord: the unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling. The writer of Hebrews gives us a similar assurance in Hebrews 12:1-2, “. . . let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Amen!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.