Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

For starters, with this verse we need to remember that in the culture of the day, a person’s name was considered the essence of who they were. That’s why it was so extremely significant that Adam was given the task of naming all the animals in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:19) So knowing the Name of the Lord here means knowing who God is and what He is like. With that understood, it makes a lot of sense that those who know God depend on Him. (That’s the nuance of the Japanese translation, where the NIV says “trust in.”) That’s really the essence of faith, when we come down to it. We may say we believe in God, but when push comes to shove, do we really rely on Him, or do we think we have to take care of it ourselves, or do we rely on some “god substitute” like the government? God is the only one who is really trustworthy, and getting that through our heads and hearts is of vital importance. The basis for that is given in the second half of this verse: God has a perfect track record! From our perspective it doesn’t always look that way, because our vision, our awareness, is so limited. Hebrews 11, after listing so many heroes of faith, says, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40) If they didn’t receive what was promised, doesn’t that make God unreliable? Not at all! It means that they, and we, need to trust God with the time table of the fulfillment of His promises. Frankly, that can be pretty difficult at times! However, trusting, obedient faith is the only way to real peace, joy, and satisfaction in this fallen world. As the Bible makes very clear, in the final analysis, those who are in Christ Jesus come out on top, in great glory, and we need to rest in that assurance.

I certainly didn’t expect to write all of that when I started! I am confronted with all sorts of stresses and failures all the time, on my own part and on the part of others. If I focus on those things I will lose the peace and joy God has and intends for me. If I focus on God, and how He is going to bring good and glory out of even those things, (Romans 8:28) then I will keep drawing closer to Him and be transformed into the likeness of His Son. (2 Corinthians 3:18) As a pastor, I not only need to be doing that myself, I need to be leading others to do so as well. Actually, the New Testament is clear that all believers are to be encouraging one another to live this way!

Father, thank You for Your grace and patience. Thank You for Your faithfulness, both to protect and guide me and to speak through me. Thank You for the clarification/amplification You gave me just now on this morning’s message. Help me trust You enough to let You speak and act unhindered through me, for the blessing, even the salvation, of many, and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!