Daily Devotion in Psalm 144

 

Daily Nugget:
“My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.” Psalm 144:2 Also: Psalm 18:2, II Sam. 2:23.

An obedient, walking-with-the-Lord Christian has little to fear. Psalm 144:2 points out seven bits of help upon which God can be relied. They applied to David and his people, and they are also available to today’s believers.

The provisions of the Lord include:

• He is good. We do not deserve the blessings God dumps on his faithful followers, but because of His merciful love, He bestows so much on us. We would not have anything if it were not for His generosity!
• He is our fortress. Like biblical fortresses, God is a protector of all within His family — the family of God. No one can get through God’s mighty fortification unless, for His reasons, He allows them.
• He is our high tower. Many fortresses had at least one tall building in them. One could see far-away troubles or enemies coming from a perch inside a high watchtower. Our God sees in advance what dangers are headed our way. Nothing that can happen to us is a surprise to Him. He sees our future and protects His own from oncoming perils.
• He is our deliverer. He can get us out of the troubles we find ourselves facing.
• He is our shield. This protection, used in battle, keeps a warrior safe. Whatever is hurled at the Christian soldier will be reflected by the protecting God.
• He can be trusted. When all fail our expectations, God is the one that will always be there for us. He promises never to leave or forsake His own. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalm 37:25 Also: Heb. 13:5.
• He can overcome (“subdueth”) all that wish us harm.

Rehearsing all that God can be to those faithful and obedient to Him should remove much fear one may have. Our God-given securities should encourage those trusting in Him. Nothing can happen to God’s own unless He allows it, and in those cases, it is best for the person at that time.
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2

Today’s Thought:
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Hymn by Martin Luther

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing
Our Helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe
His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate
On earth is not his equal

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He
The Lord of hosts His name, from age to age the same
And He must win the battle
And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure
One little word shall fell him

Words to Understand:
Subdueth: win over; overcome, conquer

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 144
1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 ¶ I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.