Psalm 145:14-20 (2)

I love to shoot archery. I love all types of shooting sports when I was a kid I was out with my sling shot or bow or whatever I could find that would sling a projectile. One of the things that I have learned no matter what the shooting discipline is, is this. You can shoot as some people do with one eye closed to get a clearer sight picture, but you loose something in return, you loose your peripheral vision, the ability to see things outside the little tiny bullseye. You loose even some of your depth perception, the ability to see how close something is to you.

You see if you train yourself to shoot with both eyes open, you gain the benefit of seeing your target more clearly and seeing the things that are in the peripheral and more aware of your surroundings.

Today we want to consider something incredibly comforting to the believer who is struggling, to the one who feels the pressures and struggles that are plaguing us today, these verses should offer sweet relief to the afflicted soul.

The Lord’s Compassion upon all people and especially those who desire Him.

He has a laser like focus on a spotlight trained on those who desire Him, and those outside of his focus still benefit but only due to their proximity to God and His people. Even the spotlight that is focused on one object spreads residual light upon the darkness.

The Scope of God’s Compassion (14-16)

The Psalmist uses the word “all” 13 times is a mere 9 verses.

This passage is somewhat shocking when you consider verse 13 that this king is ruler over a vast kingdom that endures for all time. This is some king, and yet we see that this king is one who condescends who stoops low to make secure the weak and feeble knees of the falling.

The story of Amelek

God is that being to whom the only great thing is himself; and, therefore, when “the eyes of all wait upon him,” the seraph gains not attention by his gaze of fire, and the insect loses it not through the feebleness of vision.

Archangels, and angels, and men, and beasts of the field, and fowls of the air, and fish of the sea, draw equally the regard of him, who, counting nothing great but himself, the Creator, can pass over as small no fraction of the creature.

Philippians 2:9–10 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Revelation 1:7 ESV

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

The scope of man’s desire. Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes considers the meaning of life and ponders all the pleasures and satisfaction that the world has to offer. His conclusion eat, drink and be merry, because all is vanity. Without God

The man in the fox hole that says a prayer that the Lord would deliver him from the hand of his enemy and then forgets his promise loves only the benefit he receives from God and not God Himself.

The man who does not fear God cares only for the things that this life has to offer. He too must look to God for what is good even in this life.

Yet his desire is not for God Himself but only the things that God provides. I man who is rich finds out quickly that He has many friends, but once his money is gone what friends does he have?

It is not the works of God or the benefits that God offers that the believer should love and desire, it is God himself.

He fears God and yet desires that the Lord be near to Him. His desires are more than food and drink and pleasure. His desire is for the Lord Himself. This is personal verses 1 and 2 of this Psalm start off with the praise of God and King. Not praise of His works although that later becomes part of the 4 fold reason for praise, but the praise is to God Himself and to His name.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

The Spotlight of God’s Compassion. (18, 19)

Notice that there is more to the desire of the righteous than just food. More to their desire than just the earthly desires and comforts that men pursue… We desire not the things of God but God Himself. Verses 14-16 include believers but notice the shift in verses 18 and 19. He still uses the word “all” but this time he uses a modifier or a qualifier, all who call on Him, those who fear Him, all who love Him. Infact even more convincing is the hinge upon which these verses turn. It is as if the author is now shifting his melody to focus directly on the people of God. The word that he uses here hasid is translated in the ESV as kind, but does not convey the sense of the meaning as well, the kindness that is spoken of here is faithfulness or loyalty. It is a word that shares the same root with the word “hesed” which means the covenant steadfast love of God.

The question that arises here in this verse is this? Who or what is the Lord faithful too? It would indeed be a strange thing to think that the Lord would be faithful to the wicked whom He had determined to destroy, neither do we see anywhere else in scripture where the idea of covenant steadfast love and kindness is said to be directed towards the wicked. The Lord is faithful to keep His promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

So the promise is this that all who are in Christ have been given eternal life to the praise and glory of God the Father. He is righteous He is innocent and blameless owing no man anything.

Genesis 18:25 (ESV)

Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Whether it is the preservation of the righteous or the destruction of the wicked it is all to the Glory of God.

We are not content to eat the scraps that fall off the table, like a dog that finds his prize bone and then goes into the corner to work at it contently for hours. No our desires are more refined, we are not content until we are seated at the table and eating the presence of our Lord God. The point is not to eat but to eat at the table. We don’t come early come early to dinner to snack on the rich food we don’t come late, we sit to eat when the king is at the head of the table, and we take our fill of food and wine and we take our fill of the Lord Himself. .

If we find no relief from the hardships and troubles of this life, we are still blessed because our desires are found not in the things of God but in God Himself. So if we have God then we have everything.

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 ESV

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.