Remembering the Faithfulness of God

Introduction

The times in which we live have been uncertain to say the least. We have heard one expert say this and the other expert say the exact opposite. It can be quite confusing to determine in who and what we need to place our faith. The gods of the nations in biblical times were also known to be fickle, undependable, changeable and moody. The God of the Bible, however, is shown to be true, very dependable and unchanging. Throughout Scripture, God is seen as faithful.

Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV84

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV84

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV84

God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Several other passages could be found in God’s Word that show us the faithfulness of God. The Book of Psalms has several. One particular Psalm, Psalm 57, gives us an example on how to go forward in remembering the faithfulness of God as we are establishing a new normal.

Psalm 57:1–11 NIV84

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Remembering by Trusting in His Mercy (vs. 1)

This Psalm historically is known as one from a time frame when David was fleeing from Saul. We see the record of it in 1 Samuel 22. It was a time of turmoil, confusion and uncertainty. It was a time of fear when there seemed there was no where to turn. Yet, David calls on the One who ceases turmoil, who brings order to confusion and with Him all things are certain. Somewhere along his life, David learned the meaning of what is stated in Proverbs 18:10:

Proverbs 18:10 NIV84

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

David runs indeed to the Lord and in doing so, David pleas for the Lord’s mercy. The Hebrew word that is used is CHAMEN. It means to be gracious. David is asking the Lord to extend grace or compassion. He specifically calls out to God because only God can give true mercy. David was stuck in a place and he needed to find his help and support by praying to God. His request is so heartfelt and desired that it is repeated. “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.” David remembered that God is the source of absolute mercy. David was in a “stay in shelter” kind of place as he was fleeing persecution from a king named Saul. David’s “COVID-19” was a jealous king that wanted him dead.

David’s example can be ours as well. As we face things in which we cannot control, we should trust God’s mercy. David continued that prayer by saying his soul was able to take refuge in the shadow of the wings of God. Dear friend, if we can take refuge in the shadow, what can we experience in the complete access through Jesus Christ our Lord?

Ephesians 2:4–5 NIV84

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

I am reminded of the chorus from the great hymn, “At Calvary.”

MERCY THERE WAS GREAT AND GRACE WAS FREE, PARDON THERE WAS MULTIPLIED TO ME, THERE MY BURDENED SOUL FOUND LIBERTY, AT CALVARY.

Have you remembered the mercy of God? God in His mercy, cares about what you and I are going through. He is very aware of the things that are causing us turmoil. Just the fact that His mercy is great ought to give us great comfort. However, God just doesn’t give us His mercy! He also gives us a purpose.

Remembering by Experiencing His Purpose for Me (vs. 2)

Psalm 57:2 NIV84

I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.

Did you catch that last phrase, “who fulfills His purpose for me?” God had a purpose for David and He has one for you and me as well.

Isaiah 46:3–4 NIV84

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

This beautiful passage reminds us that God created us, God carries us, and God sustains us! There is a reason He does so!

Ephesians 1:5 NLT

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Our purpose for existing is to give God great pleasure! When we are understanding that we are the pleasure of God, we have a purpose. We also know that God will use everything in our lives for the good.

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Are you remembering that God has made you for a purpose? If God has made us for a purpose, then we can be assured He will fulfill His purpose in us and for us. This takes us to another area that we can remember His faithfulness. We can remember the faithfulness of God by understanding that He is bigger than anything we can ever face. Psalm 57:3 reminds us that God sends and saves and rebukes that which is not of Him.

Remembering by Understanding that He is Bigger Than Anything I will ever face (vs. 4, 6)

David shares in verses 4 and 6 that he is in the midst of an attack. He compares His foes like lions whose teeth are like spears and arrows and tongues are like sharp swords. He says that his foes are trying to snare him in a trap. Ever feel like that? It seems like there are attacks like this in many ways and it makes it tough to keep on going. However, God is way bigger than any attack or thing we cannot control. I love how this is demonstrated even in this passage. Notice I said that David was in the midst of an attack in verses 4 and 6. But look at verse 5, right in the middle of the attacks and attempts to entrap, we see

Psalm 57:5 NIV84

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

What a lesson for us! This week when I listened to our Governor’s announcement that he was extending the stay at home order, I felt like I was in the midst of an attack. I was disheartened that we could not assemble together yet as a church in a building. I was frustrated that all that I was doing didn’t seem like enough to adequately care and minister to those I have been called to shepherd. A couple of our members have had to spend some time in a hospital and rehab facility but I could not visit them due to the mandates set forth by our government. I have been deeply troubled by all this just like many of you have been. However, the example David gives in this Psalm is to exalt God and to proclaim His glory. Have you been able to do that these last few months? Maybe we need to say that together right now....read it aloud or say it with me:

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let your glory be over all the earth!”

When we exalt God, we are praising Him. This is another way we can remember His faithfulness. When we praise, we are declaring how wonderful and magnificent our God is and who He is!

Remembering by Praising His Name (vs. 5, 7-11)

Something beautiful happens when we praise God. The more we praise, the more we feel peace. The more we praise, our problems and circumstances get smaller. The more we praise, the more we praise! Think about that! David says in verse 7 that his heart is steadfast. When we are steadfast, we are firm in purpose. We are unwavering and established. Is your heart steadfast on God and all He is? It sure helps our praise when we are! We see that when our heart is steadfast on God our praise overflows into singing and making music.

I recently heard someone say, “You don’t won’t want me singing, I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!” According to this scripture, how you sing is not a qualifier of what you sing! Your singing overflows from your steadfastness. Your steadfastness leads to your praise.

Look was happens when your steadfastness leads to praise which leads to singing and making music: You will be so ready to praise God that you will wake up in the morning ready to praise God! “Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.”

Notice what else will happen. David says, “I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.”

David is saying, “Ain’t nobody going to praise you more than me!” David is going to take the lead in praising God!

How much praise would God receive if you were the only one leading it? I have had to ask myself that question this week. In a time of setback after setback, it is easy to say, “Ahhhh…I am just going to let someone else do that praising stuff.” Dear friend, do you realize that if you were the only one on this earth, that God would have still made His provision through for your salvation through Jesus Christ? I have this little item sitting on my desk. It looks like a little book with the words on the cover that says, “Why Jesus Died.” When you open it up, there is a mirror on the inside. I had never seen one of these until my sister shared it a couple of years ago at my Dad’s funeral. Evidently my Dad would carry it around with him and share it with others. The very reason Jesus died was for you and for me. God is magnificent and wonderful and almighty, and those characteristics are worthy of praise. However, when we can realize that He is magnificent and wonderful and almighty enough to save our souls, we should praise Him and we should take the lead in it!

David reminds us, again in the middle of his chaos and in hiding for his life, that God’s love is great. It reaches to the heavens and His faithfulness reaches to the skies! I don’t know what your perception the heavens would be, but in my finite mind, I find it bigger than I can ever dream or imagine! That makes me want to say exactly what David repeated in verse 11:

Psalm 57:11 NIV84

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

When I trust His mercy, when I remember that He has a purpose for me, when I realize He is Bigger than anything I will ever face, and when I praise Him for all He is and all He has done, then I will have no problem remembering His faithfulness. And then guess what will happen....I will praise Him MORE!

Glory Hallelujah!