trustworthiness

Our Faithful God

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A Song of Ascents.

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
    which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the LORD surrounds his people,
    from this time forth and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
    on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
    their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
    and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
    the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
    Peace be upon Israel! – Psalm 125:1-5 ESV

In this song of ascent, the psalmist uses Mount Zion as a symbol of Israel’s unique status as God’s chosen people. But his focus is on those who “trust in the LORD.” He describes the faithful and trustworthy as being like Mount Zion, the location of Jerusalem. This spot on earth was sacred to the Israelites because it housed Yahweh’s Temple and was considered His dwelling place on earth. After Solomon had dedicated the newly built Temple, he received a word from Yahweh, assuring him that the LORD’s presence would always abide there.

“I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.” – 1 Kings 9:3 ESV

So, when the psalmist states, “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,” he is reminding them of their status as Yahweh’s “treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5). Throughout their history, the Israelites had heard Yahweh affirm their unique status as His covenant people.

For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. – Deuteronomy 7:6 NLT

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure. – Psalm 135:4 NLT

“The LORD has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. And if you do, he will set you high above all the other nations he has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the LORD your God, just as he promised.” – Deuteronomy 26:18-19 NLT

But notice Moses’ emphasis on obedience. They were to be a covenant-keeping people. That is what the psalmist means by “those who trust in the LORD.” Trust requires faith, and faith demands obedience. Moses instructed the Israelites to obey all of Yahweh’s commands, not just some of them. They were to be faithful to Him alone and faithfully live up to His holy standards, and if they did, they would “receive praise, honor, and renown.”

The Israelites were to be holy and set apart, just as Yahweh’s Temple was. In fact, the only thing that made the Temple unique was the faithful adherence of Yahweh’s covenant people as they obeyed His commands concerning the sacrificial system. The Temple was holy, but could only remain so as long as the people who worshiped there lived holy, set-apart lives. However, the Israelites had a track record of disobedience, and, at one point, God accused them of going through the motions when it came to their worship.

“I hate all your show and pretense—
    the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
    I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
    an endless river of righteous living.” – Amos 5:21-24 NLT

During the reign of Josiah, God warned the people of Judah that He was weary of their apostasy and idolatry. Even though Josiah had instituted many reforms aimed at restoring the faithfulness of God’s people, Yahweh warned, “I will also banish Judah from my presence just as I have banished Israel. And I will reject my chosen city of Jerusalem and the Temple where my name was to be honored” (2 Kings 23:27 NLT).

Yet, during the days of Isaiah, Yahweh spoke of redeeming His disobedient people and restoring the glory of Jerusalem.

“And they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of The LORD; and you will be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.” – Isaiah 62:12 NLT

And that is the point of this psalm. While the Israelites were directly linked to Mount Zion and the city of Jerusalem, Yahweh is compared to the mountains that surrounded the City of David.

Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. – Psalm 125:2 NLT

“Mount Zion is not the highest peak in the mountain range around Jerusalem. To its east lies the Mount of Olives, to its north Mount Scopus, to the west and south are other hills, all of which are higher than Mount Zion. Surrounded by mountains, Mount Zion was secure, by its natural defensibility. So the psalmist compares the Lord to the hills around Jerusalem and the people to Mount Zion.” – Willem A.  VanGemeren, “Psalms.” In Psalms-Song of Songs. Vol. 5 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary

As significant as Mount Zion was, it would be nothing without the terrain that surrounded it. What made it so impregnable was its location. In the same way, the people of Israel were significant because of their relationship with Yahweh. Without Him, they would be just another people group. What set them apart was Yahweh’s strength and stability. Like the mountains surrounding Jerusalem, the God of Israel was an immovable and reliable source of security for His people. In one of his psalms, Asaph described Yahweh as more resiliant and dependable than the mountains themselves.

God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!  – Psalm 46:1-3 NLT

At one point in Israel’s history, God allowed the Temple to be destroyed by the Babylonians. It was part of His cleansing of the land, as He purged the wickedness from Judah. Yahweh used the Babylonians to destroy the city of Jerusalem, desecrate His House, and deport His disobedient people into captivity. Yet, despite their unfaithfulness, Yahweh remained faithful.

Long before the fall of Jerusalem, the psalmist optimistically wrote, “The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong” (Psalm 125:3 NLT). But he would be proved wrong. The day came when God allowed the wicked to rule the land of the godly. The Babylonians conquered Judah and placed its people under their dominion. For 70 years, the Israelites would be subjected to the whims of their Babylonian overlords. The land would become desolate, and the city of Jerusalem would be uninhabitable and inhospitable to life, all because the chosen people of God had chosen to be unfaithful. 

Unaware of the dark events that lie in Israel’s future, the psalmist begs God to spare them from tragedy.

O LORD, do good to those who are good,
    whose hearts are in tune with you.
But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O LORD.
    Take them away with those who do evil. – Psalm 125:4-5 NLT

In a way, the psalmist’s prayer was answered. God did banish those who turn to crooked ways. Yahweh purged the land of wickedness when He ordained the fall of Jerusalem. This was in keeping with the warning He gave to Moses and the people of Israel before they entered the Promised Land.

“You must obey all my decrees and regulations. You must not commit any of these detestable sins. This applies both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.

“All these detestable activities are practiced by the people of the land where I am taking you, and this is how the land has become defiled. So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.” – Leviticus 18:26-28 NLT

Yahweh, the faithful One, was forced to deal with His unfaithful people. The powerful protector became their judge, jury, and executioner.

“You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. And now the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Because you have not listened to me, I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever.” – Jeremiah 25:7-9 NLT

But despite Yahweh’s judgment and punishment of His disobedient people, He would not abandon them forever. In the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet records Yahweh’s promise to keep His covenant commitment to His people. He will one day return them to the land and restore His relationship with them.

“When I bring Israel home again from captivity
    and restore their fortunes,
Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its ruins,
    and the palace reconstructed as before.
There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving,
    and I will multiply my people, not diminish them;
I will honor them, not despise them.” – Jeremiah 30:18-19 NLT

This promise was partially fulfilled when a remnant of Israelites returned from captivity in Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. But the final phase of its fulfillment lies in the future.

The prophet Isaiah foretold of this event when he delivered this message from Yahweh concerning Israel’s future redemption and restoration.

Go out through the gates!
    Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;
    raise a flag for all the nations to see.
The LORD has sent this message to every land:
    “Tell the people of Israel,
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
    See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
They will be called “The Holy People”
    and “The People Redeemed by the LORD.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
    and “The City No Longer Forsaken.” – Isaiah 62:10-12 NLT

The Savior is coming. Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world, will one day return to earth and complete the redemptive plan of His Heavenly Father. That will include the restoration of Israel and the redemption of His covenant people. At the second coming of Jesus, the fate of Israel will be finalized, and it will answer the psalmist’s prayer for God to “do good to those who are good” and “banish those who turn to crooked ways” (Psalm 125:4-5 NLT). 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:1-4 ESV

Father, You are like the mountains surrounding Mount Zion. You are firm, unchanging, reliable, and trustworthy. You provide protection and security to those You call Your own, and while we so often prove unfaithful and disobedient, You remain unchanging in Your commitments to us. You love us unconditionally. You provide for us abundantly. You put up with us patiently. And You keep Your promises to us faithfully. Thank You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) 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.

My God, In Whom I Trust

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1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.” – Psalm 91:1-16 ESV

The author of this psalm remains unknown, but his message is a familiar one that encourages trust in a trustworthy God. He opens his psalm with a reminder of Yahweh’s sovereignty (Most High) and power (Almighty), two divine attributes that should promote confidence and peace among the children of God.

His word choice is intentional and carefully designed to create an aura of calm and quiet contentment.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.” – Pssalm 91:1-2 ESV

dwells – yāšaḇ – to remain, to sit, abide

shelter – sēṯer – secret place, protection, hiding place

abide – lûn – to stay permanently, to lodge (all night)

shadow – ṣēl – shade, protection, defense

refuge – maḥăsê – shelter from danger or storm, place of hope

fortress – māṣûḏ – stronghold, castle

Each word is intended to support the psalmist’s message concerning Yahweh’s trustworthiness. They are meant to be confidence-inducing and peace-promoting statements that flow from his own experience with God. He has found Yahweh to be a reliable source of strength, security, shelter, and protection, and he wants all those who hear the lyrics of his song to be reminded that they can expect God to deliver in their times of need.

For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection. – Psalm 91:3-4 NLT

The psalmist describes Yahweh as aggressively proactive, rescuing His children from every harmful circumstance and situation. Using the imagery of a mother bird protecting her young, he conveys God’s instinctive inclination to shelter His children from harm. But God’s response to His children’s needs is more than mechanical or instinctual. It is based on His faithful promises.

The Hebrew word rendered as “faithfulness” in verse 4 is ĕmeṯ, and it conveys the idea of spoken truth. God had made a covenant commitment to protect and provide for the people of Israel for generations, and He was a promise-keeping God.

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? – Numbers 23:19 NLT

Since the days when Moses led the people of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt and guided them to the land of promise, he had reminded them of God’s promise to provide for and protect them.

“For the people of Israel belong to the LORD;
    Jacob is his special possession.
He found them in a desert land,
    in an empty, howling wasteland.
He surrounded them and watched over them;
    he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks
    and hovers over her young,
so he spread his wings to take them up
    and carried them safely on his pinions.” – Deuteronomy 32:9-11 NLT

“How blessed you are, O Israel!
    Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord?
He is your protecting shield
    and your triumphant sword!
Your enemies will cringe before you,
    and you will stomp on their backs!” – Deuteronomy 33:29 NLT

The psalmist picked up on that theme and reiterated its powerful message to the Israelites of his day. While their circumstances had changed, their God remained the same. He was still powerful and reliable. He was trustworthy and true. His strength had not diminished, and despite their disobedience, His promises remained fully intact. He would do what He said He would do.

That is why the psalmist calls his people to replace their fear with faith.

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished. – Psalm 91:5-8 NLT

They had no reason to doubt God’s word, so there was no cause for concern. No matter what trial or difficulty came their way, they could trust in the promises of God. He would show up at just the right time and deliver His children in ways that defied logic and displayed His power and sovereignty.

The psalmist makes a promise of his own that almost comes across as hyperbolic or exaggerated in nature.

If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! – Psalm 91:9-13 NLT

It’s doubtful that he was speaking from personal experience. These fantastic claims are not meant to be actual evidence of God’s past actions; they are intended to convey the miraculous and sometimes inexplicable nature of His power. His point seems to be that, with God on their side, the Israelites were virtually invincible. They could look back on their storied past and recall times when God protected them from plagues, as He had done during their stay in Egypt. They could also recount the stories of their ancestors’ trek through the wilderness and how God had provided for all their needs along the way.

“For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but he provided for you so you would know that he is the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 29:5-6 NLT

The psalmist goes out of his way to paint a glowing picture of God’s power and trustworthiness. The Almighty has a proven track record of delivering on His promises and providing His people with all they need to succeed in a hostile and sometimes deadly world.

And to strengthen his argument, the psalmist closes with a personal word from God Himself.

The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.” – Psalm 91:14-16 NLT

This psalm is not intended to offer the promise of a trouble-free life. He does not guarantee a heaven-on-earth experience devoid of sorrow, suffering, trials, or pain. Jesus Himself said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT).

The apostle John wrote, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5 ESV). John’s emphasis on overcoming is not a promise of a victory-filled life free from obstacles or opposition. John himself was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel. The victory he promises is not an earthly one that manifests itself in triumph over every enemy and success at every turn. He isn’t offering your best life now. No, he is focusing our attention on the final victory that Christ will bring when He returns to earth a final time and completes the plan of redemption He began at His crucifixion and resurrection.

As Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” But God has a plan in place that will ensure a future free from pain, suffering, sorrow, sin, disease, and death. It will come to fruition when His Son returns and it will bring the ultimate victory and fulfill every promise that God has made to His people.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:1-4 NLT

Father, You are trustworthy and true. You have proven it time and time again. The Scriptures are filled with stories of Your faithfulness. Our lives are living evidence of Your goodness and greatness. But sometimes we fail to see Your handiwork because we are looking for the wrong thing. We seek a different outcome from our trials than the one You have planned. We desire a trouble-free life when You are calling us to live a trust-filled life. You are always encouraging us to place our hope in You and not our circumstances. We are to judge Your faithfulness based on Your character, not the lack of trials in our lives. The truth is, You display Your strength through our weakness. You use difficulties to make us dependent upon You. Our trust tends to grow best when our need for You becomes greatest. Thank You for showing up when the times get tough. Thank You for displaying Your power in tangible ways. But more than anything else, thank You for being a promise-keeping God who will one day make all things right. You are not done but, because You are faithful, You will do what You promised. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) 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.

A Name You Can Trust

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To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,
    they stumble and perish before your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
    you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
    their cities you rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.

9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion!
    Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 Be gracious to me, O LORD!
    See my affliction from those who hate me,
    O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
    that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
    I may rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked shall return to Sheol,
    all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
    and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O LORD!
    Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah – Psalm 9:1-20 ESV

This Psalm opens with what appears to be a musical notation: According to Muth-labben. The exact meaning of this phrase is unclear, but the NIV translates it as “The Death of the Son” and treats it as the name of a tune to which the Psalm was to be read. 

This Psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God opens with David declaring his intentions.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. – vs 1

I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. – vs 1

I will be filled with joy because of you. – vs 2

I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. – vs 2

No timeline or details are provided that might explain David’s excited declaration. It’s impossible to know what event may have prompted this impassioned promise to sing God’s praises, but David does give a list of reasons for his joy and gratitude.

  1. His enemies had retreated because God had defeated them.
  2. God’s defense of David had vindicated his right to rule as God’s vice-regent.
  3. As the true King and Judge of the earth, God had decided in David’s favor.
  4. God had “rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked” (NLT)
  5. In His sovereignty, God had blotted out their names forever.
  6. The victory of God had been complete and comprehensive.

It seems likely that this was a compilation on David’s part. He was looking back on his life and recalling the numerous occasions when God had intervened and rescued him from difficulty. This wasn’t about one isolated incident. From David’s perspective, God had a proven track record of faithfulness that showed up in His sovereign intervention in the affairs of his life.

David may have been the king of Israel, but he viewed Yahweh as the King of the universe, who “reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne” (Psalm 9:7 NLT). As the Judge of the world, God was just, fair, compassionate, and righteous in all His judgments. He never showed partiality or ruled unjustly. His verdicts were always accurate and free from corruption or coercion. God could not be bought off or deceived by the clever arguments of men, and David found God’s integrity to be a source of joy in a world filled with uncertainty and populated by untrustworthy men who could not be trusted.

David was intimately familiar with Yahweh’s character because he had seen it in action. He knew and understood God’s nature because he had witnessed it throughout his life. But the Psalms are more than a personal journal of David’s experiences, they are an expression of his grasp of God’s greatness and goodness. In this Psalm alone David reveals that his God is all-powerful, just, eternal, righteous, faithful, merciful, sovereign, impartial, holy, and wrathful.

David’s understanding of God’s nature produced in him a growing sense of trust and confidence. With each trial he encountered, David saw God show up and pour out His justice, mercy, and compassion. That is why David could say with confidence, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you” (Psalm 9:10 NLT).

To know God’s “name” is to be familiar with His reputation. Those who follow and trust God do so because they know Him to be trustworthy and reliable. He has proven Himself to be powerful and present in their lives. The Hebrew word translated as “name” can also mean “reputation” or “fame.” To trust in the name of God is to trust in who He is – His nature, character, and reputation. It is to stand on His past accomplishments and to rely on His track record of reliability. God had proven Himself to David time and time again, and had shown Himself to be faithful, powerful, righteous, just, trustworthy, merciful, and holy. So David trusted in the name of God. When in trouble, he appealed to the name of God.

But for David, recognition of God’s goodness and greatness was not enough. He was emboldened to turn his gratitude into songs of praise, and he wanted everyone to join in.

Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.
    Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds. – Psalm 9:11 NLT

David wasn’t a one-man band, he was the director of a massive choir made up of fellow Israelites who lifted their voices in praise of their gracious, all-powerful King and Judge.

God was worthy of praise because of all He had done in the past. David had found God to be a shelter and a refuge in the past, so he knew God would be so in the future. He was faithful, consistent, reliable, and unchanging in His nature. David knew he could turn to God and find mercy and help no matter how difficult the situation. He knew from experience that God had a special affinity for the helpless and the hopeless, rescuing and restoring them in His grace and mercy.

David had seen God judge righteously and justly, bringing judgment on the wicked and avenging the righteous, and he was confident that God would do it again. For David, God’s works were “unforgettable” and “marvelous.” They were worth singing about, talking about, and relying upon. No matter how bad things got, David knew he could trust in his God because he knew Him well.

Father, I want to know You like David did. I want to trust You like David did. I want to understand the full scope of Your character and be able to rest in the integrity of who You are based on all You have done. Give me eyes to see Your reputation all around me. Help me know You better and better with each passing day. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) 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.

Guilty as Charged

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1 Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,
    for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
    and no knowledge of God in the land;
2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
    they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns,
    and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field
    and the birds of the heavens,
    and even the fish of the sea are taken away. – Hosea 4:1-3 ESV

With the opening verses of chapter four, Hosea’s book begins to focus in on the specific sins of which the people of Israel were guilty. Up to this point, God has addressed the general nature of their spiritual adultery, using Hosea’s wife Gomer as a visual illustration. But now He three damning charges against His covenant people.

  1. They display no faithfulness
  2. They lack steadfast love
  3. And they have no knowledge of Him

In essence, God is taking Israel to court. He uses courtroom language, accusing the people of Israel of having violated their covenant agreement with Him. Hosea declares that God has “has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land” (Hosea 4:1 ESV). The word translated as “controversy” is rîḇ (reeve) in Hebrew, and it refers to “a dispute” or “a legal contest.” The NET Bible translates that verse this way:

…the Lord has a covenant lawsuit against the people of Israel. – Hosea 4:1 NET

He was charging them with a breach of covenant. They had failed to do what they said they would do. All the way back in the book of Exodus, we have a record of God’s giving of the Mosaic Covenant to the people of Israel. Moses was called by God to the top of Mount Sinai, where he was given a copy of God’s covenant agreement. It contained all the rules and regulations that would govern the conduct of His chosen people. And Moses was given instructions to return to the base of the mountain and deliver the terms of the agreement to the Israelites.

Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” – Exodus 24:3 NLT

They ratified the covenant agreement – not once, but twice. Moses erected an altar to Yahweh on which they offered sacrifices. Then he read the entire content of the covenant agreement to the people. When he was done the people responded again:

“We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.” – Exodus 24:7 NLT

Some forty years later, the people of Israel would stand on the border of the land of promise, waiting to enter and possess the land promised to them by God. But as Moses prepared to turn over the reins of leadership to Joshua, he took one more opportunity to charge the people to keep their covenant commitment to Yahweh.

“Therefore, obey the terms of this covenant so that you will prosper in everything you do. All of you—tribal leaders, elders, officers, all the men of Israel—are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God. Your little ones and your wives are with you, as well as the foreigners living among you who chop your wood and carry your water. You are standing here today to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant, including the curses. By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” – Deuteronomy 29:9-13 NLT

Moses reminded them that the covenant came with blessings and curses. If they obeyed, they would be blessed. But if they chose to disobey, they would experience the curses that God had outlined (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Moses had been very specific concerning the ramifications for their disobedience.

These horrors will serve as a sign and warning among you and your descendants forever.  If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you. – Deuteronomy 28:46-48 NLT

Now, centuries later, Hosea was recording God’s declaration of breach of covenant against the people of Israel. They were completely devoid of faithfulness (trustworthiness), no steadfast love (loyalty), and no knowledge of Him. That final charge does not mean that they had no knowledge of God at all, but that they failed to acknowledge Him as the one true God. They were guilty of violating the very first of the covenant commandments:

“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me.” – Exodus 20:2-3 NLT

Their failure to acknowledge Yahweh’s authority and sovereignty had led them to distrust Him and to treat Him with disloyalty. But their disregard for God and His covenant had produced a litany of sins that manifested themselves in their treatment of one another.

You make vows and break them;
    you kill and steal and commit adultery.
There is violence everywhere—
    one murder after another. – Hosea 4:2 NLT

Every one of these charges is a violation of the covenant they had so eagerly and aggressively agreed to keep.

“You must not murder.

“You must not commit adultery.

“You must not steal.

“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” – Exodus 20:13-17 NLT

Their refusal to acknowledge Yahweh as their one and only God had led them to commit a long list of sins against one another. If they could not love and obey God, they would never be able to love one another. The entire community was experiencing a breakdown in their social order because they had lost trust in God, which led them to become disloyal to Him. And with no fear of or reverence for God, there was nothing to motivate their behavior. They had returned to the days of the judges when “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 ESV). It had become a moral free-for-all, with no rules to manage their conduct. Their commitment to the covenant had long ago faded, and they found themselves governed by selfishness, distrust, greed, lust, and a host of other sins of the heart.

And Hosea explains that their abandonment of God had left a dark stain on the land.

That is why your land is in mourning,
    and everyone is wasting away. – Hosea 4:3 NLT

God had warned them that breaking their covenant agreement with Him would have devastating consequences.

“The Lord himself will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed for doing evil and abandoning me. The Lord will afflict you with diseases until none of you are left in the land you are about to enter and occupy. The Lord will strike you with wasting diseases, fever, and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, and with blight and mildew. These disasters will pursue you until you die.” – Deuteronomy 28:20-22 NLT

Now, they were experiencing the veracity of these warnings in real life. All they had to do was look around and they could see the far-reaching consequences for their sins.

Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky,
    and the fish of the sea are disappearing. – Hosea 4:3 NLT

Like a prosecuting attorney presenting his case in a court of law, God brought a series of charges against the people of Israel, backed by strong evidence that more than proved their guilt. There was little they could say or do to refute God’s stinging indictment against them. Creation itself testified against them. And God was not going to allow anyone to pass the buck or absolve themselves of complicity in the charges. He will take each and every one of them to task for their involvement in the violation of their covenant agreement.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) 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.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson