The One Who Trusts in God

 

 

 

 

[Psalm 31:15-24]

 

 

Do you trust in God? What does the path of trust look like? Brennan Manning says the following: "The path of trust is not about entering a future that is planned, determined, and clearly outlined; rather, it is about entering an unknown world that is ambiguous and uncertain. The next step is revealed only by discerning God working in this very moment, in the present wilderness. Leaving behind a world that is clear, certain, and safe, and entering the unknown without any rational explanation to justify my decisions or guarantee my future—this is the raw essence of trust. Why do we do this? Because God has given the signal to move, and He has given His presence and promises" (Internet).

Of course, there have been days in the pilgrim's life of entering the unknown where anxiety and uncertainty dominated. Yet, there have also been times when a still, small voice has comforted us: "Do not fear, for I am with you..." (Isaiah 41:10). What could be more trustworthy than God's presence? Job, at the crossroads of life and death, confesses: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15, KJV). What an astounding trust this is! Seeing Job trust God more than his own life, we must ask ourselves if we truly trust God in the same way Job did.

Do you make this confession like Job? Do you believe, as Brennan Manning said, that "there is nothing more trustworthy than God's presence"? Today, I want to reflect on three things about how those who trust in God live, based on Psalm 31:15-24, and how we can apply them in our lives.

First, the one who trusts in God knows that everything they face in life is in the hands of the Lord.

Let us look at Psalm 31:15: "My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hands of my enemies and from those who persecute me." Here, the phrase "my times" refers to all the events of one's life, the circumstances and trials one will face throughout life (Park Yun-seon). The psalmist, David, is expressing the truth that all the events, circumstances, and changes in his life are under God's control. David knew and believed this. With such faith, David placed his complete trust in God, no matter what situation he faced. He had full confidence that everything in his life was in the hands of God. Therefore, trusting in God, David relied on God's mercy no matter what happened in his life.

Now look at Psalm 31:16: "Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercy's sake." David was being persecuted by his enemies (v. 15). His enemies, as evildoers (v. 17), were proud and arrogant, striking David with harsh words and lies (v. 18). Despite these circumstances, David still trusted in God and longed for God's face. The reason for this was that in times of suffering, it might feel as if God has hidden His face, and David therefore prayed during his time of pain that God would reveal His face to him (v. 16). In doing so, David relied on God’s mercy.

Isn't it amazing to see how David relied on God's mercy even in the midst of the persecution of his enemies? Those who trust in God rely on His mercy. And those who rely on His mercy know that God’s hand is incomparable to the hand of their enemies, and that God will surely deliver them and save them (v. 15). With this assurance, David prayed, confident that God would not bring shame upon him, but would bring shame upon the wicked (v. 17). How could God bring shame upon His faithful servants? Rather, God will bring shame upon the enemies of His people, causing them to be disappointed and shamed as things do not go as they expected (Park Yun-seon). David was assured of this.

We must live with this same conviction as David. What conviction? We must be fully confident that everything we face in our lives is in God's hands. Although we may not understand at the moment why we face adversities, difficulties, or painful events, we must trust that we are within God's will. With this assurance, we should rely on God’s mercy and eagerly await His salvation.

Secondly, those who trust in God know how great the grace He has shown us is.

Let us look at Psalm 31:19: "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!" Despite the persecution of the wicked, David reflected on the great grace that God had shown him in the past. What is interesting is that God has stored up grace for those who fear and honor Him. In other words, God is storing up grace for the future. As David remembered and meditated on the great grace God had shown him in the past, he realized that this grace had already been prepared by God for him during times of need. David was assured that God had already laid up great grace for him during his present suffering.

Do we, when facing painful circumstances, confidently say to ourselves, "Surely, the Lord has already stored up great grace for me in this moment"? What was the great grace God showed David? What specific grace did David reflect on from the past? It was God’s protection. Let us look at Psalm 31:20: "You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence, from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." When his enemies were plotting against him, attempting to harm him by slandering him with their tongues, David remembered how God had protected him (v. 20). David described this protection with verbs like "hide" and "conceal," and with terms like "Your secret place" and "Your hidden pavilion" (v. 20). David had already prayed with this assurance in Psalm 27:5: "For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock." David was recalling how God had protected him in the past, hiding him and preventing anyone from doing him harm.

David, who believed with certainty that everything was in God's hands, meditated on God's past grace of protection, and with that assurance, he was confident that God would again protect him in the midst of his present difficulties.

We must, just like David, remember the grace God has given us in the past, even amidst our present painful circumstances. We should remember how God protected and kept us in the past. We must believe that God, even in our current suffering, has already stored up great grace for us and that He will bestow that grace upon us when we need it the most. We should be confident that He will pour out that great grace when we are struggling, suffering, and going through hardship.

Finally, thirdly, those who trust in God obey the Lord's commands.

In today's scripture, Psalm 31:21-24, David says that those who trust in God obey three commands from the Lord:

  1. The first command is: "Praise the Lord."

    Psalm 31:21 says, “Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city.” Those who trust in God believe that everything is in His hands. In the midst of painful circumstances, they meditate on God's great grace in the past and still offer praise to Him. David especially praised God for the marvelous kindness He showed him in the "strong city," when God delivered him and brought him into safety. This grace and love from God were the reasons David praised Him. What should we do? Even in the midst of our present suffering, we must also, like David, reflect on the marvelous love God has shown us in the past and praise Him.

  2. The second command is: "Love the Lord."

    In Psalm 31:23, we read: "Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person." David, who trusted in God, experienced the Lord’s mercy even in the midst of persecution (v. 16). He had experienced God’s great grace in His salvation and protection. This "marvelous kindness" (v. 21) was the love that David had experienced from God. And because of that love, David exhorted all the saints to love the Lord (v. 23). We, too, must love God. This is the commandment of Jesus. Who are those who love God? Those who love God are "the faithful" (v. 23). God protects those who faithfully trust and live by His Word. But the proud will experience God’s justice.

  3. The third command is: "Be strong and courageous."

    Psalm 31:24 says, "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Recently, I have been reflecting on Joshua 1:6-9, especially on the call to “be strong and of good courage” (verses 6, 7, 9). Since God is with us, we are encouraged to be strong and courageous. Furthermore, because God, who is with us, has given us promises and will surely fulfill them, we should be strong and courageous. Those who trust in God are strong and courageous.

We are those who trust in God. We are living the pilgrim life, journeying into the unknown. The reason we set out on this pilgrimage is because of God’s presence and the promises He has given us. As we walk the path of trust toward the promised land—heaven—we must be assured that everything that happens along this journey is in God's sovereign hands. Moreover, in the midst of the trials and pains we are facing right now, we should remember the great grace God has shown us in the past. With that remembrance, we must pray, hope, and wait for the great grace He has stored up for us in the midst of our current suffering.

In all of this, we must praise the Lord because of His grace, and we must love God. Furthermore, even in the midst of our present struggles and suffering, as those who hope in God, we must be strong and courageous, advancing toward the heavenly city.

 

 

 

Blessed as those who trust in God,

 

 

Pastor James Kim
(Hoping to live in obedience to God's Word by God's grace)