Let us praise the word of God.

 

 

“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?  …  In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise” (Psalms 56:4, 10).

 

                While meditating on the word of God last week, I thought that I should receive two lessons and put them into practice.  Those two lessons were: (1) Do not complain (Ps. 37:1, 7, 8), and (2) Be thankful for the little things.  When I reconsider these two lessons, I get a glimpse of myself complaining about small things while not being grateful for small things.  For example, I woke up this morning and didn’t thank God.  Of course, there are times when I wake up and go to the bathroom and say, ‘Thank You for giving me a new day’.  But I didn't appreciate the fact that I woke up.  It seems to be because I thought it was natural to wake up.  Yet, I often complain when my family members don’t put things away.   Even last week I tried not to complain after being taught ‘Don't complain’ (vv. 1, 7, 8), but eventually I went home and saw myself complaining to my children.  Like this, I am not faithful to small things.  In the midst of that, while meditating on the words of Psalms 56:4, 10 during the early morning prayer meeting, this thought came to my mind: ‘I should trust in God for small things.’  To some extent, when I faced a great deal that I couldn't handle, I thought that I shouldn’t live by the instinct to seek God and pray to God by saying that I should depend on Him.  Rather, I should become a person who can be faithful in small things since the Lord praised those who are faithful in small things (Mt. 25:21).  So, day by day and moment by moment, even small things, I should live by praying with my heart as an expression of dependence on God and trusting in Him.  I believe that God will make me praise Him in the end when I live by trusting in God even in such small things.

 

In Psalms 56:4, 10, we can see that the psalmist David trusted in God and praised His word.  The situation in which he trusted in God was when he was captured by the Philistines.  The Philistines not only oppressed David by pursuing him “all day long” (vv. 1, 2) but also twisted his words all day long (v. 5).  Also, many of the David's enemies gathered together to attack David in their pride (v. 2) and watched his steps to take his life (v. 6).  In such fearful situation, David trusted in God (v. 3).  He cried out to God in tears (v. 8).  And he was determined not to be afraid because he trusted in God (vv. 4, 11).  He knew that mortal man couldn’t do anything to him because he trusted in God (vv. 4, 11).  Further, David was confident that the Lord would deliver him from death (v. 13).  Therefore, he presented his thank offerings to God (v. 12) and praised His word (v. 4).

 

                I remember the lyrics of the hymn “Simply Trusting Every day”: “Simply trusting ev'ry day, Trusting through a stormy way; Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus, that is all.  Trusting as the moments fly, Trusting as the days go by; Trusting Him whate'er befall, Trusting Jesus, that is all” (v. 1 and chorus).  I like this lyrics because I realize that I have little faith when I face with difficult things in my life.  So I can't help but agree with this lyrics.  And the part of the lyrics that resonates more and more is that I will trust in God more and more as I realize how little faith I have.  Therefore, I have no choice but to seek the Lord more and more.  And I have no choice but to hold onto the word of His promise that the Lord gave tome.  Personally, I hold unto the promises words of God, John 6:1-15 for me, and Matthew 16:18 for the church and pray to God as I trust in Him and His promised words.  As I do so, the grace that God gives me is to acknowledge with faith that God is God.  In other words, God makes me confess that He is true and faithful.  In the midst of that, the faithful Lord makes me trust in the word of His promises given to me and to the church where I am serving.  In doing so, I receive peace of mind, comfort, and strength from the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Therefore, in the end, the Holy Spirit makes me praise the Lord.  He makes me to praise the word of the Lord with thanksgiving.

 

                This is the praise (“Lord, I Offer My Life”) that I enjoy singing

when I think about the Lord’s promised word of John 6:1-15 to me:

               

  1. Lord, I offer my life to You/ Everything I've been through/ Use it for Your glory

Lord I offer my days to You/ Lifting my praise to You/ As a pleasing sacrifice

Lord I offer You my life

  1. Things in the past/ Things yet unseen/ Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true

All of my hopes/ And all of my planes/ My heart and my hands are lifted to You

 

                This is the hymn (“I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”) that I enjoy singing

when I think about the Lord’s promised word of Matthew 16:18 to my church.

 

  1. I love Thy Kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode,

The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.

  1. I love Thy Church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand,

Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand.

  1. For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend;

To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.

  1. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways,

Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.

  1. Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven. A-men.

 

 

 

Wanting to praise God's promised words more and more,

 

 

James Kim

(While wishing to live a life of trusting in the Lord in small things as well as in difficult times)