December 14, 2007
Ps 56:10-11 - In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
This is a similar verse to yesterdays verse, and poetry often does that. It repeats for emphasis. He repeats the same words “In God, whose word I praise,” and “In God I trust” but then adds, “In the Lord whose word I praise.” The word Lord signifies sovereignty and rule and absolute power. When we understand God’s name and all that it signifies, it can give us confidence to say as David said, “I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Dt 10:17-21 - For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
When we remember our God, the God who is the God of gods and the Lord of Lords, when we remember how he acts and the strength and love and goodness and the necessity of obedience to his commands and his will, it causes us to fear him rightly. When we fear, our fears are right-sized. Man can do nothing to me outside of God’s providential care and concern. That is worthy of our praises.
