Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 8, 2023
Psalm 18:30-36
30 God! His way is perfect; the LORD’s word is tried and true. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 31 Now really, who is divine except the LORD? And who is a rock but our God? 32 Only God! The God who equips me with strength and makes my way perfect, 33 who makes my step as sure as the deer’s, who lets me stand securely on the heights, 34 who trains my hands for war so my arms can bend a bronze bow. 35 You’ve given me the shield of your salvation; your strong hand has supported me; your help has made me great. 36 You’ve let me walk fast and safe, without even twisting an ankle.
Good Morning, Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
David writes this Psalm after a great victory. David begins this Psalm of praise, I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
David provides us with many examples of how God leads him on his journey. David, God’s anointed one, can lean on God in his times of trouble. Many in a position like David would take this opportunity to accept all the accolades for himself, but David never forgets that his glory begins and ends with the grace of God.
In verse 35, several translations use the word gentleness instead of help. This provides us great insight into God’s will, as seen in David’s actions. Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness has made me great: David was held by the strength and skill of God’s right hand and made great by God's (help) gentleness.
We don’t often think of someone being made great by the gentleness of God. In our worldly ideas, we look for a big show of force. We want the fanfare to tell us to pay attention. This reminds me of the Palm Sunday processional with Jesus entering gently on a donkey armed with peace while Pilate is processing across town on a stallion armed with weapons and trumpets sound his arrival. It is easy to underestimate the power of God’s gentleness, and we often want a more evidently spectacular work from God. Yet David – this great warrior – received from and responded to the gentleness of God.
Derek Kidner, a twentieth-century British theologian, says, We can say this was the gentleness of God in at least two respects. It was the gentleness that God showed to David and the gentleness that David learned from God and showed to others. “While it was the gentleness God exercised that allowed David his success, it was the gentleness God taught him that was his true greatness.”
Worthy is the lamb, our Lord and Savior, who taught gentleness by his example. We are led by the power of the cross, not the power of a sword. Hallelujah! Amen!
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. You are great! You teach us that true greatness is gentle. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Go forth with the power of gentleness that is given by God.
Share God’s love! Pastor Liz
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