St. Stephen's Daily Study
 Prepare |
| How often have you said, ‘I’ll believe that when I see it’, after a promise is made by someone which you feel will not be delivered? People let us down. God, however, always delivers on his word (Psalm 18:30). |
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Bible reading: Psalm 18:30–50 |
| 30 As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. 36 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 38 I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 39 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. 40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. 41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but he did not answer. 42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets. 43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, 44 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. 45 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. 46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! 47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 48 who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent people you rescued me. 49 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. 50 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever. |
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Explore the Bible |
Good intentions I am a consultant, and my work involves evaluating projects or programmes. In order to assess whether a programme has delivered its targets, I look for evidence in a number of areas: whether or not it met its promised outcomes, the numbers of people involved, their testimonies and evidence of change in the lives of those who have taken part. When my personal observation and people’s testimonies agree that there have been positive outcomes, I can be sure that the programme has delivered what it promised. Many projects don’t succeed because they aimed too high or lost their way during the delivery process. Good intentions, when they do not match outcomes, still remain good intentions. God always delivers In today’s reading we see that God has promised great things for his people (v 50) and that he always delivers (vs 47,48). The evidence can been seen in historical events (v 43) and experienced in the lives of his people (vs 33–36). Even those not involved can testify to his mighty deeds (vs 44,45). When God’s actions are evaluated, they clearly deliver what he promised as he alone is perfect (v 30). Evidence and testimony come together to show that for God’s people believing is seeing. The outcome is our unadulterated praise (v 49) for these blessings. |
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Respond |
| How often have we promised something which we have not delivered? Praise God that he forgives our fallenness and always delivers on his promises. |
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Deeper Bible study |
This psalm is unusual in that it appears originally in 2 Samuel 22 where David, coming towards the end of his life, praises God for his faithfulness in all the vicissitudes of his experience. When we look back over David’s life we may wonder at his heart of overflowing praise. After all, there had been many incidents that must have made him question where God was and what he was or was not doing. There were times when he was driven to distraction by his own human weakness and fallibility. There were times when he despaired of his own family and friends. There were times when he had experienced in very deep ways the hard rebukes of his holy God. Yet, looking back over his life, as he could see the fuller picture rather than just the individual jigsaw pieces, with complete abandonment he lifted up his whole being in one wonderful song of praise. David is not alone in this. Paul, toward the end of his very difficult and challenging life, could draw towards its end on a similar note (2 Timothy 4:7). Jesus himself, who had endured many agonies disappointments and even the feeling of abandonment, could without question commit his life into the sure and loving arms of his Father (Luke 23:46). As we continue with our Joshua readings in the coming week we shall face many complexities. We shall wonder, ‘Did God really do this?’, ‘Did he really tell Joshua to do that?’, ‘Joshua, how could you...?’ To some of our questions there will be no answer, but let the text allow us to raise similar questions in our own lives, and where we are honest with God he will give us something even better than answers. He will fill our hearts with confident love and praise to enable us to sing this wonderful psalm with assurance and hope.
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