The God with a Track Record

July 3

(Psalm 77:9-20 NIV) “Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?" {10} Then I thought, "To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High." {11} I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. {12} I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. {13} Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? {14} You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. {15} With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. {16} The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. {17} The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. {18} Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. {19} Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. {20} You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”

When we are in great need and doubting the goodness of God, it will help to remember what the Lord has done for His people in the past. This God rescued Noah from a flood that covered the Earth. This God led Moses and His people out of bondage in Egypt and performed many miracles to sustain them as they crossed the desert. This God helped young David slay a giant and become a king. This God was born of a virgin, healed everyone he touched, and rose from the dead after being crucified on a cross. This God called a fisherman named Peter to walk on water and to preach a gospel that changed the world. This God blinded a hater named Paul and transformed him into an apostle who took the message of grace and truth all over the known world. This God died to pay for all your sins and then lifted you out of the slimy pit. You can trust Him to take care of you today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

The Slough of Despond

July 2

(Psalms 77:1-9 NIV) "I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. {2} When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. {3} I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. {4} You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. {5} I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; {6} I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: {7} "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? {8} Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? {9} Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"

(Psalm 13:1-6 NIV) “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? {2} How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? {3} Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, {4} and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. {5} But, I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. {6} I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

In John Bunyan’s classic book, “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, his character encounters a place called the “slough of despond” where he sinks under the weight of his guilt and sin. It’s a place where we can get stuck if we’re not careful. We all have a version of the “slough of despond”. When bogged down there, we live in distress. There is no comfort to be found. Our spirits grow faint and we become impatient with God. We even begin to question the goodness of God. Why is He so slow to respond? Is His love really unfailing? Will He ever show up? Why is He failing to keep His promises? Has he forgotten me? Is God really merciful? These are classic questions as we wait for deliverance. They have been asked by every generation. God is good. He does hear our cries. We will see that in tomorrow’s reading as we finish this Psalm. With God, there is always a tomorrow. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Who Can Stand

July 1

(Psalm 76:1-12 NIV) “In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. {2} His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. {3} There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war. {4} You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game. {5} Valiant men lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands. {6} At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still. {7} You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? {8} From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet-- {9} when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. {10} Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. {11} Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared. {12} He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.”

(Revelation 6:15-17 NIV) ““Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. {16} They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?””

God saves for two reasons. He saves to deliver the righteous and the afflicted. But He also saves to judge the wicked and to separate evil from good. There is a positive side and a negative side to salvation. God is holy and cannot live with sin. It is impossible because of His nature. The Lord is resplendent with light, so no darkness can enter heaven. This is why we must come through Christ and the cross to live with God eternally. We must be purified. Our sin must be confessed and expunged. We are foolish to believe we can stand up against the Holy One of Israel. He breaks the spirit of those who oppose Him. He destroys all our weapons of war. He pronounces judgment and there is no recourse. We have no voice to object in the presence of the Almighty. He speaks -- we are stilled. Make your vows to God now, and bring Him gifts. Bow down in worship of our King. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day