Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

June 26, 2018

by Pastor Hawtree

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO BE OUR HELP

Psalm 94:17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

I would like to take one last look at some verses in this chapter, because I believe that it will be an encouragement to you. We have discussed “chastening”, and “adversity”, and a few other things. I would like to draw it all together by noticing some wonderful principles in this passage that should strengthen your faith and confidence in the Lord, and His love for you. After you read this devotional, I encourage you to read this chapter if you have the time.

1. GOD DOES NOT FORSAKE US WHEN WE FAIL
* 12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy
law;
* 14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
Yes, we fail, yes, we mess up, and yes sometimes God needs to chasten us. But He has promised to never forget or forsake us when we fail. This means that we have a forgiving Father. It also means that we have a future inheritance.

2. GOD HELPS WHEN WE HURT
* 17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Instead of doubting God because the trouble came, the author here depended on God through it.

3. GOD PICKS US UP WHEN WE FALL DOWN
WHAT MAKES ONE SLIP?
* 18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
We see first that there was an “Unforeseen obstacle”. When a person slips, it is a surprise to them. It is not expected. Something unforeseen caused it. Sometimes in our life, unforeseen obstacles trip us up, make us fall, and set us back. When this happens, our Heavenly Father holds us up. What a blessing!

4. GOD GIVES COMFORT IN THE MIDST OF CONFUSION
* 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
“The multitude of my thoughts within me”. Isn’t it great that when our mind is overwhelmed, our soul can be at ease.

5. GOD IS OUR DEFENSE WHEN WE ARE IN DANGER
* 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn
the innocent blood.
* 22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
* 23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their
own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
First, we see the believer dealing with “dishonest” people. Then we see the believer at an apparent “disadvantage”. But then we see the “defense” that God provides the believer. God is the “refuge”, God is the “revenge”, and we see God as the “restorer”. Just like weeds are cut off to allow a plant to grow, so our enemies will be cut off from us, so we can grow in the fullness of God. There is so much in this chapter. I encourage you to savor God’s word. Read it and re-read it. The more we are aware of what God says, the more we are aware that He is able.