Introduction:
One of the ‘fads’ in western Christendom today is to see God as a spiritual dispensing machine that is at the disposal of His people. Most have heard of the “blab it and grab it, name it and claim it” doctrine of the Hyper Charismatic, Hyper faith prosperity movement.
Waiting on God has become a rather ‘tedious’ pastime for many professing Christians today in a secular world where material possessions are available almost instantly.
Many in the wider Body of Messiah today are hungering and thirsting for miracles, signs and wonders, and clamouring for blessings, prosperity and having it good in this world, but very few are hungering and thirsting after that righteousness that comes from God alone and is received by faith (Matthew 5:6) (Romans 1:17).
While our Triune God still does miraculous things today, including healing and miracles by the power of the Spirit, His power cannot be manipulated. He is not a ‘spiritual dispensing machine’ that dispenses immediate blessing on demand.
Waiting on God is not fashionable in many assemblies today. People are hyped up by their leaders to expect instant spiritual gratification. Many must have the blessing now, why wait?
King David was a man who saw the LORD act in mighty ways and often instantly when things were not looking good.
David saw mighty deliverance by the hands of the LORD in many situations which were in some cases a matter of life or death for him.
However, we also find in numerous passages of scripture in the psalms where David found himself faced with difficulties of one sort or another where it seemed the LORD was not responding to David’s pleadings and petitions, and David found himself forced by his outward circumstances to wait upon God alone.
For most of us as New Covenant blood redeemed children of God we will more than often find ourselves in circumstances that are beyond our control and that if the LORD does not intervene we see only disaster ahead.
We are made in the image of our Triune God and are tri-partite beings. We have a spirit, and a soul, being our intellect, our emotions and our will, and live in a physical body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
We are joined to the LORD through the New Birth and our spiritually regenerated inner spirit man is fused together with the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:17).
In the Psalms we see David wrestling not with the inner spirit man regenerated spiritually regenerated by the Spirit of God, but David often engaged in a spiritual wrestling match within his soul.
This inner spiritual wrestling match in the unseen spiritual realm is clearly revealed in the New Testament (Ephesians 6:12) (Galatians 6:16-18).
When we are faced with daunting circumstances or facing opposition by others in the natural visible realm it is so easy to forget that our spiritual wrestling match is not with flesh and blood alone, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the unseen heavenly realm, being the atmosphere just above the surface of the earth which is Satan’s primary domain. See Job 1:7; 2:2.
David of course did not have this revelation as did most of the other Old Testament saints about this war in the unseen spiritual ream but never the less the inner spiritual struggle was very real and tangible for these saints. The soul was the battle ground for them and it is the same today for us.
Even though we have God’s spiritual armour available to us we still have to engage in this wrestling match deep within our souls, and the battle ground is our soul. Satan’s strategy is to attack our mind, our emotions and especially our wills. Many New Covenant Bible believers in Messiah are in reality “walking battle fields.”
The fact that we experience trials and tests of all kinds, even though we are seeking to walk with God and in step with the Holy Spirit, it is a sign that we are doing something right in God’s sight and Satan is furious! (1 Thessalonians 2:18).
The LORD allows this conflict, not to discourage us, but to enable us to wait upon Him, to increase our trust in Him so that when He answers according to His good acceptable and infinitely wise and perfect divine will, He will never be too early or too late but always on time!
As tried and tested Job declared even in the midst of his terrible suffering…
“When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him. Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside” (Job 23:9-11).
If anyone suffered for his faith it was the apostle Paul yet He wrote; “For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
With these things in view let’s now look at our text…
Exposition:
(Vs.1) “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.”
Notice that David speaks to his troubled soul by reminding himself that the LORD is more than capable of giving him rest, even in the midst of his trial, which is not to be minimised as it was affecting his mental, emotional very physical well-being. He was exhausted.
The word “rest” describes “waiting in silence, seeking to cultivate that inner stillness, quiet trust and waiting on God with expectancy”
When the Israelites were facing the Red Sea and the Egyptians were “breathing down their necks” as it were, and it looked like it was all over for them, Moses spoke to them from the LORD.
Moses said two things only. ““Do not be afraid. Stand still (firm) and you will see the deliverance (salvation) the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).
They were to stand still and stop being agitated and speaking defeat and to be still or silent and watch the LORD go to work. They were right at the edge of the Red Sea. Their backs were against the wall of water and then the answer came and the miracle occurred.
Often we find time and time again in the psalms where David facing a test or trial beyond human strength to bear, we find Himself saying to his soul “O my soul you wait only upon God from Him comes my expectation.”
When we see the letter “O” used in this context in the psalms of David in the Hebrew language it is a deep sigh or breath, or a groaning deep down on the inside that is expressed or breathed out along with spoken words.
We must never give up! God knows, He cares and has the answer (Psalm 139) (Psalm 121).
David’s eyes were fixed on the salvation or deliverance that he expected to come from the LORD. And then he comforts himself further in the LORD…
(Vs.2) “He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
The LORD alone David says is my rock. It was a personal revelation he had that God was his rock of refuge against the storms of life. The word “rock” describes; “a rock or cliff, a boulder, a strong rock.”
Imagine a lighthouse standing firm on a huge rock. Even when the stormy waves hit the rock the lighthouse remains standing with its beaming light shining into the surrounding darkness.
We live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our feelings and mental struggles are no barometer for our spiritual state before God. His Word remains the same. Forever it is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).
The Word of God will say the same thing tomorrow as it does today. Our triune God does not change (Malachi 3:6) (Hebrews 13:8).
Remember that the Messiah our Lord Jesus also said; “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
Our Triune God was David’s rock and salvation. The word “salvation” used her describes; “deliverance, welfare, prosperity and victory.” It includes our salvation in its fullest expression, a salvation that has already been provided, and proved to be completely efficacious in saving the soul.
And then David says that the LORD is not only his rock and his salvation but also his fortress. The word “fortress” used here in the text describes; “a high stronghold and a place of refuge, of defence, a secure height and a retreat.” It is a spiritual fortress having walls not even Satan cannot scale.
Sometimes when we are faced with a test or trial that requires us to trust in God’s unchanging word we need to look back to the past when we were faced with a difficulty and found the LORD to be our rock of refuge, our salvation or deliverance and our fortress against spiritual attack and who delivered us according to his perfect timing.
As David exclaims in Psalm 103:1-2; “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits.” David then goes on to list the benefits of what lord is always doing for him.
Verses 3-5 in Psalm 103 in the Hebrew are rendered in the continuous present tense. “Is forgiving, is healing, is redeeming is crowning with love and compassion, who is satisfying and who is renewing.”
In light of this revelation of God’s unchanging nature David cries out triumphantly “I will never be shaken.” The word “shaken” describes; “to totter, to shake, to slip, to be moved, or overthrown, or to be dislodged, to fall or to drop down from a high place of refuge or not to be greatly shaken.” Hence David exclaims “I will never be shaken!”
David knew this to be true deep down on the inside in his spiritually regenerated spirit man even though the sweeping emotions and mental anguish of his soul were being tossed to and fro like a ship on a dark and stormy night. And then we read…
(Vs.3-4) “How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down- this leaning wall, this tottering fence? They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse. Selah”
David was no stranger to adversity and when we see David fighting a physical battle on earth there is a battle going on in the unseen spiritual realm as with all of the battles Israel fought. Even today in Israel when we see the IDF engaged in battle there is a war going on in the unseen spiritual realm.
It is the same for the Body of Messiah. We may not be engaged in a physical battle but we most certainly are engaged in a spiritual one, however, the weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons but spiritual weapons even to the pulling down of spiritual strongholds in our lives, and in the lives of others (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
These weapons are the blood of Jesus, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, the armour of God and our verbal confession of these truths. Our tongue is the trigger that launches the missiles of God’s promises to demolish Satan’s strongholds.
These weapons formed against David was the desire by his adversaries, to throw David down from his secure position in the LORD, to batter him down even while he felt like a leaning wall, not upright or like a tottering fence that could collapse with the intent of doing just that to him.
Delighting in lies and deception David’s enemies flattered him as a king and with a haughty and deceptive false profession of loyalty were like ravenous wolves on the inside of them wanting to tear David apart not only spiritually but physically.
It is a grievous matter to be deceived by the unsaved in the world professing allegiance and friendship outwardly but inwardly harbouring malicious and even malevolent desires.
David, being the anointed leader of men, and a king, understood this well but what grieved him even more was when those professing to be his companions in faith had a drawn sword aimed at him in their hearts.
David writes in another psalm; “My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:20-22).
Notice the word “Selah” which most commentators believe describes; “to pause or to reflect, to think about what has been written.” It may also be a musical term and its meaning must be looked at in light of the context of the passage. Let’s continue…
(Vs.5) “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.”
Once again David encourages himself in the LORD (1 Samuel 30:6). He speaks with an expelled breath, a sigh of hope, a sigh of a deep desire needing to be expressed.
He reminds himself again that this rest of faith is possible in his storm swept soul being tossed about in the turbulence of this spiritual conflict. God alone was His sure refuge when all else failed and when even his friends forsook him.
At one time he said; “Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, O (a deep sigh) God of my salvation. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors” (Psalm 27:9-11).
In the spiritual life and in our daily walk with our Triune God there will be times when we will pass through that dark night of the soul when we cannot go to anyone but to the LORD.
Godly Job when greatly afflicted had some well-meaning friends that most probably had a health and wealth theology. They thought that Job’s troubles were his own doing that somehow he had failed to please God.
However, Job found them to be shallow and their doctrine not from God, and God got all over their case, and in the end they had to go to Job to pray for them because of their shallow and undiscerning attitude towards their friend and companion. In contrast just look at how God doubly blessed Job at the end! (Job 42:7-17). Let’s continue…
(Vs.6) “He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Once again David repeats his steadfast confession of his faith knowing that God was his deliverer and fortress against spiritual and physical attack. David did not have ‘tickets’ on himself or think he had to have honour bestowed upon him by others. And so we read what he now says…
(Vs.7)” My salvation and my honour depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Not only did his salvation or deliverance depend on God but also David’s honour depended upon God. As we read elsewhere in the psalms; “For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert, but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another” (Psalm 75:6-7).
The word “honour” describes “abundance, riches, splendour, glory, dignity, reputation, reverence and glory.” God will only give us what will bring Him glory and honour and in honouring him he will honour us. As He Himself has said; “For I will honour those who honour Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained” (1 Samuel 2:30b).
As Rabbi the apostle Paul in the New Testament writes; “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:18).
David reiterates the fact that God is “his mighty rock and refuge.” The word “refuge” describes; “a shelter from the rain and storm, from danger or from falsehood.” It is used both in a physical and metaphoric sense.
Just as a shade protects one from the rain or from a storm so God shelters those He loves. Storms in life come from the evil one and God permits this as He did with godly Job.
He also protects us from danger and falsehood enabling us to walk in transparency of life before Him and before others. David is confessing his utter dependency upon God at all times and in all situations. This is clear when he goes on to write…
(Vs.8) “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Selah”
In all situations we face every day and in all the changing circumstances of life we are to trust the LORD completely and unreservedly at all times.
The word trust describes; “to trust in, to have confidence, to be confident and to be bold and to be secure” This we can do only in Him with the aid of the blessed Holy Spirit.
Apart from Him we can do nothing at all spiritually speaking because in our fleshly nature of our soul dwells nothing good or commendable from God’s perspective because the human heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Jeremiah 17:9).
Who can understand it? Unless one is born again spiritually from above by the Holy Spirit there will be no spiritual sight (Romans 7:18) (Jeremiah 17:9) (John 3:3) (2 Corinthians 5:17) (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Notice we are to trust the LORD at all times and in all situations we face on a daily basis, not just some of the time or when things are going well for us.
David writes elsewhere…
I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:1-6).
When we come before the LORD we are to “pour out our hearts to Him.” We are to release what is at the seat of our affections, that which steers the soul and the body. It is what is in the heart of a person being the control centre of their life.
The heart then is the seat of the appetites, the emotions and passions and what is at the centre of our thoughts, our resolutions, our way of thinking and especially bearing our conscience before God.
It also applies to confession of sin in that it is agreeing with what God says about it and not arguing or making excuses for it. It even includes those deep seated memories that can come to light when waiting in the presence of God.
We do this knowing that God is our refuge. As it is also written; “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10). Once again we see the phrase “O people” being an expelling of breath, a sigh accompanied by words of entreaty.
(Vs.9) “Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.”
Proud and arrogant men may stride through life. The high and mighty in the halls of political power as well as the average man in the street are here today but gone tomorrow. In light of eternity our life down here on this earth is like a vapour that blows away in the wind.
The apostle James writes; “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the LORD is willing, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15).
God is even now weighing each life on His balancing scales. Men and women will be judged according to the spiritual light they have received. Rabbi the apostle Paul writes at length about this matter in his letter to the assembly at Rome (Romans 1:18-32).
Job put things this way when he said; ““Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:21-22).
We find some very wise advice in the Book of proverbs in a prayer to the LORD which is very balanced in His scales…
“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:8-9). And then we read…
(Vs.10) “Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”
In all our daily transactions with others especially when buying and selling we must avoid obtaining things through deception and dishonesty and to make sure that the material possessions we acquire do not promote pride in us.
Money and possessions are not wrong to have but they can become very subtle enemies of spiritual fidelity to the LORD if we allow them to control us. Even though the LORD gives us prosperity we must make sure that our hearts are not set on them.
As Rabbi the apostle Paul writes; “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:6-11).
Finally we read…
(Vs.11-12) “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.”
God Himself is strong and loving and this is a comfort to all of us that are struggling with matters that are weighing us down, especially in situations where our prayers go unanswered even though we know there is no unconfessed sin in us.
We know God is at work in all things for those who love Him and are called according to His will and purposes and weaves them all together into the beautiful tapestry of our life He is knitting together. Our days were ordained for us by God from all of eternity even before they came to be (Psalm 139:15-16).
He sees the dark threads of our life as well as the coloured threads of our lives and weaves them together. We see only in part, but in the resurrection we will see and know as we are seen and known by God (Romans 8:28) (1 Corinthians 13:12).
What we will be in the resurrection seems to be unattainable now, but when He returns and we meet Him in the air we will be just like Him in His glorious resurrected body (1 John 3:2) (Philippians 3:21) .
At the end of our life we will all receive a reward at the Judgement seat of Messiah after we have run our race down here and crossed the finishing line, knowing that our race was not in vain (2 Corinthians 5:10).
As a late retired missionary in our assembly used to say; “It is not how we start, but how we finish that counts!” The Messiah our Lord Jesus is “the author and perfector of our faith” and what He has started to do in us He fully intends to complete (Hebrews 12:2).
Epilogue:
The main theme of this psalm of David is that we are to find rest for our souls in God alone in all of the changing circumstances of our daily lives as we look only to Him for salvation, deliverance, and as our strength in times of the storms of adversity.
We are to run to Him always as our rock of refuge and as our fortress against those vicious and savage attacks of the enemy of our souls and all that he throws our way. In this way we will never be shaken.
No matter who comes against us ours souls must continue to find their rest in God alone and we are to trust Him at all times and when necessary pour out our hearts to Him, holding nothing back even though He knows already what we will say to Him, but say it anyway with a thankful and grateful heart.
The unsaved of this world may ride over us and even our fellow believers may turn against us but all of them are like a vapour in the end. They are here today but gone tomorrow.
They are like the flowers that wither and the grass that fades which are here today but gone tomorrow, whereas the Word of our God abides forever! (Isaiah 40:7-8).
We are not to set our hearts on riches in this world and to remember that the LORD is strong and loving and that He can do all things and that no purpose of his can be thwarted by men or devils (Job 42:1-2), and that the LORD will reward every one according to what they have done in this brief transitionary life.
Let us continuously speak into our souls the promises of God and in this way we will find our rest of faith in God alone! Selah.
