Psalms of Trust

ONE of the most beautiful and reassuring expressions of trust in the Lord is that of Psalm 91:2—“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” These words are even more meaningful when we take into consideration the preceding verse, which reads, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” While this is a comforting statement concerning God’s protecting care over his people, it nevertheless indicates that there is a condition attached thereto, which is that we dwell in the secret place of the most High.

From the typical standpoint, this is an allusion to the first holy of the tabernacle, which antitypically is the condition of full consecration to God and to the doing of his will. We could not enter this condition unless called of God, and having heard this invitation through the Word, and accepted it by presenting ourselves unreservedly to him, it them remains for us to abide in this secret place of his love and protection. As long as we do so abide, we can have confidence that he will be our refuge and our fortress.

PSALM 34:3-8—In this Psalm, David ascribes as one of the reasons we should praise the Lord, the fact that he delivers us from all our fears. And how appropriate, as here stated, that all the Lord’s people should magnify him together, for certainly there is none of us who has not been delivered from one sort of fear or another. Fear hath torment, or restraint, the apostle declares. There can be little peace or joy in the heart that is filled with fear.—I John 4:18

“They looked unto him and were lightened,” David continues, “and their faces were not ashamed.” The force of the expression, “They looked unto him” is strengthened by contrasting it with the idea of looking within, that is, to our own sources of strength; or, by looking around us and noting the confusion and uncertainty that is everywhere apparent.

There is little point in looking to self, for we are too weak. If we have a proper estimate of our own strength we will tremble when we think of self. It is only when we look to the Lord that we are strong. How correct, indeed, is the admonition, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Eph. 6:10) Yes, it is only in his strength that we can hope to be overcomers. If we continue to look to the Lord, we shall never be ashamed; that is, we shall not be disappointed. The Apostle Paul writes that we have a hope “that maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.”—Rom. 5:5

The Psalmist speaks of a “poor man” who cried unto the Lord, and tells us that he was saved out of all his troubles. We might think of a poor man as one who has great need of help. Jesus speaks of those who are poor in spirit, and in reality it is only these to whom the Lord gives his strength and blessing. One could be very poor indeed along material lines, yet be proud in spirit and haughty; but those who are in this attitude do not enjoy the sunshine of God’s favor and blessing.

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them,” writes David. (Verse 7) Jesus, speaking of the Lord’s true people, his little ones, said, “their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 18:10) The Apostle Paul, speaking of the holy angels, wrote, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Heb. 1:14) From these texts it seems altogether likely that each one of the Lord’s faithful people is under the special care of one or more of the holy angels.

The angel of the Lord “encampeth” round about us. It is not an intermittent care which they exercise, but a constant vigilance. They watch over us every minute of the day and night, not to deliver us from trials which are good for us as new creatures in Christ Jesus, but to make sure that nothing befalls us but that which will contribute to our development in Christ Jesus, hence will be the best for our eternal welfare.

Nor need we limit this promise to the watchcare exercised by spirit beings. The term, angel, as used in the Scriptures, is broad enough in meaning to include any and every agency which the Lord may use for our blessing. Even inanimate things, or the circumstances of life, may be utilized by the Lord as messengers for our good. Indeed, we have the promise that “all things” work together for good to those who love the Lord and who are the called according to his purpose.—Rom. 8:28

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Verse 8) David seemed to realize that not all, even of Israel, had really discovered the goodness of the Lord, so he extends an invitation to “taste and see.” This is, of course, symbolic language. It means that we should place ourselves in the position of trust wherein we can experience the Lord’s care over us; and that place, that position, is the “secret place of the most High.” Only those who are devoting their all to the Lord, daily presenting their bodies a living sacrifice, offering the incense of praise to him continually, are in a position to know by experience, to “taste,” that the Lord is good. Yes, blessed indeed are those who put their trust in him!

PSALM 37:1-6—Not all of the Psalms are written for the express benefit of the church, although the entire Old Testament was designed for the guidance and blessing of the Lord’s people of this Gospel age. (Rom. 15:4; II Tim. 3:16,17) In the Old Testament, as well as in the New, there are promises which will have their fulfillment in God’s dealing with mankind during the Millennium, but even these serve to admonish the Gospel church because they help to reveal the plan of God, and it is essential that we know his plan in order to proclaim the glad tidings to others.

In the Psalm now under consideration, the promises are not altogether to the sacrificing class of this age. Notice the introduction: “Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, … for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” “For they shall soon”—this indicates that the Psalmist is speaking from the standpoint of one living just prior to the establishment of Christ’s kingdom, the time when the “evil-doers shall be cut off.”—Verse 9

Then follows the promise to those of that time who will not continue willfully to be wicked. To these the statement is made, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” It would probably be correct to say that the first application of this promise was to natural Israel, and that the “land” referred to would be the Promised Land. But there will be a larger fulfillment of the promise during the thousand years of Christ’s reign, when all who trust in the Lord and do good will dwell in the land—the earth—forever.—Verse 27,29

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Verse 4) The “desire of all nations shall come,” writes another prophet. (Haggai 2:7) It is true, of course, that the Lord gives to spiritual Israel the desires of their hearts, that is, if we think of the matter from the standpoint of their spiritual desires. But in this text the main application seems to be to the legitimate earthly desires of the world of mankind during the time when they are being restored to human perfection.

In order to participate in the Lord’s blessings during the next age the people will have to devote themselves to the doing of his will, even as the called ones now, hence the admonition, “Commit thy way unto the Lord.” No one will ever obtain everlasting life upon any other basis than that of committing his way wholly to the Lord in the spirit of full consecration. Those who take this step during the Millennium, and who continue faithfully to serve the Lord, will discover that the Lord will indeed “bring it to pass,” that is to say, he will grant them the desires of their hearts.

Their righteousness shall be brought forth “as the light.” This thought seems to be in contrast to the experiences of the Lord’s people during this present evil world. Now the godly are persecuted, and according to the standards of this world, their conduct is often unappreciated. While they let their light shine, it is hated by those who dwell in darkness. But it will be different in the Millennium. Then the righteousness of those who commit their way unto the Lord shall be “as the light.” It will be seen, and respected by all who are walking on the highway that leads to holiness.

PSALM 46:1-3—This is another reassuring Psalm of trust, and one that has a special application to the Lord’s people at this particular time—this transition period when the present evil world is passing away, and God’s new world is soon to be established for the blessing of all the families of the earth. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” writes the Psalmist, and the following verses clearly indicate that the “trouble” referred to is that which the Prophet Daniel describes as a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”—Dan. 12:1

It is true, of course, that the Lord is a very present help to his people in all their troubles. He guides and strengthens and comforts them in their every time of need. But during this transition period, when everything is being shaken that can be shaken (Heb. 12:26,27), they are in special need of his protection and care, and this Psalm vouchsafes to them that this need will be supplied.

It is because this is true that the words of the next verse are so appropriate—“Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” This is highly symbolic language, and is descriptive of the removal, or the destruction, of this “present evil world.” (Gal. 1:4) Jesus foretold the trouble incidental to this in similar language. He said that there would be upon the earth “distress of nations, with perplexity,” and that men’s hearts would “fail them for fear,” as they looked forward to the things coming upon the earth. (Luke 21:25,26) Jesus also illustrated this time of distress and fear by the symbol of the roaring waves and sea. The mountains (or kingdoms) are carried into the midst of this roaring sea—that is, the turbulent, discontented, masses of mankind.—Isaiah 17:12,13

The unbelieving world of mankind, not knowing the meaning of events, and having no assurance of a happy outcome, are filled with fear, but “we will not fear though the [symbolic] earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Instead of fearing, our hearts rejoice—not because of the trouble, but because we know from the promises of God’s Word that this great “time of trouble” is ushering in an age during which all the suffering of mankind will be eliminated, and that then there shall be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more death, for the former things shall have passed away.—Rev. 21:4

QUESTIONS

What is the condition upon which we may confidently trust in the Lord’s loving care over us?

In what way may the Lord’s people be delivered from all their fears?

In what sense must all of the Lord’s people be poor?

What is meant by the promise that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about his people?

How may we “taste” that the Lord is good?

To whom is the promise made that those “who trust in the Lord and do good, shall dwell in the land for ever”?

When does the promise of the Forty-sixth Psalm have its principal application?

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