Psalm 144, The Message

Of David.

^1-2 Blessed be God, my mountain,
    who trains me to fight fair and well.
He’s the bedrock on which I stand,
    the castle in which I live,
    my rescuing knight,
The high crag where I run for dear life,
    while he lays my enemies low.

^3-4 I wonder why you care, God—
    why do you bother with us at all?
All we are is a puff of air;
    we’re like shadows in a campfire.

^5-8 Step down out of heaven, God;
    ignite volcanoes in the hearts of the mountains.
Hurl your lightnings in every direction;
    shoot your arrows this way and that.
Reach all the way from sky to sea:
    pull me out of the ocean of hate,
    out of the grip of those barbarians
Who lie through their teeth,
    who shake your hand
    then knife you in the back.

^9-10 O God, let me sing a new song to you,
    let me play it on a twelve-string guitar—
A song to the God who saved the king,
    the God who rescued David, his servant.

¹¹ Rescue me from the enemy sword,
    release me from the grip of those barbarians
Who lie through their teeth,
    who shake your hand
    then knife you in the back.

^12-14 Make our sons in their prime
    like sturdy oak trees,
Our daughters as shapely and bright
    as fields of wildflowers.
Fill our barns with great harvest,
    fill our fields with huge flocks;
Protect us from invasion and exile—
    eliminate the crime in our streets.

¹⁵ How blessed the people who have all this!
How blessed the people who have God for God!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Right now, at this moment, I am not overwhelmed by today’s puny problems that challenge me; but I am completely overwhelmed at the greatness of God and stand in awe of our God who thinks my problems along with my being are important enough to bend down to listen to my prayers—when He already knows the outcome!  God is already working on my behalf to teach me what I need to know and understand in the trial. God knows me better than I know myself.  God sees my heart and knows exactly who I need most and delivers guidance, wisdom, protection, and provision.  God is love and Love delivers as He promised.

We learn our God was, is and always will be God—not matter if we believe Him or not— God is.  Knowing who God is, David is humbled by the thought that God would think of him. If we are not humbled by this thought that every minute and forever we are on God’s mind continuously; then may we stop right now and consider who God is. Because, “blessed are “the people who have God for God!” 

So many times, we limit God with our idea of God.  Some follow their hearts, even good people, but Jesus reminds us that our hearts are deceitful and cannot be relied upon.  We must stay with what the Word says for His Word is God’s Story!  The Word is God.  But before The Word was written down, “in the beginning, God.”  God was, is, and always will be Creator of all, is in all, and He is above all. God has all power, all authority over what He has created.  When the world looks as thought it will crumble in wars driven by hate; God has not given up His authority.  When our own small world challenges us with trials so great, we think might crumble under the weight of it all—God shows up, takes the load from our shoulders and carries it—along with us. 

“Who is this God”, David sings, “that he would have us on His mind?”  He is God, the One and Only God, who created us in His own image with a love for us that is unmatched and unrealized by humanity—until that get a glimpse of His glory at work within each one of us.  For those who still need convincing, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Truth:  God has everyone He has created on His mind.  How humbly grateful we should be for being on God’s mind as He sent His Son to die for our sins.  On the cross, we were on Jesus’ mind, for it was our sins that held Him there.  You and I were “to die for” so that we may live eternally with Him.

Above all powers, above all kings, Above all nature and all created things;

Above all wisdom and all the ways of man, You were here before the world began.

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones, Above all wonders the world has ever known;

Above all wealth and treasures of the earth, There’s no way to measure what You’re worth.

Crucified, and laid behind a stone; You lived to die, rejected and alone;

Like a rose trampled on the ground You took the fall and thought of me,

Above all

(By Michael W Smith)

Lord,

May your Holy Spirit express my gratitude to you because my words are few and inadequate this morning to fully thank you.  I love you, Lord. I praise you for all you did to save me and set me free from sins.  You are on my mind and will be all day long and into the night.  You are my God.  And I am your servant.

In Jesus Name, Amen