What do you thank God for? Do you thank Him for “food, drink, clothing,
shoes, house, home, land, animal, money, goods …” and all the other things that
support the needs of our body? Do you
thank Him for your spouse? Your
children?
There are many things that we should and do thank God
for. In our psalm today, we thank God
for protecting us and keeping us in true faith.
St. Paul reminds us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over
this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
places.” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV) These powers are our enemies that would steal our
faith, rob us of hope, and, if it were possible, take the Good News of Jesus’
life, death and resurrection from us. Of
these, and more, Jesus says, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John
16:33 ESV)
It is because Jesus has overcome that we can pray this
psalm. I am insufficient to face these
enemies, these challenges, on my own, but Jesus’ has won the victory for
me. His salvation is sufficient.
Sometimes we read God’s Word and pray out of duty and
obligation, but here we are invited to approach God freely in gratitude. It is whole hearted joy to come into His
presence because we come clothed in Christ, judged holy, innocent and blessed
because Jesus defeated His enemies by dying on the cross and rising again. He sits enthroned forever!
Jesus’ reign has everything to do with His death. The angels and saints praise him in
Revelation saying He is worthy, “because you were slain, and with your blood
you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will
reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10 NIV) In Jesus’ death God is both just
– that is, He punishes sin – and justifier – that it, He makes us
right with Himself. (Romans 3:26)
This is why God is the stronghold of the oppressed. Oppression flows from sin and is the work of
the rulers and authorities in the present darkness we now live and is acted out
by sinful people. God has overcome the
source of oppression.
By extension, as His people we now work against
oppression in this world, living in the hope of Jesus’ day of judgment when all
things will be made right. We are His
agents bringing the message of justice and justification to the world. We bear the message that in Christ oppression
has been defeated and injustice done away with.
What we are dealing with is an enemy that is defeated and knows it, so
he tries to do as much damage as he can until he is finally forced to stop.
We do well to remember v. 10 as we face our enemies’
final attacks, “You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” God has not forsaken us. We know His name. Indeed, His name is on us! We are baptized into the name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are Christians, that is, little
christs. He has claimed us as His own,
and in response we run to Him, seek Him, and take refuge in Him.
We also display His name, speak it, and call others to
take refuge in Him as we thank, praise, serve and obey Him. Remember all of the wonderful things He has
done, and proclaim it!
Father, thank
you! With all my heart, thank you for
saving me from sin by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Amen.
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