READING: Psalm 68
“God in his holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless
and a champion of widows.”
1 Chronicles 29:18
One of the images of God that is most powerful to me is the God who cares for the less fortunate. He is the God who created the world, who put mountains into place, who moves the wind at His will, who calms the waves with His voice – and yet who knows the hurting, the hungry, and the homeless. He lives in His “holy dwelling,” and yet He is “a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows” (Psa. 68:5). Furthermore, He “provides homes for those who are deserted. He leads out the prisoners to prosperity” (Psa. 68:6).
These words remind me powerfully of the grace of God. None of these persons has anything to give back to God. The powerless cannot earn their way to God. The outcast have nothing to offer. The orphans are on their own. The prisoners are bound. The weak have no strength to give anything. Sinners—that is, all of us—cannot stand in the presence of a perfectly holy God. None of that matters, though, for God does not require us to work our way to Him. Instead, He came to us in Christ, and He died for us “while we were still sinners” (Rom. 5:8). Thus, we can sing with great joy today, “Blessed be the Lord! Day after day he bears our burdens; God is our salvation” (Psa. 68:19).
On this Lord’s day, be sure to praise the Lord for His great care!
ACTION STEPS:
- Thank God for His care for the weak and the hurting.
- Sing God’s praises loudly and clearly today.
PRAYER: “Lord, I praise You for caring for all of us who cannot fix our own problems. You are a good God!”
TOMORROW'S READING: Psalms 111-118