Psalm 27:9-10
Although there are fathers and mothers who have forsaken their children and committed child abuse, the natural attitude to their own flesh and blood is that of tender, loving care. But there is one Who loves His children more deeply than human words can express it. He is God.
God's love is perfect, unwavering, and so great that He gave His only begotten Son for our everlasting good. He knows our needs and sees us wherever we are. As the infinite, everywhere present God, He is not only next to us every minute but in us with His power, love, and mercy.
It might seem strange then that David wrote in Psalm 27:9,10, "Hide not Thy face far from me; put not Thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up."
This may seem to be a great weakness of faith. Yet here is something very wonderful that ought to be also in us. It is something that we can experience only because God is our light and our salvation. David reveals very clearly here that he knows his unworthiness, knows that by nature he is a child of darkness and needs salvation and sees no reason in himself why God should be his salvation, why he should not be forsaken and have God's face hidden from him.
Pretty soon we, having been exposed before the judgment seat of God (II Cor. 5:10), and now fully saved and dwelling in God's house, are going to wonder more than now that God is our salvation with His face upon us, in Christ bestowing closer covenant fellowship than now. We will then know how unworthy we are in ourselves and understand fully what it means that He is our light and our salvation.
We too may and should with David sing (PRC Psalter):
Hide not Thy face from me,
In wrath turn not away,
My help and Savior be,
Forsake me not I pray;
Should father, mother both forsake
The Lord on me will pity take.
What wondrous love! There surely will be abundant reason in the new Jerusalem to sing God's praises.
Read: Psalm 103
Psalter versification: #72:2
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #353
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Ezra 10:1-44
I Corinthians 6:1-20
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 21:3
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Quote for Reflection:
Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 4: "The hindering of good work is that which bad men aim at and promise themselves; but good work is God’s work, and it shall prosper."
Additional Info
- Date: 10-August
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.