Psalm 84:11,12
Life has its requirements, and because sin entered into the world, it also needs protection. That is why the psalmist concludes Psalm 84 by stating in verses 11, 12, "For the Lord is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will lie withhold from them that walk up rightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee."
Now if there is one thing our earthly life needs, it is the sun. No food will there be without it. No work will man be able to perform in the total darkness. Because the curse is on the earth, we need to be shielded from very many things.
Spiritually God is that sun and shield. In Christ He supplies us with all our spiritual life needs. In Christ He protects us from falling away from the spiritual life that He gave us. His grace is upon us and will bring us to glory in Christ in the day that He returns to us.
The psalmist therefore had good reason for stating, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee." That trust manifests itself in an upright walk. And all this fits in so beautifully with the psalmist's opening statement that God's tabernacles are amiable, that is, lovely.
Longing for entrance into God's house of many mansions, the child of God walks uprightly in the sight of God with Whom he longs to live. In God he trusts in the strength that God has given him already in this valley of tears. God our Sun gives us faith and preserves us in it. Thus in this life already we receive blessings out of God's house and are sure we will reach that house; for God, our Sun and Shield, is the ever faithful, almighty God.
Enthusiastically we can sing this from our versification (PRC Psalter):
Jehovah, God our Shield and Sun,
Will grace and glory surely give;
No good will He withhold from one
Who in His sight shall rightly live;
O Lord of hosts, most blest is he
Who puts his steadfast trust in Thee.
Read: Psalm 31
Psalter versification: #229:6
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
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Song for Meditation: Psalter #135
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Isaiah 19 ; Isaiah 20 ; Isaiah 21:1-17
Galatians 2:1-16
Psalm 59:1-17
Proverbs 23:13-14
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Quote for Reflection:
O. Palmer Robinson: "Israel was unique among people of the world in that God himself appointed a priesthood for the nation—with accompanying laws of sacrifice and ritual—which carefully defined the right way to approach God. The laws of the Levitical priesthood, along with its festival days and sacrifices, contained touches of glamour and glory. Colorful robes, impressive ceremonies, feasts, washings, the waving of recently harvested grain, and the chanting of divine benedictions all contributed to the allurement of the priestly order of the old covenant. So it should not be surprising that throughout the centuries the Jewish people have had difficulty relinquishing these treasured ceremonies. They all contributed to making them feel right and good in the presence of God. Furthermore, when the new covenant came along with its minimal ritual, it seemed as though something significant had been lost" (The Israel of God, pp. 53-54).
Additional Info
- Date: 15-September
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.