How frustrating and frightening it would be if a loved one has been seriously injured, and we cannot contact a doctor, ambulance, or hospital because the phone has been made useless by the storm. How much more disappointing and frightening it would be if we try to call upon God for help, and He cannot hear us because we are too far away from Him.
That, of course, can never happen, because He is the everywhere present God Who is in every atom of every creature, and in His mercy and grace is in every one of His born-again children.
Of this the psalmist speaks when in Psalm 119:151 he says, "Thou art near, O Lord, and all Thy commandments are truth." This he had written after stating in this section of the Psalm, "I cried to Thee with my whole heart. . . I cried unto Thee; save me..." and "Hear my voice according to Thy lovingkindness."
But he had also written about his enemies that they deny God and His law. They follow mischief and are far from His law. Thus they maintain that God does not exist, and that therefore His laws are nonsense. If there is no God, why keep the law which we claim He made? But the psalmist confesses in verse 152, "Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them forever."
That we do well to keep in mind. God not only hears our cries, but His commandments are very real. We were created in them. They were not added to us after we were made. As a fish cannot live outside of the water, so we can not live outside of God's law wherein we were created. Outside of that law is death for man. God's commandments very really and assuredly are truth. Let no enemy of God ever make you believe otherwise. The enemies who follow after mischief, that is, after deceit, trickery, are fools. They are far from God's law; and God's law is the only place wherein man can live. Sing this truth:
Thou Lord, art near to me,
And true are Thy commands;
Of old Thy testimonies
Show Thy truth eternal stands.
Read: Psalm 19
Psalter versification: 339:4
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter number 14
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Ezekiel 1 ; Ezekiel 2 ; Ezekiel 3:1-15
Hebrews 3:1-19
Psalm 104:1-23
Proverbs 26:24-26 ****
Quote for Reflection:
“Having ascended, Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God in this same nature which He assumed with us. This is so that we may be assured that since we are in His protection no evil can happen to us. True, He permits us to be hampered by our flesh and to be surrounded with many miseries. But what of it? He is always ready to stretch out to us His hand, and we must be certain that although we suffer for a time the end of it will be for our salvation…Although I am weak, there is Jesus Christ, who is powerful enough to make me stand upright. Although I am feeble, there is Jesus Christ, who is my strength…Yes, the devil is called the prince of this world. But what of it? Jesus Christ holds him in check…There are devils above us who make war against us. But what of it? Jesus Christ rules above, having entire control of the battle…Yes, I am here subject to many changes which may cause me to lose courage. But what of it? The Son of God is my Head and exempt from all change. I must, then, take confidence in Him. This is how we must look at His Ascension.” (John Calvin, Sermon 15 on the Deity of Christ).
