October 10
________________________________________LORD, IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, DELIVER ME
In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed;
In Your righteousness deliver me.2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me.
3 For You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
4 You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength. 5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.
6 I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
8 And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
You have set my feet in a large place.- Psalm 31:1-8
________________________________________
In the 16th Century, German monk, Martin Luther taught through Psalms, verse-by-verse to his students at the seminary. In his teaching he came upon Psalm 31:1. This verse confused him; how could God’s righteousness deliver him? The righteousness of God – His great justice – could only condemn him to hell as a righteous punishment for his sins. He also read Romans 1:17: For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed. Luther thought about this day and night, until he finally understood what the righteousness of God revealed by the gospel is. It is not speaking of the holy righteousness of God that condemns the guilty sinner, but of the God-kind of righteousness that is given to the sinner who puts his trust in Jesus Christ. Luther said, “I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, he justifies us by faith. Martin Luther was born again, and the reformation began in his heart. One great Lutheran scholar said this was “the happiest day in Luther’s life.”
The psalmist puts his trust in the Lord who knows all the troubles that his soul encounters. Shouldn’t we do the same? The Lord knows us very well and only if we trust in Him will he deliver us. Because He is full of mercy and lovingkindness, we are delivered.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can trusting God keep us away from evil or trouble?