“Well, you’re on your own now!” Those are words that can often bring a dread into our hearts sometimes. When we were younger, and were learning a new skill, our parents or an older sibling might have given us a few basic instructions, and then they told us to learn the rest on our own, complete it by ourself. In school or at work the teacher or boss might have given us brief outlines for assignments, and left us to figure it out by ourselves. They brought us only so far, and then dumped us to find our own way and figure out how to finish. Is this something that God will also do? As we look into Psalm 138 for this week, I would like to take a special look at this, and how the Lord answers this question in the closing verse 8.
Psalm 138 was written by David, though it is not certain when in his life he wrote it. Perhaps when he was a young man living out in the wilderness while running for his life from King Saul. Or maybe after he had become king, and was dealing with the many challenges he faced then. David was a youth when the prophet Samuel had anointed him to become king. That was God’s plan for him, later indicating that his son would build the Temple, and from his descendants the Messiah would arise. God had a special plan for David’s life, and David knew that God would not call him, and then lead him only so far, and then abandon him to make it on his own.
The word “perfect” in verse 8 means “to complete” or “to bring to an end”. God had a plan for David’s life, and He was going to complete that plan. That plan would be fulfilled when David’s life came to an end. God would not fail in completing that plan. David could confidently say that the Lord would perfect, to bring to completion, that which concerned him.
What about us? Have you ever felt that, though the Lord brought salvation to your soul, and maybe through a few difficult times in your life, but now has just dumped you to fend on your own, to make it through the rest of your life on your own? David could say with assurance that this is not the case. He was not on his own when he faced the enemy of God’s people, Goliath, on the battlefield. David did not have to manage by himself when he was on the run from King Saul, and forced to live out in the wilderness. The Lord took care of him then. When David became king the Lord did not say that he was now capable enough to take care of himself, that as king he now had ample resources, and God no longer needed to spend His time looking after him. God continued to perfect and bring to completion His plan for David, even then.
This truth is also echoed by St. Paul in the New Testament, in Philippians 1:6. Paul tells us here that God began a good work in the Philippian believers when they accepted Jesus as their Savior. He had a plan for each and every one of their lives, and He would complete it, fulfill it, bring it to completion by the time that Jesus returns.
That is true in our lives, as well. God has a plan for your life and for my life. We don’t just get saved and then God tells us, “Well, you’re on your own now! I hope you make it through to the end when I return!” That is not what He says! God does not help us through a few difficulties in our life, and then tell us we’ve used up our limit of His help, and now we are on our own. Paul spoke with confidence that God will complete the work He has begun in us. David knew that God is merciful, and He would not forsake him.
This is a promise that God has given us in His Word. David spoke earlier in Psalm 138 just exactly how significant God considers His Word, the Bible. In verse 2 of our psalm we read that God has magnified His Word above His Name. One’s name is important to most everyone. It signifies our person, and we generally like it treated with respect. That is even more the case with God. In the Ten Commandments God gives the commandment to not take His Name in vain. Yet here, God tells us that He has magnified, extolled, and glorified His Word above His Name. That is how important He considers the Bible. We can depend upon His promises, every one of His promises. If God has said that He will bring the plans He has for our life to completion, we can surely rely upon Him to keep His Word!
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