David Bahn - Reflections

This is a Psalm of remembrance and of anticipation. That the right hand of the Lord has done valiantly is history. But it is also prelude. And singing it implies that we are thankful for God's past deliverance and that we are looking for God's future salvation. 

We have been saved by Jesus' death and resurrection.

We are being saved by the Holy Spirit's continuing work in our hearts.

We will be saved on the Great Last Day when Jesus returns and takes his own to be with him in heaven. 

Until that day we sing our praise to God for his past blessings, and in anticipation of even greater things to come!

Maybe today you're looking for God's redemption, help, blessing, or salvation. Perhaps you have looked for some time and yearned for the hand of God to be revealed for your good. It might not yet have come. And you might be tempted to find help, relief, hope, peace, or comfort elsewhere. Today we must remember, it it better to trust in God than in horses, kings, man, or woman. God alone saves. He has promised. He will do it.

We are all called on to let others know what Jesus has done; whether it seems good to them or not. And you never can tell who will be happy or sad. You can never tell who will welcome Jesus or who will not. The most respectable people of Jesus' day wanted nothing to do with him. They realized that he would turn their world upside down. They realized that their little fiefdoms would be shaken to their foundations. They knew they could no longer ignore the needy, refuse justice to the poor, or use their positions of power for their own benefit. No matter. The people on Palm Sunday called out in praise to God for their king who was coming in the name of the Lord.

We'll be staying with this Psalm for two weeks. There is so much here. And we begin with shouts of praise, honor, glory, and petition: Save us, O LORD, you who come in the Name of the LORD. 

Holy week begins with a triumphant procession of Jesus with his disciples entering Jerusalem. Coming down the road from the Mount of Olives crowds cheer him. Palm branches are cut from the trees, waved in the air, and laid on the road on which he is riding. "Hosanna!" cry the crowds. "Save us!" it means. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna!" Right out of this psalm:

Save us, we pray, O Lord!
O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
    We bless you from the house of the Lord. - Psalm 118:25=26

I often conflate the coming and going of this psalm, when offering this blessing during baptism. I'm trying to convey the idea that we come into God's house by his blessing, and leave to be a blessing to others. Jesus came to save. He sends us saved ones to save others. We don't just come into the place of God's grace. As long as we live we also go as his ambassadors to offer grace and truth to others - the same grace and truth we have received from God. 

May your coming in and your going out be blessed from this time forth and forevermore!

Most often God protects us from the dangers that come by day or at night. We can lament the times trouble intrudes. God receives such prayers. The Psalms are full of them. But we must also thank God daily for his protection, provision, and presence. For that is the far greater and more common experience for most all of God's people.

There is one exception to God's absolute 24/7/365 care for his people. It was 2000 years ago from 9:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. That was the time his only Son was on the cross. It was then that God took his eye off Jesus. Jesus cried out, "My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?" He did that so that we could enjoy the eternal blessings of God's glorious grace. There is no down time for God's loving care for us and for all of creation.

Jesus promises that when we call on God in his name, he hears us. A humble cry reaches the heart of God, and he delights to be known by us. Our help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth, redeemer of lost and broken sinners, friend of repentant sinners, and keeper of our lives who has taken on human flesh. He is known as Jesus whom we confess as Lord. When we call on God in Jesus' name we are not simply having good thoughts. We are connecting with the King of the Universe from whom help will surely come.

When trouble comes, God never says, "I didn't see that coming!" There are no surprises in the courts of the heavenly realm. He has good plans for his people. Sometimes those plans are to help others in their time of need. Sometimes those plans are to strengthen our faith through trials and struggles. And sometimes his plans are to send help at an opportune time. In every case when we look to God for help, we are looking toward the right One.

Pause today and remember to be still and know that God is God. He will be exalted among the nations and in all the earth. As we pause and refresh, we will discover not only the life we’ve always wanted, but also the gracious blessing of bearing fruit. All this for the glory of God, your joy, and the blessing of many. For now, though, enjoy the pause that refreshes. And just so you know, I’m not talking about having a Coke! I’m talking about pausing to reflect on God’s word, his promises, his goodness, and reign and rule, and his work in the world. This psalm helps us do just that.