Thought for the Day 21/01/21 - Psalm 105:4

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Psalm 105 is what you might call a 'wisdom Psalm' ... it's practical wisdom about how to live life and it was sung to get wise living into people's minds on the way on into their hearts and their lives. You could say it was about fixing wisdom into the worshippers' way of thinking.

And here comes the central wise nugget:

The Thought for the Day

Psalm 105:4  "Look to the LORD and His strength;

seek His face always."

Sounds like a bit of airey-fairy empty headed 'stuff' doesn't it?

The psalmist goes straight on to kick that idea into touch!

The reasoning

Here's how he sets about doing that. He says:

• vv. 5-6 Remember the wonders He has done in the past
  
  
• v. 8 Remember how He has kept His promises
  
  
• v. 12 Remember He has a record for protecting His people, which held over a long period of time when it didn't look as if He was doing so ... but He was actually taking care of things in the background
  
  
• v. 26 Remember how He raised up deliverers for the people and did wonders to set His people free
  
  
• v. 39 Remember how He led, fed and watered His people against all the odds through barren wilderness wanderings
  
  
• And remember that after all that time of hardship and difficulty,
  v. 43 "He brought out His people with rejoicing."
  
  Look at that! Not just scraped through but brought out with REJOICING!

The point

This psalm is saying that God has a big history of being trustworthy, so you can trust Him even when it really doesn't look like it, even when you're tempted to panic and run.

Of course, when it gets scary and doesn't look like He's helping, that's just the time when what's called for is TRUST!

The takeaway

When things are tough, confusing and challenging you really need to get to God with it, pour it out and look for His help. 

It's like having a big powerful patron in Him. 

Faithfulness to Him (going to HIM for your help) taps into His care for His people, and He's got a powerful, wonderful, reassuring track record in coming to the aid of His people.

It might be in spite of appearances, but there's no-one more capable or reliable to put your trust in. 

And, you know, placing that trust is what the Bible calls saving faith.

Psalm 105:4  "Look to the LORD and His strength;

seek His face always."