38 But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one. 39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust. 40 You have broken through all his walls and reduced his strongholds to ruins. 41 All who pass by have plundered him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors. 42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice. 43 You have turned back the edge of his sword and have not supported him in battle. 44 You have put an end to his splendor and cast his throne to the ground. 45 You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with a mantle of shame. Selah

Things are not often what they seem. We may see glaring mistakes made by others when in fact they have knowledge that we do not possess so the mistake is ours and not theirs. With our finite knowledge and our frail understanding we just don’t always have the answers, even when they seem to be obvious. God had promised David that he and his descendents would be protected and would not be plundered or their country ravaged. The Psalmist bemoans the fact that these calamities are in fact happening to them. He sees a contradiction in the sure promises of God and life.

On one occasion Jesus gave an answer to some who questioned him by saying they were in error because they did not know two things. They did not know the word of God and they did not know the power of God.
For many, the idea of conditional blessings or promises by God amounts to rank legalism. They can only see payback based on our behavior. Yet, the word of God teaches conditions that none can deny. “If we walk in the light” or “by faith” or “if we are faithful” are just a few of these. Even promises such as Jesus made in the “sermon on the mount” when he said to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all the material things would be given is conditional. We know that God works all things together for our good but this too is conditioned by saying for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose. We cannot just go blindly thru life, living to our own flesh and desires and expect God to overlook our sinful attitudes and provide our needs. We must first be his children and then we must faithfully serve him. This service comes when we yield our will to his.

Lord God of heaven and earth, I thank you for your wisdom, your protection and your love. I thank you for your kindness and your grace and the forgiveness it brings to me. Give me faith to trust you more and to know that you cannot lie. Help me to study your word more to know your will and give me wisdom to understand and apply it. Melt my heart so I can make your will my own. Bless my service to your glory. I pray in Jesus’ name.