Joel M Bradshaw

16But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.–Psalm 59

This psalm described David in an impossible situation. Saul had sent men to watch his house looking to capture him and kill him. David had lived on the run from Saul. He lived the life of the fugitive. Fear was his breakfast and uncertainty his dinner. He had only one hope: that God would protect and provide. Here are a couple of thoughts that stand out to me.

1. PERSPECTIVE. David didn’t say that he was the strong one. I don’t trust people who talk about themselves as strong. I appreciate the ones who describe God as strong and how he’s shown that strength in their life. If you have to tell me you are strong, you don’t seem as strong to me. I will see what you have endured and your silent strength will stand out to me. David’s perspective is God’s strength. David depended upon God as his fortress. God was David’s refuge. David had seen God’s faithfulness in the past…”you have been.” David saw God’s faithfulness in the present…”you are.”
2. (c)Hesed. This is another one of those Hebrew words that begin with the H sound, but like a clearing your throat H. Hence I added the c. It is translated as “lovingkindness” in some Bibles and “mercy” in others. Here it is “steadfast love”. The idea is that it is love from God that continues and I don’t on my own deserve any of it, but he gives it anyway. It’s love that describes more about him than it does about me. David saw this love each new morning. Could you imagine praying your way through each night just to make the sunrise? When you make it safely to the new morning, you sing your praise to God. David’s distant children generations later would face invasion and exile and the prophet Jeremiah would record this famous passage. Lamentations 3…

22The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

We depend upon the (c)hesed of God. In my journey with MS, I have learned to depend upon God as my strength, as many days I don’t have strength of my own. I think that’s a good perspective and it’s kept me humble. I need that humility. MS has therefore been a blessing to me and a major way God has discipled me as his child. I don’t sing of my strength, I sing of God’s. My perspective is that God is faithful to provide and I trust him with each day.

See God’s faithfulness in your life. Depend upon his strength and care. Pay attention to his mercies that are new every morning like the dew on the grass. That steadfast love that brings you through each day and night. Sing a song of praise that proclaims God’s faithfulness. Depend upon God as your fortress in times of trouble. Your great perspective is the steadfast display of his loving strength in your life.–JMB