Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. These words found in Psalm 118 remind of the gift of another day. That our maker has given us breath and given a call to rejoice and be glad in Him, no matter what the day brings. A reminder that most of us need on a Monday morning.
At BBC, we walk through books of the Bible – verse by verse, to exposit and preach the whole counsel of God. The sermons prepared, prayed over and dictated by the meaning of the Text of Scripture. We also believe that the Spirit of God uses the faithful preaching of the Word of God to build up the people of God.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”– Hebrews 4:12
Currently, we are walking through the book of Exodus on Sunday mornings. The most recent sermon from our Senior Pastor exhorted us to “remember what God has done.” Exodus 15:22-27 reminds us, as he stated, “the road to the promised land passes through the wilderness.” God by a strong arm has brought His people out of Egypt, and delivered them from slavery through the dry ground of the parted Red Sea. The Hebrews rejoice and sing, but 3 days into the wilderness campaign, they begin to grumble against Moses and ultimately God. The Lord heard the people’s grumbles, and turned the bitter water at Marah to sweet by a miracle. Another powerful statement and reminder that our Pastor gave us was, “know that the Lord has better things for you in the future. God brought His people to Elim, a place of rest, healing, plenty and prosperity. When life is bitter, don’t forget God, because He hasn’t forgotten you.”
It is in that context that we look at the words of John Bunyan, the writer of Pilgrim’s Progress,
“A Christian is seldom in a state of trial for nothing. God has a design in every affliction.”
Bunyan gives us a call to remember that the bitterness of Marah was not an accident. God uses each trial, or affliction, to sanctify us. The bitterness of the water was a parallel to the bitterness of the people. Even in this bitterness, God showed grace. Grace being stated through generations as, “Receiving what you do not deserve.” We as a grumbling people have not merited the sweet water God brings, but He shows us grace and supplies our needs in a greater way than we can ask. God shapes the believer in sanctification, using trials and afflictions on our journey to deepen our dependence on Him.
Humble Confidence
Psalm 26 teaches and invites us to not only examine our walk with the Lord, but to ask God to examine us. To show us where our faith is lacking when the water is bitter and Elim is not in sight yet.
John Owen says this, “The choicest believers, who are assuredly free from condemning guilt, ought yet to make it their business to walk humbly and carefully before God.” David writes in Psalm 26 to show us what this looks like. When the Lord works in us to shift our thinking. When He brings about a heart that desires His presence, to walk humbly with him – not in boasting. To recognize It is His redemption that brought us freedom. Often when we face a trial, we can see it as punishment. Testing is an invitation from God to be dependent on Him, faithful and obedient.
Israel is tested in the later part of Exodus 15, and they grumble. David is tested and responds with seeking the Lord and His will in Psalm 26:2, “Examine me, O LORD, and try me.” May this be a reminder that we are to welcome God’s refining sanctification, and to trust Him above all else.
Trust and Obedience in Belonging to God
What we saw at Marah, Israel quickly forgets God is the one who delivered them and called them to this new life. What was a song of praise on the shore, turns to grumbling and questioning God’s goodness. The faith granted to us is rooted in who God is, His attributes and His character. David reminds us that when we see no way, to remember that you have been chosen by God, and His steadfast love is what endures. We are called to walk in that steadfast love, because He is faithful.
Psalm 26:3, “For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.”
Genuine faith in God will lead to endurance because he is unchanging. The God who delivered is the God who saves and sustains today. The Lord who heals (Ex 15:26) calls His people to trust rooted obedience. “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord you God.” Me we be forever thankful that we have been given the whole counsel of God’s Word in concert with His spirit to minister to us to sanctify us and to teach us. Our relationship with God is ultimately satisfied in His presence with us. We do not walk on the journey to earn God’s favor. “O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.”
We delight in the journey no matter what lays in the path because He is with us.
Psalm 26:11, “But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me and be gracious to me.” Our confidence comes because God has redeemed us, called us out of darkness into the light, and is sovereign in all things. Before we trek the path and see Elim, we hold fast to the faith delivered once for all delivered to the saints. It is not in comfort, it is in the completed work of Christ.
David shows us in Psalm 26 what Israel missed at Marah. Examine our walk. Where do I miss being thankful for God, His deliverance, and ultimate trust that He has not delivered us for destruction.
“Faith is not mere belief that God can save, but trust that He will do what is best.” – JC Ryle
As Kent Hughes wrote, “God redeems His people first and then teaches them how to live as redeemed people.”
We do not trust God because the road is easy. We trust God because He is good and He is in control. We trust His authority because He will do what is right. “True obedience flows from a heart that is submitted to God’s authority, regardless of circumstances.” – John MacArthur
Faith in Christ Who Was Tested
We are ultimately pointed to Christ in both of these passages. Christ being our example, He was the one who truly walked in perfect obedience. Remember that Christ’s life was not dictated by circumstances, He rejected Satan’s offer for glory without suffering, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” (Matt 4:10) Look to the cross. He willingly enduring suffering without opening His mouth. There was no complaint, only trust. Because He passed each test, learning obedience through what He suffered, Christ extends grace to we who grumble. We do not learn obedience to be redeemed, we learn obedience because we are redeemed by Jesus’ shed blood. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” – Hebrews 5:8
Final Thoughts
In testing, trial, bitter situations, may we look to Christ. When testing comes, as David did, seek the Lord to examine. May we ask Him to provide grace and strength for the journey. Remember to (Psalm 136):
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords for his steadfast love endures forever;”
A convicting thought to end comes from Kent Hughes on our walk with Christ in reflection of Exodus 15.
“The measure of our worship is not how loudly we sing when things go well, but how faithfully we walk when they do not.”