Copyright © S P Townsend
V1 “You are my God.” V9 “This is our God.” Reflects sentiment of Psalm 63. Not a distant, remote, impersonal God. But a God who desires a relationship with us. He desires to be called the God of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob. He desires to be called our God.
V1 “In perfect faithfulness you have done marvellous things.” He is true to His word. He is faithful to His promises.
V1 “Things planned long ago.” God is not taken unawares by events. He knows the end from the beginning. He has a purpose and a plan, and He will bring his purposes to completion in His time.
V2 “You have made the city a heap of rubble.” None can stand against His purposes. All who oppose Him and set themselves against Him will fall. He is a God who punished evil, and destroys the works of the evil one. Many have defied him in the past, and many no doubt will defy him in the future. But he casts down the proud. Every one who resists Him will be brought to a place of reverence and awe. V3 “Cities of ruthless nations will revere you.”
V4,5 “You have been a refuge for the poor.” A refuge, a shelter, a shade. God is not indifferent to the injustices perpetrated by the evil one. He hears the cry of the weak and oppressed. From the very beginning Abel’s blood cried out to the Lord from the ground, and even now His ear is attentive to the cries of his people, who endure the storm of opposition and the uproar of the ungodly. “How long?” they cry, and He responds, “Just wait a little longer, until all is completed.” (Rev 6:9-11).
V6 “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast.” A feast, a banquet. David said, “A table you prepare before me in the presence of my enemies” (Ps 23:5). His purpose is in time to come to bless his people with the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Eph 2: 7).
V7-8 “He will remove the disgrace from his people.” He will remove the shroud that covers and separates, he will destroy death, he will remove our disgrace. All because of the cross.
V9
Copyright © S P Townsend