The Lord protects and defends me; I trust in Him. He gives me help and makes me rejoice; I praise Him with joyful songs. ” In our verse for today, King David sings a prayer to God. As a psalm, this verse is certainly an act of praise, but it is also a petition for the Lord to hear David's request and grant his petitions. And, in V:6, David indicates that his prayer worked, for he sings, "Give praise to the Lord; He has heard my cry for help."
David was not only the king of Israel but, by default, he was also a warrior-and military commander. As such, he constantly needed God's "protection" and "defense" to preserve his own life, but also so that (through that preservation) David could seek to protect his nation and its people. And David makes it clear that the Lord is the one he "trusts."
The phrase, the Lord "defends me" can also be translated (from the Hebrew) in a more metaphorical way, as the Lord is "my shield." Of course, a shield protects one in battle, but it also inspires confidence because of how it defends the user. Thus, David essentially says, "I have more stuff coming at me than I realize, can see, or can defend myself against. However, the Lord is like a shield to me-constantly deflecting the arrows of my enemies… literal arrows, but also metaphorical arrows (in the form of various kinds of attacks by those who hate me)." David realizes this universal truth, and not only takes joy in it, but sings praises to the Lord as a means of showing both his awareness of how good the Lord is to him, but also as a way to express gratitude for these profoundly needed blessings.
Like David, you too likely do not see the many "arrows" that have been shot at you, but deflected by the Lord. Nonetheless, with David, we should know (and believe) that He is protecting us, defending us, and giving us help. We should rejoice in that fact and let Him know of our gratitude-in prayer and song. It doesn't matter that we only see a fraction of what He does for us. David has reminded us that all that God does is more than we know. So, may be "trust in Him" and love Him for His constant and abiding goodness toward us, as He thwarts the work of our enemies.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
