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Believe to See God's Goodness

Psalm 27:11-14
     Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
     Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
     I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
     Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say, on the LORD.

    To believe God is to have confidence and trust in information that you have received from God's Word to the end that you act upon that information.  There is much adversity in the world and men who are at enmity with God.  We are constantly faced with the choice of either submitting to the negatives of the world or believing that which God has revealed in His Word.  You can become faint in your mind and decide that the adversity of the world is too much to handle.  You can decide that you will only see the deliverance of God when Christ returns and the negatives are once and for all put down . . . OR you can choose to believe to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  You can trust God to strengthen your heart and deliver you by His goodness NOW!

Psalm 34:8
     O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 86:5
     For thou, LORD, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 143:10
     Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

     God is good!  His Word is His Will.  God's Word provides knowledge regarding how to walk rightly.  When you look to His Word and ask for His help, He has promised that He will deliver you according to His mercy and lead you rightly.

Psalm 33:4-9
     For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
     He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
     By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
     He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
     Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
     For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

     You can choose to see the works of men and their cruelty when you look at the world around you, or you can believe to see the goodness of God.  The word of the Lord is right.  The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.  By His Word, God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 107:1-9
     O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
     Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
     And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
     They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
     Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
     Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
     And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
     Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
     For he satisfeth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

     We can hunger and thirst and wander without a home; OR we can go to God in the day of adversity and believe to see His goodness manifested toward us.  God will fill with goodness, deliver, redeem, and provide a sure dwelling place to those go to Him when they are in trouble.  In Christ we have been redeemed.  We have been delivered from the exercised power of darkness.  We have been made citizens in His kingdom by the work of His son.  We have been filled with all the righteousness of God.  We need to believe to see the goodness of the LORD already given to us in Christ.

Psalm 107:10-16
     Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
     Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
     Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
     Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
     He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
     Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
     For he hath broken the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

     Men sit in darkness and death, being bound and afflicted because they do contrary to the Word of God.  But when we look unto God for salvation in our distress, He breaks the shackles that bind us and He brings us out of darkness.  In Christ we have been given great light.  Christ led all that captivates men captive.  In Christ we have been made free.  We need to believe to see the goodness of the LORD given us in Christ.

Psalm 107:17-22
     Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
     Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
     Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
     He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their distructions.
     Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
     And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

     Men are sick and afflicted, waiting in hunger for death because of sin.  Yet when they cry unto the LORD in their trouble He hears them and delivers them.  God sends His Word to heal.  God sent His son to deliver us from our sins.  Jesus Christ was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, and by his stripes we were healed.  We are saved - made whole in Christ.  We need to believe to see the goodness of the LORD given us in Christ and offer the only sacrifice God requires - THANKSGIVING.  What a joy to declare the goodness of God!

Psalm 107:23-32
     They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
     These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
     For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
     They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of troubles.
     They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
     Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
     He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
     Then they are glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
     Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

     The world around us may be troubled as a stormy sea and we may be at wit's end, but God has given us peace in Christ.  We need to believe to see the goodness of the LORD given us in Christ and let the peace of God rule in our hearts.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
     Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
     That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

     According to the grace of God we have received tremendous things in Christ.  We can believe to see the great goodness of the LORD in the land of the living to the glory of God; and even more will be given at Christ's return when God will fulfil ALL the good pleasure of His goodness toward us.

Lamsa Translation:
Psalm 27:11-14
     Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in thy right paths.
     Deliver me not over into the hands of my enemies; for false witnesses are risen up against me and have spoken cruelly.
     But I have believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
     Trust in the LORD, and be of good courage; yea, trust in the LORD.


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© Copyright September 2002 Michael Cortright