Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 89:25-33
Ps. 89:25-33
25 I will set his [David’s] hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. 26 He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.' 27 I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. 28 I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. 29 I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure. 30 "If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, 31 if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, 32 I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; 33 but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
Acts 13:32-33
32 "We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: "'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.'
God always keeps his word. He is immutable and his word is truth. But what we too often fail to see is that most of his promises are conditional. When we go back and read his promises to Israel as they took the land of Canaan, we see that he would be with them and bless them as long as they served him and did not serve the gods of the land they were possessing. If they did worship these gods and did not keep his laws, they would be punished by the nations around them. When Solomon became king after the death of his father, God told him as long as he kept his commands and served him, he would be with him and give him peace and prosperity, but if he turned aside to other gods, he would punish him.
Again and again we can see how God kept his word when Israel was overrun by their enemies and plagues came upon them. After the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided and most of it taken from his family. Because of their sins, Israel was taken captive and Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.
God’s promises are conditional today. “He that believes and is baptized will be saved but he that disbelieves will be condemned.” He promises to work all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.
Heavenly Father, as I ponder your greatness, your power and your majesty, I am in awe and realize just how small and insignificant I am. As I consider your nature of love and holiness, I realize just how sinful I have been in my life and how far I fall short of your glory. Since you are a God of justice, I know I deserve death but because you are a God of grace, I rejoice that I can have eternal life in Jesus who died for my sins but was also raised to live forever. Use me in your service to do your will in all things. I pray in the name of Jesus my Savior and my Lord.
Robert
