#DailyDevotion If You Fear The LORD, You Need Not Fear Anything Else
Psalm 147 7Sing a hymn of thanks to the LORD; play on the lyre to our God. 8He covers the sky with clouds, prepares rain for the ground, and makes grass grow on the hills. 9He gives food to the animals and to the young crows that call. 10He doesn’t delight in a horse’s strength or take pleasure in a man’s legs. 11The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, who look for His mercy.
The psalmist continues with his praise to the LORD. This section begins with thanksgiving and a call to play instruments to our God. Thanksgiving is a sort of praise as it acknowledges the gifts of the giver and the giver of those gifts. Here the LORD gives us the gift of clouds and rain which cause the grass and crops to grow. In providing this He gives food to the animals and even the crows. Reminds me of another verse in the Psalms which recalls the young lions growing for their food or something like that. We of course should imitate the crows and call out to our Father for daily bread.
Verse 10 is much like the previous psalm, “3Don’t put your trust in the best of men, or in human beings who can’t save.” As we don’t put our trust in man nor should we put our trust in a horse’s strength or men’s legs. The LORD doesn’t take pleasure in them. I’m certain he is speaking of these in terms of war and battle where these things appear necessary. What is the counter thought to this? The LORD takes pleasure in those that fear Him and look for His mercy. This is why the LORD took such pleasure in David. David trusted that he was merely an instrument in the LORD’s hands. He did not trust in his own strength or the strength of his armies. He did not trust in the weapons of war. All these things were nothing for him if the LORD were not on his side. The LORD was on his side because He feared the LORD and trusted in the promises handed down from Moses in the wilderness and written in the Torah.
Do we live our lives fearing the LORD and looking to Him for His mercy? Do we trust in the promises given to us by Christ Jesus? Here are a few: Matt. 6, 7 “When you pray, don’t babble like pagans, who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot. 8Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Matt. 7, 7“Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8Anyone who asks receives; anyone who searches finds; and anyone who knocks, the door will be opened for him.” John 14, 2“In My Father’s house there are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I go to prepare a place for you. 3And when I have gone and prepared a place for you, I’ll come again and take you home with Me so you’ll be where I am.” “13and I will do anything you ask in My name in order that the Son may glorify the Father. 14If you ask Me for anything in My name, I’ll do it.” John 16, 23“…I tell you the truth, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. 24So far you haven’t asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.”
When we pray and when we live trusting in these promises, the LORD takes great pleasure in us and delights in us. How much different might your life be if you feared the LORD and trusted His promises and looked to Him from Mercy in every aspect of your life? I pray these promises encourage you to do so.
Merciful God and Father, look with mercy upon us, and give us Your Holy Spirit so we may truly fear Your name, trust in Your great mercy and we may live all our days and your peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen