People Whose God is the LORD

In Psalm 1, David says blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, does not stand in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful.  He is blessed who delights in the law of the LORD and meditates in it day and night.  Such a one is compared to a tree planted by rivers of water that brings fruit in due season, whose leaf does not wither and whatsoever he does will prosper because of His God.  The idols of the heathen were believed to bring prosperity, good fortune and luck, yet all they could provide was false hope.  The living, almighty God of Israel is the One who gives abundant life and supplies all our needs--in this life and that which is to come.

The blessings contained in the Law of Moses primarily concerned life on earth, the "here and now."  David sang in Psalm 144:9-15:  "I will sing a new song to You, O God; on a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, ¹⁰ the One who gives salvation to kings, Who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword. ¹¹ Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood--¹² that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style; ¹³ that our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; ¹⁴ that our oxen may be well-laden; that there be no breaking in or going out; that there be no outcry in our streets. ¹⁵ Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD!"

David's prayer was a good one, that the marital unions of the people would be fruitful to produce godly children.  Blessed and happy are the people whose God is the LORD, who provides salvation and all we need for life and godliness.  Whilst God's people are never guaranteed children, an over-abundance of food and reserves, or everyone will have an ox for their stable (or car in their garage!), God is faithful to provide for all we need--including deliverance and salvation.  What He gives us is more than money could ever buy, for He causes us to be spiritually fruitful by the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Rather than our lives being marked by the works of the flesh, our lives can produce the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control and on.

By faith in Jesus Christ, every sinner has the opportunity for salvation, to become one of God's people.  There is one LORD over all other gods, spirits, people and creating things, and happy are the people who know and serve Him as God.  As God's servant Habakkuk said well of God his strength in Habakkuk 3:17-18:  "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls--¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."  Whether or not we seem prosperous today, we can rejoice in the LORD who is the God our our salvation.  He is our Life, and our future is safe and glorious in His presence.