March 15, 2018: God and God Alone

Today’s Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 1-3, Psalm 62, Matthew 26:1-16, Romans 9:19-33 Psalm 62: One of the great truths of life—if not the greatest truth—is that when all else fails, when everything else falls apart, there is one and only one person on whom you can rely. And that person is not yourself: it is God. God and God alone. That is the theme of this psalm. “For God alone my soul waits in silence” (62:1). “He alone is my rock and salvation” (62:2). “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence” (62:5). “He alone is my rock and my salvation” (62:6). Several times the same point is made from a slightly different angle. For instance, at the end of the psalm, David employs “parallelism” (a common Hebraic poetic device) to emphasize that it is God and God alone: “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love” (62:11-12). By contrast, people not only let you down, they can sometimes positively attack you: “How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?” (62:3). “They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse” (62:4). This is true across all social classes: “Those of low estate are but a breath: those of high estate are a delusion” (62:9). Therefore “if riches increase, set not your heart on them” (62:10). This morning, then, consider: God and God alone. What will be left after your children leave home? What will be left when your career finishes? Who will stand by when all others abandon you? If you amass great wealth where will it go, and who will have it after you die? These are not merely pious “Sunday” truths. They are the great truths of life. God and God alone. And therefore? Therefore, give your life to him. For “power belongs to God…to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love” (62:11-12).]]>