GOD DOES NOT GIVE UP

READ PSALM 87

GOD WILL ALWAYS KEEP HIS PROMISES

Psalm 87

On the holy mount stands the city he founded;

the LORD loves the gates of Zion

more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

Glorious things of you are spoken,

O city of God. Selah

Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;

behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—

“This one was born there,” they say.

And of Zion it shall be said,

“This one and that one were born in her”;

for the Most High himself will establish her.

The LORD records as he registers the peoples,

“This one was born there.” Selah

Singers and dancers alike say,

“All my springs are in you.”

Some wonderful assurances jump to the forefront, as we read this psalm about God’s love for Jerusalem. God keeps His promises, He is faithful to them even if the recipients are not, and He will bring about what He has promised.

We know the history of the Israelites: they were chosen by God, and they went through seasons of true worship and times of utter rebellion. God was faithful to punish them and cause them to return to Him. And He was always willing to forgive His penitent people.

God loves to forgive.

Psalm 86:15

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

If it were not so, Israel and its holy city would not have any hope now or in the future. In fact, even though they now are far from God, one day they will return to God. They will recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the kingdom will be reestablished, and even their enemies will worship the only true God.

As we read about the children of Israel, we must be both warned and encouraged. We know that when God chooses us as His own, nothing can separate us from His love.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What wonderful assurance for those who are His! But we must remember that we, who profess to be His children, must do so in truth. One of the most alarming passages in this regard contains the words of Jesus Himself.

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

There is far more than just walking an aisle or asking Jesus to come into your life to knowing that we are His children.

The epistle of 1^st John reminds us that there are some very clear evidences of new birth in the lives of true believers: They love Christ and His Word. They practice His Word and walk according to them, and they love the fellowship of other believers. In other words, they live lives in dependence on Christ; they are repenting of their sins and they love their local church.

Dear friends, when I meditate on this psalm, I am so encouraged to know that God is faithful in spite of my unfaithfulness. I am humbled by the fact that He reached down to save me when I was not even looking for Him, and that He is at work in my life.

God loves Israel, and even though they seem so distant from Him, He will bring them back. We are blessed that in this season God is bringing us Gentiles to Himself and using us to make Israel jealous of His love.

Romans 11:11

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Salvation is in the hands of God. We must make sure that our faith is grounded in truth and that it is real. We must rejoice in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.