Trust In God

by M.D. Macdonald, Wishaw, Scotland | Category: Meditations In The Psalms | Aug 1990

Although in the Psalms two Hebrew words are mainly used for the English word "trust" - one Hebrew word being stronger in meaning than the other - yet in this article we will not distinguish between the original words, the Revised Version text being used throughout.

It may be appropriate at this point to quote from Psalm 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times, ye people" and use this as a recurring text in our meditations.

1. Trusting God in time of difficulty

Some of David's psalms e.g. 3, 11, 61 and 63 were born out of times of trial and difficulty through which he was passing. When Absalom rebelled against his father, thousands rose up against David. Yet he could say, "I will not be afraid". These experiences come upon all of us; times of spiritual "dryness", wilderness experiences in very truth. And yet, like David, we can know even then times when our souls are satisfied as with marrow and fatness (Ps. 63:5).

Trust in Him at all times, ye people.

2. Trusting God in His house

Many of the psalms depict the very deep love the writer had for God's dwelling place, and for His saints who dwell in it: Expressions like "dwelling in Thy courts" and "looked upon Thee in the sanctuary" and "the house of the LORD" are common. David writes in Psalm 16:1 "Preserve me, 0 God: for in Thee do I put my trust". He then Speaks of God's saints as "the excellent" in whom he delights. Do we love one another that way? He follows on by describing the sorrows of those who 'exchange the Lord for another God.

Trust in Him at all times, ye people.

3. Trusting God for protection

Psalm 18 is one of David's literary highlights. It is repeated almost verbatim in 2 Samuel 22. Early in the psalm, David uses seven expressions in describing this Lord, whom he love~ They are set out in an interesting way as follows:

The Lord is

1. my Rock

2. my Fortress

3. my Deliverer

4. my strong Rock

5. my Shield

6. The Horn of my salvation

7. my High Tower

In the very middle, David reinforces his first point by saying, "My God, my strong Rock, in Him will I trust". What a beautiful way to underline and emphasize the character of his all-protecting God.

Trust in Him at all times, ye people.

4. Trusting God for Shepherd Care

We could well describe Psalm 23 as the GOLDEN PSALM. Although trust as such is not mentioned in any of its six verses, yet the thought of trust weaves itself inextricably through the warp and woof of this psalm, perhaps the most precious one of all. Its great appeal lies in its intimate tenderness and its sweet sense of personal care and because of the hope, comfort and cheer that countless thousands of God's troubled people have been afforded by its promises down through the ages. Is there anyone reading this who has not been helped by such rich, simple language as, "I shall not want"; "He leadeth me"; "He restoreth"; "He guideth"; "I will fear no evil"; "they comfort me"; "surely goodness and mercy shall follow me"? Our praise must ascend to God both for its author, the shepherd-king, David, and to the divine Spirit Himself, who inspired the words of the son of Jesse. Trust in Him at all times, ye people.

5. Trusting God for who He is

The author of Psalm 91 (probably Moses, as in Psalm 90) opens his lovely song with those well loved words of dwelling "in the secret place of the Most High", causing those who dwell there to "abide under the shadow of the Almighty". Then the psalmist says, "I will say of the LORD, He is... my God, in whom I trust". What more could any saint wish for than to know that the God in whom he is trusting is supremely worthy of such names as those describing Him as "the most High" and "the Almighty".

Trust in Him at all times, ye people.

6. Trusting God "which made Heaven and Earth"

In Psalm 115, the psalmist speaks out in praise of his God in whom he trusts, contrasting his heavenly God with the lifeless idols of the nations. Though these man-made objects have mouths, yet they are speechless. They are deaf, though they have ears. They have hands, feet and throats which they cannot use. In sharp contrast to these useless objects, which make their worshippers to become like them, is Israel's God. Such considerations cause the psalmist to issue a three-fold call for trust in God to:

1. Israel

2. the house of Aaron

3. those who fear the Lord

Three times over he calls for these people to trust in the Lord. Though we may not fit into the first two categories, yet we certainly should be among those who fear the Lord. Sweet is the promise given to those who will trust "He is their help and their shield".

Trust in Him at all times, ye people.

7. Trusting God above all others

Finally, we come to Psalm 118. With assurance the writer states, "The LORD is on my side". Then twice over he states that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in:

1. man

2. princes

One of our hymns puts it plainly as follows:

Trust not in man, the arm of flesh will fail; Trust not in man, his strength cannot avail...

Trust thou in God, make Him thy dearest friend.

Trust thou in God, He'll keep thee to the end.

Trust in Him at all times, ye people.

M.D. Macdonald, Wishaw, Scotland | Aug 1990
Meditations In The Psalms