“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Psalm 84:11-12
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.”
– Psalm 84:11-12
Main Thought: As David comes to the end of this Psalm where he has extolled those who worship God, “who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise” (Ps. 84:4), he reminds them that those who worship God are ever under the providence and provision of God. First, he says that God is a sun and shield, that is He is their light and protection. I am reminded of what David said in Psalm 23:4, where he speaks of not fearing any evil, even in “the valley of the shadow of death.” Even there, even during times of darkness in those valleys, God is shining the light and the warmth of His presence upon us and is protecting us from harm. Secondly, he reminds those who worship God that He gives favor and honor and does not withhold any good thing from those who trust in Him. Even in the midst of our need, our God is mindful of the needs of His people for He is our shepherd, the One who loves us eternally. Our Lord Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, provided for the needs of the 5000 by dividing the loaves and the fishes, having compassion upon them even though He knew they would turn away from Him when He spoke the truth concerning Himself to them (John 6:1-71). Certainly, if our Lord has such compassion on those who do not worship Him, then those who seek Him first, who love Him above all else in this world, will be provided for by God with their needs, for God knows our needs even before we do (Matt. 6:33) and will not forsake those who love Him and worship Him. Then lastly, David reminds those who love, trust, and worship God of how richly they are blessed. It is a reminder that our trust is not in men, and our hope is not in the good circumstances of life, but our blessing is in the fact that we rest in and are cared for by the LORD of hosts, the covenant-keeping God of this universe. His promises, love, and care for us will never change, and His mercies are new every single day (Lam. 3:23). How greatly blessed we are to know that are under the care and love of the eternal, covenant-keeping God. May we rest in Him today, knowing He will provide everything we need spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Matthew 16:6
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6
Philemon 1:7
“For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” – Philemon 1:7
Hebrews 12:5-7
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He flogs every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” – Hebrews 12:5-7
Isaiah 28:15-16
“Because you have said, ‘We have cut a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by. For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” – Isaiah 28:15-16
Psalm 84:11-12
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” – Psalm 84:11-12
Psalm 84:1
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!” – Psalm 84:1
Hebrews 2:1
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” – Hebrews 2:1
John 4:13-14
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” – John 4:13-14
Matthew 4:17
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17