Boasting in God’s Steadfast Love

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 52

Psalm 52:1

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
    The steadfast love of God endures all the day.

(ESV)

One commodity that is never lacking during an election year is boasting.  Candidates needing votes must portray themselves as the best person for the job and boast about their superior ideas.  However, there is one thing Christians can boast about that no candidate can top, boasting in the steadfast love of God.

The context of Psalm 52 is Saul finding out that David had come to the house of Ahimelech.  David represented a threat to Saul based upon the words of Samuel when he disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15:26-28).  Saul was also jealous of the praise lavished upon David and his military conquests as superior to his own (1 Samuel 18:6-9).  So deep was the jealousy of Saul that he now wanted to murder David to eliminate him as a threat to his reign as King of Israel (1 Samuel 19:1-9).  David has gone into hiding and visits Ahimelech the priest but now with the discovery of David’s location, the threat to David and his men has become a clear and present danger.  However, instead of cowering in fear, David finds strength in, 

1)      The enduring quality of God’s love (Psalm 52:1) – In John 3:16 reminds us that God loved the world, even in its fallen state so much that he sent His son.  We know the rest of the story for the reason for God sending His Son was to die in our place for our sins.  So enduring is this sacrificial love that by simply believing in Jesus as savior, one can inherit eternal life. 

2)      The breaking down of those not placing their trust in God (Psalm 52:5-7) – David would become King of Israel and have access to an army consisting of chariots and horses.  However, David would write about not placing his trust in the might of an army in another psalm and instead boast of his trust in the name of the Lord (Psalm 20).  Trust in anything other than God is trust in something created that exists in a post-Genesis 3 world and will disappoint us as it will break down.  David knew this as he observed the fall of King Saul due to disobedience and lack of trust in God and vowed not to place his trust in the might of an army (Psalm 20:7).

3)      Placing his trust in God (Psalm 52:8-9) – It is easy to say we trust in God, but then there is the waiting period where things may appear to get worse.  As David wrote Psalm 52, he may have experienced doubts as he hid from Saul.  His thoughts may have reflected the day when Samuel anointed him as king (1 Samuel 16:1-13).  At this time in David’s life, he is God’s chosen king for Israel but is living in the gap of the waiting period between receiving the anointing as king and the appointment as king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-7) and eventually a united nation of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-16).  Those choosing to believe in Jesus as savior have complete salvation and the assurance of eternity with God but still live in a fallen world full of trouble.  The hope of Christians is that while they live in a fallen world waiting for eternity with God, they know Christ who conquered death, has the power to protect them in a dangerous world (John 16:33; Romans 8:11).  Believers in Christ also know their present state is temporary for Jesus will return to establish his kingdom on earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

Trust in God begins with one deciding to make Jesus their savior and accepting His gift of salvation.  We all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and are under a death sentence (Romans 6:23).  However, God has provided a way out of our death sentence by sending his sinless son Jesus to die in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8).  I invite you to pray with me know and accept this gift from God,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

During this election year in the United States, there will be no shortage of boasting by candidates running for election.  However, there is always a shortage of leaders that boast in their relationship with God through Christ and thank God for the abilities or talents He has given them.  What the world needs is more Godly leaders boasting in their God while using their God-given talents to glorify God and not themselves.  May God bless everyone reading this post.