November 17

God’s Covenant of Confidence

“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” (Psalms 25:14)

“…the upright are in his confidence.” (Proverbs 3:32b)

I have a dear friend who sometimes needs help with something but doesn’t like to ask for it because she doesn’t want to be a bother. I used to be frustrated that she wouldn’t let me know how or when I could help her until I learned the secret of making it easier for both of us. If I visit with her, to spend time together, after we have enjoyed each other’s company for a few minutes, she will ask me to help her with something. After doing that task, we visit again, and she will ask for another favor. The process will continue until she has run out of chores, or we hit a roadblock. Psalm 25:14 reminded me of my friend who reveals her needs to be in the context of our friendship.

Unbelievers do not know God as a friend; they regard him as an impersonal, universal power source, global peace among humans, a magician, a mean, legalistic judge, or they may not regard him at all. Friends are people we enjoy and like to spend time with, in pleasant or helpful ways. Christians are those who fear the Lord because he has brought us into a covenant of grace with him. God doesn’t first consider us his friends—”God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11) If we were friendly toward God, we would not need to be reconciled to him, but enemies and those whose relationship is conflicted and need reconciliation. 

“Secret communion with God is enjoyed by those that fear him, which is what the world knows nothing of, and the joy that results from it is what a stranger intermeddles not with; the Lord has his chambers and secret places, into which he brings them, and where they dwell. The secret of his Gospel is with them; and the mysteries of it, which were kept secret since the world began.” (1) How did David and his son Solomon know that God brings the righteous into his confidence, but by God’s work in them, albeit temporal at the time, for the occasion of their ministry? “Each time Abraham doubted God’s ability to fulfill the promises of Gen. 12:1-3 God appeared to him and renewed the covenant (Gen 15; 17).” (2)

Now we have the permanent indwelling of the Spirit, so there is never a time when a believer does not have access to the Lord’s covenant of grace. Every time we doubt God’s promise of forgiveness we can run to him for reassurance. “Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:21-23) So today, in faith, “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (v. 24)John

(1) Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Psalm 25:14, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/psalms-25.html

(2) The Reformation Study Bible, Psalm 25:14:, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.