GOD MY STRENGTH

This title is found in Psalm 18. 2. Believers always remember that the Lord saved them when they were without strength. Their rescue, with all that was involved in it, was of God by His power, Rom. 5. 6.

The working of God in the resurrection of His Son was the working of His mighty power. Nothing less than that is the measure of His power to us-ward who believe. This is true both in our initial salvation, and in His continuous keeping, until by the power whereby He is able to subdue all things He will conform us to the image of His Son, changing our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, Eph. 1. 19-20; Phil. 3. 21.

We can now read the inspired psalmist’s statements with the added dimension of the completed Scriptures, as scribes instructed therein and finding treasures new and old, Matt. 13. 52.

The Lord is the One who “giveth strength and power unto his people”, Psa. 68. 35, so we can assert, “thou art the God of my strength”, 43. 2. “The Lord hath commanded thy strength”, 68. 28. We are the strong ones with whom our Lord shares the spoils of His death and victory, Isa. 53. 12.

This is blessedly true, but it must be realized daily in some measure. To this end, “Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face”, 105. 4, and pray, “strengthen, O Lord, that which thou hast wrought for us”, 68. 28, for our cry is, “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart”, 73. 26. If physical weakness is felt, be assured that the Lord will strengthen such upon the bed of weakness, 41. 3.

In service for God, however small it may seem, His empowering is indispensable. “I will go in the strength of the Lord God”, says the psalmist, 71. 16. “Go in this thy might”, said God to a trembling Gideon, Jud. 6. 13-14. God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, for man’s felt weakness can be the vehicle of His strength. But self-sufficiency can be His rival, 2 Cor. 12. 9; 4. 7. Remember that the primary object of being strengthened is that Christ may dwell in the heart through faith, Eph. 3. 16-17.

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength”, Psa. 18. 1.