Faithful on Fridays Blog

The Lord is calling us His children, encouraging us to listen, and teaching those who will, how to have the ‘good life’. In these verses the four Hebrew words we’ll focus on show us His Fatherly character and love. Picturing God with eyes and ears leaning in our direction from heaven helps us recognize that all-encompassing love. We are His righteousness, standing before Him forgiven and without shame. These words that He’s watching and listening to us remind us that Jesus received our sin and we received His righteousness: the Great Exchange.

For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Unbelievers, those who reject Jesus remain in their evil, sinful nature and have no confidence of forgiveness; they stand on their own merits. This next verse tells us God’s face is against them and they’re cut off from His mercy and grace, never to be remembered in His eternal Kingdom. Since God’s holiness prevents Him from being in the presence of sin, our righteousness is essential to our future eternal life.

Verse 17 continues to draw attention to the ‘righteous’; when we cry out for help He promises to hear and bring deliverance or rescue from all our troubles. Knowing that we’re considered pure, holy, and blameless in His sight assures us of His rescue. Jesus is our Rescuer, our Helper, and our Friend. This is the fourth time we’ve read of His deliverance: you can count on it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12

Peter certainly understood that truth quoting it his New Testament book, therefore, it’s our promise as well. 

Lastly, verse 18 speaks of intimacy with God; He stays close to us when we suffer. The nearness of God means He’s right at our fingertips as our ally. When we’re broken-hearted or crushed in spirit He comes to our rescue: His name is Jesus. The Hebrew word for ‘saves’ is where the name Yeshua or Jesus is derived. He comes to deliver, save, rescue, and bring us victory in every situation when we call on Him. If we feel like the wind has been knocked out of us, He comes into our lives with a fresh breath of life and the power of the Holy Spirit like never before. He heals our brokenness and revives our hearts with strength to keep going and not give up. That’s why it’s so vital to our walk with Christ to be filled and keep being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18b). 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

He gives us ‘I can do’ dunamis power and iskus strength to accomplish whatever task we’re given. His presence imparts what we need, when we need it.