Building on God's Faithfulness
Under His Watchful Eye
God divinely oversees His people’s lives, and He quickly turned things around for the Israelites. Through His strength, God’s people are moved from a being at a standstill to courageously advancing in obedience, through faith. They are encouraged to get on with His mission, even in the face of opposition.
Under His watchful eye, God strengthens us:
1. Through the power of His Word (vs. 1-2)
- God’s Word is living, active, and powerful (cf. Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29)
- God’s Word exposes our sinfulness and encourages us in His faithfulness (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
- It takes courage to obey God’s Word (cf. Josh. 1:7-8; James 1:22)
Are you being strengthened daily by the power of God’s Word, through His Spirit, in your inner being? Jesus said God’s Word is essential: “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” If you feel like you are at a standstill and are not moving forward in your walk of obedience with the Lord, do an honest assessment of how much time you are spending in God’s Word. God causes those who courageously keep His Word to move forward for His glory and their good.
2. Through His divine providence over our lives (vs. 5:3-6:15)
- There is great comfort and strength in knowing that God is in control (cf. Rom. 8:28; Isa. 41:10; Ps. 46:10)
- There is great assurance in knowing that we are under the care of the watchful eye of the Lord Almighty (cf. Ps. 121: 3b-8; 2 Chron. 16:9a; Mt. 10:29-31)
- In His providence over our lives, God gives us more (especially spiritually) than we could ask or imagine (cf. Eph. 3:20-21)
Are you experiencing the comfort, strength, and assurance that comes from knowing that God is in control and that you are under His watchful care (cf. Php. 4:6-7)? Do you regularly take time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for evidence of His divine providence over your life in both the big and little things? (cf. Ps. 9:1-2)
3. With the joy of His salvation (vs. 14-22)
- Only God can bring restoration, hope, and joy from what sin has destroyed (cf. Isa. 61:1-4)
- Great joy comes from being in a right relationship with the Lord Almighty. Worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth and living in obedience to His Word (cf. 1 Pt. 1:8-9)
- It is the joy of the Lord that sustains us in the face of difficulties (cf. Neh. 8:10; Ps. 51:12)
What brings you the most joy? Is the joy of His salvation your strength, and is that evident to God and to those around you? Do you joyfully worship Him and live in obedience to His Word?
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