Day 11 - The Source Of All Good Things
- Pastor b.Side
- Jan 11
- 3 min read
For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good [thing] will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. - Psalm 84:11
Since God is uniquely, eternally self-existing and self-sustaining, all things must come from Him. If we seek the good things that God offers, we must turn to Him to receive them because of who He is. He’s the source of it all!
“For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield…”
The Bible describes God’s attributes as the source of all things, especially good things. He is a sun and a shield. The LORD is “a sun,” referring to His brightness and beauty. Consider how life on our planet depends on the sun in our solar system. That’s what God is to us. Reflect on the beauty of the sun when it rises and sets. That’s what God is to us, too! God is the source of life, function, growth, and vibrancy. He is also the standard of beauty, goodness, and glory. All good things come from God because of who He is.
God is also our protector. The “shield” that Psalm 84:11 describes is a buckler shield. This was a small shield that soldiers used in battle to remain agile. It was useful for defending against projectiles and light enough to be used as an offensive weapon in close-quarters situations. In this sense, God protects His people from the fiery darts that infect our minds and tempt us into darkness. God utilizes those attacks to His advantage, producing good results. He deflects enemy assaults, turning evil against evil to His benefit. His defense is also our offense!
“No good [thing] will He withhold from those who walk uprightly…”
God only gives these benefits to certain people. Those who “walk uprightly” receive the benefits of God’s character. This refers to those who walk by faith in these truths. God freely grants us access to the benefits of His attributes when we believe in Him and rely on Him rather than attempting to live by personal standards to reproduce His benefits through our efforts. Do we believe what the Bible says about who God is? Do we trust that He provides these benefits? Do we depend on Him for life, purpose, function, growth, vibrancy, protection, and progress? Do we look to Jesus Christ as the object of our faith, trusting in Him as God-in-flesh? If we believe, God promises that He won’t withhold ANYTHING that He decides is good for us!
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, we trust that You reward those who diligently seek You in faith and humble dependence, like an infant does their parents. We ask that You help us in the areas of unbelief that keep us from the good things You want to do in our lives. Help us where bitterness and pessimism infect the positive influence that Your Word should have in our hearts. Your Word says You will give grace and glory as You see fit. Help us trust that this promise is true to the extent Your Word states. Help us live with confident expectation for You to do what You say because of who YOU are. Help us to walk uprightly out of gratitude for Your promises, not as a way to “earn” the favor You have already promised to give. We pray these things in Jesus’ name, the example of uprightness we seek to follow. Amen.
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