3rd December 2024

Commands seem like such a negative thing. The human nature within us will tend to rebel against being told what to do. As a child, we received a lot of messages to not do or touch things. We did of course, repeatedly. I quickly learned that riding my tricycle down the steps was a bad idea. In time we learned that those commands were meant to protect us, or something we might bring harm to. It is all a matter of what commands come our way, and the purpose behind them. Now the word command seems quite the opposite of negative when we read the words in Psalm 91:11, ‘For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…’. That does not feel negative at all, does it? What a pure heart God has as he gives his all for us so that we will be redeemed from the negatives in our lives and protected despite our negative ways towards him. His ways are always good, always righteous.

The Psalmist in the header verse knew that the commands of God are righteous and meant to lead us in the right way to live despite the wrongs that come our way, and so it brought him delight. Psalm 91 speaks of making God our dwelling, or shelter, our place of refuge. What safer place to be than under the shadow of God? It speaks of remaining close to him and closely bonded to God. 

Troubles will come our way, but we do not have to go through them alone. Psalm 91:14-16 tells us: ‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’

Despite our troubles, God is standing with us and giving us support; that is something to be thankful for. I was reminded this week that God is not bound by time as we are. When we think time is running out, God has all the time there is. We may not understand his timing or his answer to our prayers, but he will be with us, he will deliver us. He will command his angels to support us and protect us. One thing he does not do is command our love. We learn to love God, as we learn of God’s love for us. Oh, how precious is our God, how faithful and merciful to us.

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