Trusting the God of Our Salvation

Psalms 14:1-7

Jim Davis

Living in faithless times is challenging and demanding. To convince others to follow God in these times is difficult. The writer of Psalms 14 is living in such times. We are not sure when the Psalm was written. The beauty of the Bible is that it was written for all times. As I read Psalms 14 I am allowed to enter the innermost sanctuary—into the very heart of the writer to feel the heart throb of one overwhelmed by an unbelieving world.  

Psalms 14:1-7
14:1 For the director of music. Of David.

The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good. 

2 The LORD looks down from heaven 
on the sons of men 
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God. 
3 All have turned aside,
they have together become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one. 

4 Will evildoers never learn — 
those who devour my people as men eat bread 
and who do not call on the LORD? 
5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous. 
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge. 
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! NIV

God’s people were being devoured by the evil running rampant throughout Israel. There were those who were saying there was no God, and then there were those who believed in God. Yet they were living evil lives living in dread of God. They were like the demons that believe in God and tremble (James 2:19). 

Isaiah lived in similar times as God’s children turned their backs on God. 

Isaiah 1:1-4
1:1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. 

2 Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!
For the LORD has spoken:
"I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me. 
3 The ox knows his master,
the donkey his owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand." 

4 Ah, sinful nation,
a people loaded with guilt,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the LORD;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel 
and turned their backs on him. NIV

How do we live in such times? What do we do when the world denies God? What do we do when God’s people forsake him? What do we do when the church is polarized between what we want to be and what God wants us to be? What do we do when we are tempted to give up?

We take comfort that God is in the company of the righteous. 

Isaiah 3:13-15
13 The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people. 
14 The LORD enters into judgment 
against the elders and leaders of his people:
"It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses. 
15 What do you mean by crushing my people 
and grinding the faces of the poor?"
 declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. NIV

It is daunting to know God is in the company of the righteous—yet, it is comforting. God is not only judging the world. He is sitting in judgment on his people today. We often point to how God is sitting in judgment on unbelievers. Peter reminds us that God’s judgment begins with the family of God (1 Peter 4:17). Salvation history reveals God sitting in judgment on his people as well as the world. There is no doubt in my mind that God is sitting in judgment of his people today as we strive to reinvent the church for a narcissistic world. 

The history of Israel is a potent reminder. It is not those who do not believe God exist that pose the greatest threat to God’s cause or Christianity. The greatest threat comes from those who believe, but live as though God does not exist. This was the condition of Israel as Isaiah proclaimed the message of God.

The psalmist writes, “You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge” (Psalms 14:6). Isaiah writes to those whose enemies are raging against them.

Isaiah 41:11-13
11 "All who rage against you 
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you 
will be as nothing and perish. 
12 Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you 
will be as nothing at all. 
13 For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand 
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. 

The biblical writers seek to take us beyond simply holding on to ideas about God. Throughout salvation history the lives of the faithful speak of their experience of God. Joseph’s names for his children spoke of God’s presence with him in an evil world. 

Genesis 41:51-52
51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." NIV

These names leave a lasting memorial to God’s relationship with Joseph. Imagine the impact these names had on the faith of Israel as Manasseh’s and Ephraim’s descendants inherit two tribal areas in the land of Canaan. The names of his sons are an everlasting memorial to God’s glory revealed through the life of Joseph.

Salvation history is absolutely astounding as it repeatedly reveals how one seemingly defenseless soul can make a difference. Joseph’s life reveals how God can take a single individual living in the midst foreigners who have no knowledge of God and make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of his descendants. In faithless times these are the stories we must mediate on day and night.

Salvation belongs to God

God has always accompanied the righteous. Remember John’s vision of the seven churches of Asia. The Lord is walking among the believers. He has full knowledge of what is transpiring.

Revelation 2:12-17
12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live — where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city — where Satan lives. 

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. NIV

John’s vision reveals Christ’s intimate knowledge of the spiritual condition of the seven churches of Asia. We see those all but overwhelmed by an evil world. We see those in troubled churches barely holding on to their faith. Christ has not forgotten them. They are reminded that salvation belongs to our God. 

Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: 

"Salvation belongs to our God, 
who sits on the throne, 
and to the Lamb." 

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: 

"Amen! 
Praise and glory 
and wisdom and thanks and honor 
and power and strength 
be to our God for ever and ever. 
Amen!" 

13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes — who are they, and where did they come from?" 

14 I answered, "Sir, you know." 

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, 

"they are before the throne of God 
and serve him day and night in his temple; 
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 
16 Never again will they hunger; 
never again will they thirst. 
The sun will not beat upon them, 
nor any scorching heat. 
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 
he will lead them to springs of living water. 
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." 

John reveals our God sitting in the court of the righteous. In the verses preceding these verses John sees God judging the world (Revelation 6). He reveals the response of those living evil lives that were living in dread of God’s coming judgment.

Revelation 6:15-17
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" NIV

John sees the havoc evil brings upon the world, death, famine, war, pestilence is all part of his vision. The world seeks to hide from the destruction, but John cries out, salvation belongs to our God.

 In the difficult times in which we are living today, why should we not believe that God is on his throne? Why shouldn’t we believe he has an intimate knowledge of the plight of those seeking to live righteous lives? Our lives must be grounded in a knowledge that gives hope for our future regardless of what is transpiring around us. 

Our God is the God of our salvation. We must allow these stories to get a hold on us. We must feel the very heart beat of those struggling to believe. We must allow our hearts to beat in tune with all those in our past whom God chose to bless the world through. We must recognize their struggles as our own. They are the struggles of every one who chooses to believe in God.

Turning to God requires doing unpopular things in the eyes of the world. Joseph spent seven years in prison because he refused to be seduced by the Pharaoh’s wife. Initially this may make the message of salvation seem harsh. Yet, Joseph’s life was salvaged by God. God made it possible for Joseph to forget his father’s troubled household and made him fruitful in the land of his suffering. In time God will make us forget all our troubles as he makes us fruitful in the place of our suffering. Knowing salvation belongs to our God makes turning to God much easier. Salvation is not just forgiveness for the past; it is protection for the present; it is hope for the future.

Salvaging the World Demands a Personal Decision

Faith in God requires turning from our evil ways no matter how scary the world appears. It should be more frightening to have the mountains fall on us to hide from God than it would be to turn to God in repentance. It is the only way God can become the God of our salvation. Peter preached his first sermon after Christ’s resurrection on Pentecost. The crucifixion of Jesus was fresh on their minds as Peter preached. They crucified Christ less the two months prior to Pentecost. 

Acts 2:40-41
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. NIV

John the Baptist preached the message of repentance to a lost world. He gets very personal with those seeking God. He challenges those trusting in their Jewish genealogy for salvation. He challenges those believing they can get ahead through living corrupt lives. 

Luke 3:7-14
7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." 

10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 

11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." 

12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" 

13 "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. 

14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" 

He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely — be content with your pay." NIV

In our sober moments we must realize God’s ax is attacking the very roots of evil in each of our lives. We see the darkness overwhelming our world—death, disease, wars, famine. To whom shall we go? It is scary to live contrary to the world’s way of thinking. It may even be scary to challenge those who profess faith and live as if there is no God. It can be life threatening. The pressure from our world for things to remain the same is tremendous. Just remember when you turn to God your personal security and salvation belongs to God. 

Psalms 37:39-40
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him. NIV

Psalms 62:1-2
My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him. 
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation ;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. NIV

Our salvation is beyond our ability to accomplish. The impossible circumstances we face remind us of our need to rely on the God of our salvation. This is crucial when we find ourselves in circumstances far beyond our ability to endure. 

2 Corinthians 1:8-11
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. NIV

Those who turned to Christ in Philippi were challenged with this message from Paul.

Philippians 2:14-16
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. NIV

Paul is challenging each of us to live shining lives. Think for a moment of how Joseph’s life shines today as he holds out the word of life for each of us. Joseph stood all alone with God in an evil world. What a tremendous influence he has had over innumerable lives. It is up to Christians to hold out the word of life to a lost world as God reveals his glory through us. It is amazing how God can hold my life up for others to see his glory through what he has done through me. 

Isaiah 41:8-16
8 "But you, O Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend, 
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, 'You are my servant';
I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

11 "All who rage against you 
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you 
will be as nothing and perish. 
12 Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you 
will be as nothing at all. 
13 For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand 
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you. 
14 Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,
O little Israel,
for I myself will help you," declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 
15 "See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,
new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains and crush them,
and reduce the hills to chaff. 
16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,
and a gale will blow them away.
But you will rejoice in the LORD
and glory in the Holy One of Israel. NIV

The words were spoken to Israel when she was in the midst of her rebellion. There was little encouragement to remain faithful or to turn to God in faith. To turn to God in such times would be life threatening. So God pleads with them to trust him as the God of their salvation. Isaiah points them to what God was doing throughout the ages for Abraham’s descendants. It was a reminder of what God would do for them; if only they would turn back to God.

Isaiah’s statement about trusting God was made over a thousand years after Abraham’s death. Yet, his faith is grounded in what God had done in the lives of Abraham’s descendants. Their lives are the stars by which we navigate life’s treacherous storms. Through the historical records of God’s dealing with his people we come to know God through their personal experience of him. We are as much a part of the story as they were for these verses were written as a reminder to us as well as to those who first heard Isaiah over 2500 years ago.

God’s Salvation is ongoing and Personal

God is very personal as he brings his work to fruition in each of us. God is not only judging the world; he is working out his plan in my innermost being.

Philippians 1:3-6
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. NIV

It is reassuring to know God is at work in the world at large—it is more reassuring to know he is at work in my heart to bring his plans to fruition in me. Paul was writing to a troubled assembly of God’s people in Philippi. Yet God was at work in each heart to bring out the best in each person. God isn’t just interested in giving us a new spiritual birth—he desires to sustain the newly conceived life he has given to each of us. 

We must remind ourselves that God desires to carry out his work in us and through us. In impossible times it is difficult to know what to do or pray for. However, we can pray for God to intercede for us in ways we will never be able to comprehend.   

Romans 8:22-39
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: 

"For your sake we face death all day long; 
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."   

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV

These verses remind us of God’s eager willingness to move heaven and earth as he works out our salvation. All of heaven is involved in salvaging our lives. Whom shall we fear—our God is our salvation.

Conclusion:

Throughout the Bible the lives of the faithful are galvanizing and empowering God’s people. Isaiah was writing to the nation of Israel as they drifted away from God. They were going through tough times as a result of God’s judgment. Isaiah reminds them of God’s faithfulness despite their rebellion—despite those who rage against them. 

The following verses are a ray of hope for those trying to hold on to their faith. 

Isaiah 46:3-4
3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all you who remain of the house of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,
and have carried since your birth. 
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs 
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you. NIV

In faithless times God not only encourages the faithful; he also invites us to come to him despite our rebellion and sinful ways.  God says:

Isaiah 41:14
14 Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob,
O little Israel,
for I myself will help you," declares the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 

Isaiah 45:4-7
4 For the sake of Jacob my servant,
of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name 
and bestow on you a title of honor,
though you do not acknowledge me. 
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged me, 
6 so that from the rising of the sun 
to the place of its setting 
men may know there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other. 
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the LORD, do all these things. NIV

We must allow these stories to get a hold on us. We must feel the very heart beat of those living in faithless times. We must allow our hearts to beat in tune with their hearts. We must recognize their struggles as our own for they are the struggles of every person choosing to turn to God in faithless times. 

Salvation history seeks to move us beyond holding on to ideas about God to living with God as he seeks to salvage our lives.