Psalm 146:5-6 (ESV) 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
In the psalms we quite often see references to the God of Jacob and the God of Israel. Israel can be a reference to the nation and it also can be in reference to Israel, the new name given to Jacob after he had wrestled with God.
Jacob grew up with the knowledge of God in his family life and in the family history. But it wasn't until he had faced several crises that he had the experience of "wrestling with God" which left him forever changed.
Many of us may have lived our lives the same way. Believing in God, having grown up believing but never really having to depend on him until a time of personal or family crisis. Our wrestling may be a night, as with Jacob, or it may be over a longer, much longer, period of time. Regardless, the wrestiling will change us.
That is what struck me as I read this psalm this weekend. Jacob received his new name, when he wrestled with God, would not let him go in the time of crisis. He finally found God, the LORD to be his hope, his help, his strength and his comfort. The creator of the lands and the seas is our hope. He is the one who "keeps" our faith, restores our lives, nenews our hearts.
May you be blessed today in realizing that the God of Jacob is also your help in times of trouble and in times of praise.
Hebrews 12: 1-2 NKJV" let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,"
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Psalm 146 Put Not Your Trust in Princes
1 Praise the LORD!Praise the LORD, O my soul! 2I will praise the LORD as long as I live;I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
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