Three Holy Resolutions

Three Holy Resolutions

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. …

Psalm 18:1-3

We are saved by grace, and not by works. Upon that matter we agree, on the basis of the teaching of Scripture. We are as well kept by grace as the result of the sanctifying influences of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That sanctifying influence, motivates us to holy actions, which are the effect of holy resolutions. In the passage before us today we find that in each of the three verses David expresses a holy resolution. In the last of the three verses he expresses a holy confidence.

These are worthy resolutions for us as well. As David made these three holy resolutions with the confidence of their good result, so let us also resolve with the same confidence. We find that, in the beginning, David resolved to love the Lord. Although “God is love,” and His behavior toward us has given us every reason to love Him; yet we do not naturally incline to it. Our depravity is so deep, the satanic and worldly influences so persistent that everything around us conspires to keep us from loving God. It is the overpowering influence of the Holy Spirit within us that enables us to resolve, “I will love Thee, O LORD.” He draws our hearts to love God by giving us a clear sight of Christ. As the Holy Spirit moves us, so let us even more resolve, “I will love Thee, O LORD.”

David also resolved to trust the Lord. Love is the basis of trust. If David loved the Lord and was certain that the Lord loved Him, then he could trust Him as well. In spite of every contrary circumstance, David, as Job had before him, resolved to trust the Lord. Our trust in the Lord rests upon the confidence we have in our utterly trustworthy Savior.

David also resolved to call upon the Lord. Others might cease through frustration or disenchantment; yet David resolved that he would call upon this God whom he loved and trusted. David had full confidence in the results of these resolutions. He was prepared, in the face of any circumstantial evidence to the contrary, to declare that God would deliver him from his enemies. History proves that David was right. David’s God is your God. His Savior is your Savior. Christ is your Rock, your Fortress and your Deliverer.  He is your Strength and your Stronghold.  Will you, with the same confidence as David, adopt his resolutions?

Our Master and Our God,

we will love and trust Thee.

Hear us when we call 

and deliver us.

We look to Thee.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice