Nothing Good Withheld

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

We arrive, this morning, at the peak of this mountain we have been scaling for the past two days. Although this is but one peak in the midst of a veritable mountain range of summits, it has much to say to us that will heavily color our view of life’s events. Our text for this morning says, ‘No good will be withheld from those who walk uprightly.’ In the translation above, ‘thing’ is supplied. By leaving it off, as the writer of the Psalm originally did, it expands the concept of ‘good’ well beyond the realm of ‘things.’

Let us contemplate that concept a bit, please. Of whom does he speak? He speaks of those who ‘walk uprightly.’ How is it that they thus walk?  They ‘walk uprightly,’ because of Free and Sovereign Grace.  His Redemption, accomplished and applied, is the foundation upon which ‘those who walk uprightly’ stand. He has already ‘not withheld’ that greatest good from them. He has, and does, enable them to ‘walk uprightly.’  Having already done the greater thing in not withholding salvation from them, He will not fail in any other area. If God has not withheld good in that which is greater, He will not withhold good in that which is less. This enables us to take a better view of the events of our own lives. If we are God’s, in Christ, then in truth, ‘all things work together for good for us who love God, who are, the called according to His purpose.’ He is, even today, working in every circumstance of your life to do you good. He will withhold no good from you; not now, nor throughout eternity.

Our Most Gracious and Giving God
We are grateful for Your abundant goodness to us.
We praise You, as You work all things for our good.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice

Grace and Glory

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

There is no end to the manifold benefits of being in Christ. We considered yesterday the light He brings to our darkened lives and the protection He affords us. Today, we shall take another step within the verse to consider the portion, ‘The Lord will give grace and glory.’ Here is an abundance of good, for life, for death and for eternity. If Christ, ‘went about doing good,’ then here is our own personal piece of evidence, and it becomes our own testimony of what Christ has done, and will yet do for us. Christ gave us grace, first to live at all, ‘He gives to all, life, breath and all things.’ Beyond that, He has given us grace to hear and receive the Gospel, ‘For by grace are you saved through faith.’   Beyond that, He gives us grace to live each day, in spite of great adversities, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ He will yet give us grace to die, ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.’ Beyond grace, there is glory. Life here, is the prelude to eternity. We are bound for greater things, in more expansive climes, ‘Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be.’ The same Christ Who saved us by grace, has also made us kings and priests unto our God. By Him we enjoy grace now, and there is glory to follow. Here is a thought with which to face the day.  Abundant grace will culminate in abundant glory.

O Great and Gracious Christ,
we have hope in You and Your grace today.
We anticipate the glory that is to follow.
You, You Alone, give both grace and glory.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice

Christ, Both Sun and Shield

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

Light and Protection are two basic needs of Life. The light of the sun is critical to the sustaining of life. Without protection we become subject to the elements and to predators of every stripe and variety. For us, who rest by faith in Christ, He is the Provider of both these basic necessities. He is both Sun and Shield. It is not enough to merely exist. It is important to thrive. When we are too long in darkness physically, we begin to wither and fail.  When we have light, we progress and become healthy. It is the same with our souls. When our souls are shrouded in darkness we pine and become weak. Christ remedies that. He shines upon us in our darkness. He chases away the shadows and the evil spirits that lurk there, holding us down. He brings us forth into the healthful glow of His Presence. He enables us to lengthen and strengthen, to become fruitful and productive. He goes beyond that to protect us from all those wild boars who would arrive with the purpose of mayhem and destruction. He shields us from all who would do us ill.  Who can subvert His will for His people? Who can penetrate His protection? Who can dim His light? We may go forth today, to do whatever the day requires with confidence, not in ourselves, but in Our Christ, Who is our Sun and Shield.

Our Most Powerful Master,
we look to you, and You Alone to
be to us both Sun and Shield.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice