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… For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. (1 Samuel 2:8,9)
In weakness, weariness, and worry, we can ask ourselves:
“How long can I keep this up?” “How long can I hold on?” “How much do I have left?”
David admonished himself not to envy those with plenty of visible resources.
He encouraged himself in the knowledge of God’s support.
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. (Psalm 37:16-19)
When his heart was troubled, David encouraged himself to “trust in the LORD, and do good,” knowing “verily thou shalt be fed.”
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:20-22)
1. GOD’S SAINTS are KEPT by the MERCIES of GOD
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. (Psalm 37:23-26)
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. (Psalm 41:1-3)
strengthen > Heb. sâ?ad > to support, comfort, establish, hold up
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. (Psalm 94:17,18)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful … (Psalm 18:25)
2. GOD’S SAINTS are KEPT by the POWER of GOD
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (1 Peter 1:5,6)
…Who, in the power of God are being guarded, through faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5 YLT)
kept > Gr. – phroure? > to be a watcher in advance, that is, to mount guard as a sentinel
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. (Isaiah 63:16)
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. (Psalm 27:10)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:10,11)
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms … (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. (Nehemiah 9:21)
3. GOD’S SAINTS are KEPT by the PERSON of CHRIST
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? (Song of Solomon 8:5)
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
We are upheld every day, each step of the way, as we look to Jesus, finding continuous replenishment for the challenges at hand.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
4. GOD’S SAINTS are KEPT by the PEACE of GOD
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7)
5. GOD’S SAINTS are KEPT by the PROMISES of GOD
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. (Psalm 119:116,117)
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. (Psalm 17:4,5)
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
God’s promise in Christ is that He shall supply. We will always have enough of what we need.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said— To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
That soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I will never, no never, no never forsake.