#DailyDevotion The LORD Keeps His Promises
Psalm 105 7He is the LORD our God Who judges the whole world. 8He always remembers His covenant that He ordered for a thousand generations, 9the oath He made with Abraham, and swore to Isaac. 10He confirmed it as a law for Jacob as an everlasting covenant for Israel. 11“I give you the land of Canaan,” He said, “as your property measured out to you.”
David recounts the history of Israel here and how they ended up in the land they are in now. The LORD called Abraham from his own country and into the land of Canaan. He promised this land to Abraham and his descendants. The LORD repeated it to Isaac and to Jacob. While the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was unconditional, when the LORD brought them out of Egypt and into the land He made a covenant with the people which was conditional and they agreed to it. The Israelites we know did not live up to the covenant with the LORD. They even had sacrifices to offer when they failed and they didn’t even do that. Does this have anything to do with modern Israel? Well they still aren’t keeping the Mosaic covenant. The vast majority of them aren’t even religious. The author of Hebrews tells us in chapter 11, 10 “He was looking for the city with foundations, the one God built and made.” and “16Instead, they were longing for a better country – I mean heaven.” The LORD did bring the descendants into Canaan and they took it over. But Abraham was looking for a far greater piece of land than Canaan. The LORD Jesus Christ has promised the world to everyone who follows Him and puts their trust in Him.
12They were then only a few, a little group, and strangers in the country. 13They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. 14He let no one oppress them and for their sake warned kings. 15He said, “Don’t touch My anointed ones or harm My prophets.”
We see this wandering beginning with Abraham. Isaac didn’t travel that much. Jacob traveled back to Haran and then back. While they were nomads, in particular Abraham, the LORD protected them from kings. While Abraham himself was frightened by them, the LORD revealed Himself to the kings and the kings blessed Abraham.
16He called for a famine on the land and broke every staff of bread. 17He sent one ahead of them: Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18They hurt his feet with chains, and iron cut into his neck, 19until the time when what he said came true, and the LORD’s Word proved he was right. 20The king sent someone to release him; the ruler of the nation sent and gave him liberty. 21He made him the master of his palace and the ruler of everything he had, 22to train the king’s officers the way he wanted, and teach his elders wisdom. 23Then Israel came to Egypt, and Jacob lived as a stranger in Ham’s country.
He recalls the account of Joseph and how the LORD fulfilled what He revealed to Joseph in his dreams. The LORD had a purpose in bringing Jacob and his family into Egypt. He would use the wicked hearts of his brothers to send him there, ahead of them, to prepare for their eventual arrival. There Joseph would basically ascend to the right hand of Pharaoh and rule the country. He prepared for the famine that would cover the whole world that was revealed to him. Eventually, Jacob and his family went to Egypt.
Jesus has gone ahead of us into the heavens to prepare a place for us. He will bring us into the Promised Land, the New Heavens and New Earth. He promises, “The meek shall inherit the earth.” For now we are like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are wandering in this world as nomads. This is not our home yet. As above, like Abraham, “16Instead, they were longing for a better country – I mean heaven.”
Gracious God and Father, You have made so many great and wonderful promises in Christ Jesus. Give us faith to walk in the hope of Your fulfillment of these promises so when Christ returns we may inherit the kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.