Word of Encouragement (6/25/2026)

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!  (Ps. 31:1-2)

David’s main petition in this passage was for God to deliver him in His righteousness (v. 1). He found himself in much danger. So, he asked God to incline His ear to him and rescue him speedily. He must have felt that the danger was imminent. He asked God to be “a rock of refuge” and “a strong fortress” to save him. He sensed the nets his enemies had set for him (v. 4). He found terror on every side; he heard the whispering of many as they conspired together against him to take his life (v. 13).

Notice that David pleaded with God to deliver him in His righteousness (v. 1). At one level, this only makes sense since he saw himself as different from (and better than) his enemies. Not only did they seek his demise, but they were wicked people who worshipped worthless idols (v. 6), lied, and spoke insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt (v. 18). Since God was righteous, He should deliver David and punish his enemies for their wickedness.

But things were not that simple. He said, “For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away” (v. 10). It turns out that David was not without fault; he was painfully aware of his iniquity, and it caused great sorrow in his soul. Then, what of God’s righteousness as the basis of his plea? He might have considered himself better than his enemies. But does his plea to God hold water?

Here, we see another aspect of God’s righteousness, not as His immanent (inner, inherent) attribute but as His economic attribute as it relates to His covenant with His people. The problem was that He entered into a covenant with a sinful people. How does God redeem them while upholding His immanent righteousness? Obviously, as a sinner, David had to appeal to God’s economic (covenant) righteousness. But if He did not punish him for his iniquity, He might be able to keep His economic righteousness but violate His immanent righteousness. But if God punished him according to what he deserved, He could uphold His immanent righteousness but violate His economic righteousness.

Of course, God resolved the dilemmas through Jesus’ substitutionary atonement, thereby satisfying both. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God” (Rom. 11:33)! So, we can boldly claim that God is for us, not against us! “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things” (Rom. 8:31-32)?