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| PentecostalTheology.com
BELIEVE THE NEW COVENANT REALITY – Ray E Horton
Reading Psalm 44, at first, I read a beautiful tribute to the Lord for His past deliverance of Israel, exhibiting strong faith. But then, as we often read in the Psalms, it turns to lament. “You have rejected us … You cause us … You give us up … You sell Your people … You make us a reproach …. A byword … a laughingstock (vs. 9-14).
A Lack of Knowledge
This got me thinking and praying about these laments. It is not that they did not still look to God: “All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten You” (vs. 17). No, their lack was in knowledge.
The peoples of that day attributed everything to God’s sovereignty, whether good or bad
The peoples of that day attributed everything to God’s sovereignty, whether good or bad, even though their defeat and problems were a consequence of their own sin and lack of faith. They knew He was able, but no longer saw Him as willing to help. Thus, they begged Him for deliverance, but no longer had the confidence to receive. If you think it’s God’s fault, you must somehow change His mind.
Knowledge of a fuller truth of God’s heart didn’t come until Jesus’ revelation of God as Father, as love, yes just, but merciful. We were once and for all delivered at the cross for all who will receive his saving work, but God was also there for His people in the Old Covenant and delivered them often.
Begging God Old Testament Style
How many believers do you and I know who are still living in the Old Covenant begging God to do what He has already done, and attributing bad circumstances to Him, falsely believing that He caused or allowed them because somehow He controls it all. But no, He gave us control, and it is up to us to give control back to Him and make Him Lord of our lives in every situation, which allows Him to intervene on our behalf.
Let us all step into the New Covenant of the grace of God in Jesus, recognizing no bad comes from God, but rather, the world, the flesh and the devil. As we surrender and submit to Him, resisting the enemy, God will fight by our side on our behalf, and work the bad to good outcome. We can cry and moan all the day, but, if we will calm down, trust, and look around and within, there He is at hand to deliver us or bring us through unscathed.
