And neither will I be condemned when I run to Him for refuge. See how the Psalmist declares the same gospel truth the Apostle Paul declares in Romans 8:
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death!”
When I ponder the marvelous deeds of my Maker and Good Shepherd, when I consider that I am His people, His flock under His perfect care, how can I withhold thanks and praise to the One who is most worthy of it?
And giving thanks is not only for God’s benefit. It also blesses us and anyone else listening. By letting our voices resound with thankful praise to God within earshot of those who are also afflicted, we encourage and afford an opportunity for them to hear and rejoice with us because of God’s faithful goodness at all times.
“I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”
I cannot tell you how many times God has lifted me up from the ash heap simply by letting me hear someone else declare in thankful praise who He is and what He’s done for them through their own suffering and affliction.
So, let us together resolve like David to extol the Lord at ALL times. The Scriptures remind us that we always have a reason to give thanks:
- when we’re in the darkest, deepest places of our suffering and can’t see the end or way out;
- when we’re not recovering but rather dying in faith without experiencing physical relief on this earth;
- when we’re on the other side of suffering and experiencing peace and rest on this earth.
God has promised (and perfectly proven) that when the righteous cry out to Him, He hears and delivers them from all their troubles.
We will not always be trapped in this troubled world. Some of us will experience temporary relief here.
But no matter the circumstance, at all times, let us sing and shout our thanks and praise so that we and others can hear it and rejoice in our afflictions. Let us remember God’s faithfulness and His never-failing Word. Let us continually cry out to the Lord in our suffering, pouring out our hearts to Him for He is a refuge for us (Psalm 62), humbly confident that we who take refuge in Him will never be condemned, but rather delivered from all our troubles and fears.
“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Fear the Lord, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing. … The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers Him from them all … the Lord will rescue His servants; no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.” (Psalm 34:1-9; 17-22)
