Psalm 147:2-6
It amazes me, as I read this, to see the faithfulness of God to His Word and to His promises to Israel. We now stand with the advantage of several thousand years of history behind us, and we can clearly see that God is true to His Word. He has taken care of Israel and restored them to their homeland once again—though that reality continues to be challenged. Yet the fact that they have been planted in their land since 1948 is nothing short of a miracle. Nothing can stop God’s purposes!
With that in mind, we should carry this truth into our own lives. The very fact that we are here means that God has a purpose for each of us. He is faithful to that purpose, and anything that stands in its way will ultimately bow to it.
Consider the words of the Apostle Paul:
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
We can be willing participants in His plan, or we can oppose it—to our own discomfort. As Proverbs reminds us:
“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
And as Saul, later called Paul, discovered in his encounter with Jesus:
“And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].” Acts 9:5 (AMPC)
A goad was a sharp stick used by farmers to prod and guide oxen in the right direction. Saul was stubborn like an ox, so the analogy fit perfectly. In his quest to rid the world of Christians, he found himself resisting God—not a battle he was going to win. God can be quite persuasive, as we see in this account if we continue reading in Acts.
Truly, we see the truth of this Psalm: God rescued those who were the objects of Saul’s fury, while literally knocking Saul off his horse into the dust.
Thankfully, Saul made the right choice and aligned himself with God’s purpose for his life, and we have all benefited from that decision. He went on to write two-thirds of the New Testament—talk about multiplication and a ripple effect through the centuries! How many souls have been brought into the Kingdom through the words he penned?
I can say that something Paul wrote spoke to my own heart and helped me recognize my need for the Lord. It is found in Ephesians 2:8–9:
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
When this verse was shared with me, it dismantled my assumption that being “a good person” was enough. I realized that without accepting God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, I was not going to heaven.
The Word of God is immovable and unwavering. Hebrews 4:12–13 explains:
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)
That day, the truth of that scripture cut through my false confidence and left me standing before God’s Word—naked and exposed, and faced with a decision to make. I am forever grateful to the friend who shared those verses with me—words I could not escape—and within the week, I surrendered my life to the Lord.
“How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!” The sooner we understand that, the better.
With that in mind, we should carry this truth into our own lives. The very fact that we are here means that God has a purpose for each of us. He is faithful to that purpose, and anything that stands in its way will ultimately bow to it.
Consider the words of the Apostle Paul:
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
We can be willing participants in His plan, or we can oppose it—to our own discomfort. As Proverbs reminds us:
“You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
And as Saul, later called Paul, discovered in his encounter with Jesus:
“And Saul said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].” Acts 9:5 (AMPC)
A goad was a sharp stick used by farmers to prod and guide oxen in the right direction. Saul was stubborn like an ox, so the analogy fit perfectly. In his quest to rid the world of Christians, he found himself resisting God—not a battle he was going to win. God can be quite persuasive, as we see in this account if we continue reading in Acts.
Truly, we see the truth of this Psalm: God rescued those who were the objects of Saul’s fury, while literally knocking Saul off his horse into the dust.
Thankfully, Saul made the right choice and aligned himself with God’s purpose for his life, and we have all benefited from that decision. He went on to write two-thirds of the New Testament—talk about multiplication and a ripple effect through the centuries! How many souls have been brought into the Kingdom through the words he penned?
I can say that something Paul wrote spoke to my own heart and helped me recognize my need for the Lord. It is found in Ephesians 2:8–9:
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
When this verse was shared with me, it dismantled my assumption that being “a good person” was enough. I realized that without accepting God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, I was not going to heaven.
The Word of God is immovable and unwavering. Hebrews 4:12–13 explains:
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)
That day, the truth of that scripture cut through my false confidence and left me standing before God’s Word—naked and exposed, and faced with a decision to make. I am forever grateful to the friend who shared those verses with me—words I could not escape—and within the week, I surrendered my life to the Lord.
“How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!” The sooner we understand that, the better.
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