Psalm 144:13

Psalm 144:13

Those who obey the Lord will be blessed

David is still thinking about the threat of his enemies and especially those he regards as “Foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful.” In other words, infiltrators and impostors. He ponders what it would be like to live in a land that is free from tensions and assaults by the enemies. David knows that this land of Israel belongs to the Lord and if God is with the people and is freely worshipped, then the land and its inhabitants will prosper. Listen carefully to these words given by the Lord to Moses and promising blessings if the Israelites obey their God; -

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.  All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.” Deuteronomy 28:1-8

Nothing has changed, our relationship with the Lord our God is based on obedience, and a willingness to serve and follow Him. This is not imposed, it is a choice, a choice to serve and honour the One who has saved us. The path of obedience is a hard slog at times, but it is also a path of blessing and rewards. Hallelujah!

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