TLIC Psalms. October 3. Having No Faith in His Promise.

Read Psalm 106:24-31. ²⁴Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise. ²⁵They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the Lord. ²⁶Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness, ²⁷and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands. ²⁸Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; ²⁹they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them. ³⁰Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. ³¹And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.

Misdeeds always originate from misplaced faith. The Israelites refused to trust the promise of God and instead joined themselves to the wickedness of the Baal of Peor. You can read all about it in the book of Numbers (none of it is pretty).

We must never think that we are so far removed from this same sin. Even as those who are in Christ how often do we find ourselves failing to believe all the promises that come with our glorious position in him? How often do we despise our precious savior by ignoring his New Covenant promises? Do you know what these promises are? Can you list them? If not, how could you possibly be trusting in them?  

And if you are not trusting all the New Covenant promises in Christ, then what are you trusting? What “Baal” are you seeking instead? What did you wake up thinking that if this happens today I’ll be alright? What are looking forward to as your source of comfort or happiness? What dead “deity” will be your source of peace today instead of Jesus and his faithfulness, his forgiveness, his love?

Maybe instead of trusting in these lesser glories, it’s time to act with the zeal of Phinehas against them (Num. 25). Not so as to be counted as righteous, but from the righteousness of Christ in you. From to live is Christ.

Prayer. Jesus, I need to deal with my lack of faith every day. I need to be zealous in trusting you alone for my peace and happiness. May your eternal promises be my motivation, not the temporal pleasures of this life. Amen.