January 27 – Our Greatest Need (Psalm 7)

“O Lord my God, I take refuge in You.”(Psalm 7:1)

IN WORD:
Why are so many of the psalms about help & deliverance? Why is it so important to know God as our refuge? Because this is our greatest need.
We might not think so. We think we need more fruit of the Spirit or more character; more possessions or power; more wisdom or talent. But God’s assessment in the Bible is that we are sheep in need of a shepherd, the oppressed in need of a Deliverer, the lost in need of a Savior. The other needs are important, too; but our first and foremost deficiency is our helplessness. It simply is not within us to be able to help ourselves.
This is a direct contradiction to humanistic philosophies and other religious doctrines. Most belief systems place a lot of faith in the self’s ability to do good works, attain enlightenment, obey precepts, or acquire wisdom. The solution, they say, is within. Not so, says God. The solution is outside of us, above & beyond our own abilities. Whatever our need is, it is met by looking away from ourselves and casting ourselves with abandon on our Savior. We must run to Him. He is the source of everything we need. He is the solution.
Perhaps, this is why biblical faith is so offensive to some people. There is a certain amount of pride in being able to work out one’s own solution. We want to win victories, not be rescued. But the Bible’s assessment of our ability is clear. We NEED rescuing, and we cannot do it ourselves.

IN DEED:
We learned this lesson with regard to our salvation, if in fact we know Jesus as our Savior. But many of us forget along the way that this vulnerability is characteristic of the entire Christian life. In everything, we are completely dependent upon God. There is a reason God allowed David’s desperate psalms so much space in His Word. His desperation is like ours. Need provision? It comes from Him. Protection? Also Him. Holiness? Again, from Him. You name the need, He is the source of supply. Learn to run to your Refuge & Strength!

“Is it not wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside of ourselves?” -Martin Luther-