“When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26). As noted in Christian Worship: Psalter, the Passover meal was concluded with singing Psalms 115–118, psalms which remind believers of the Lord’s love, faithfulness, and deliverance for his people (p. 592).
These psalms were quite possibly the last songs and prayers our Savior sang with his disciples before the events in the Garden of Gethsemane. What comfort is now ours because he has fulfilled these songs of deliverance for us? This blog series offers some answers to that question based on the biblical truths found in Psalms 115–118.
Psalm 115
[It might be helpful to go through Psalm 115 before reading this post.]
Betrayal by a trusted friend and unlawful arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. A midnight sham of a trial before the chief priests, elders, and teachers of the law. Baseless accusations and fraudulent charges before Pilate and Herod. Mocking insults, blows, and abuse from guards and soldiers. A brutal flogging and twisted thorns fashioned for a crown to wear, until innocent flesh was rent and precious blood flowed. Nails, driven by hammer blow through hands and feet. All leading to a shameful, agonizing death on a tree.
And still, there was more.
Taunts and mockery from the people responsible for his agonized state. “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One” (Luke 23:35). Insults from the two men condemned to death alongside him. A darkened afternoon sky and a desperate plea: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The Son of God was indeed forsaken by his heavenly Father. As the prophet Isaiah had foretold: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. . . . He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Dear Christian, this is what God’s love and faithfulness look like.
When you look at your life, you might find things you don’t want to see. Suffering. Injustice. Chaos. Struggle. Shame. Hurt. Pain. Maybe it’s then that you hear the deceptive whisper of the devil in your ear. Where is your God? Why isn’t he doing something about these bitter agonies? Doesn’t he love you? Doesn’t he care about you?
Or maybe those are hard questions that other people—coworkers, family members, friends—ask you as the painful experiences in life seem to conflict with the comforting realities of what God says in his Word.
Where is your God?
That dark and lonely hill on Good Friday reveals the answer. There. There on a cross for you and me.
Our God, the one in whom we put our hope and trust, is in heaven. And he reigns forever! Unlike the idols referenced in Psalm 115 or any of the other frail and fallible things in which people try to put their hope, our God can act, and he does. He does whatever pleases him. And it pleased him to act in love toward us, sinful people that we are, even though we deserve nothing from him but wrath and punishment.
Where is your God?
Here, in Jesus. Here is our God who took on flesh to set us free. Here is the God who left the eternal glories of heaven to be born in a lowly manger. Here is the God who lived and walked among his once-perfect, now-flawed creation. Here is the God lived in perfect obedience. Here is the God who died on a tree, bearing the sins that were not his own. For you. For me.
That is why Jesus came. That is what it’s all about. That is what God’s love and faithfulness look like. Hold the image of the Savior on the cross before your eyes. Because the Lord remembered, dear Christian. He remembered and he acted. He is the God who saved his people—just as he promised in a garden long, long ago.
He still does.
When you look at your life, you might find things you don’t want to see. Suffering. Injustice. Chaos. Struggle. Shame. Hurt. Pain. Things that make you question and doubt.
And yet these words still stand true: The Lord has blessed you. All of your sins have been taken away. They’re gone—washed away in Jesus’ blood. You have a home in heaven waiting for you. No matter the lies the devil whispers, the sickness, the pain, the loss—not even death itself can take that home away from you. It’s a sure promise that you can trust. A promise made by the God who acts in love and faithfulness to you every day—all because of Jesus.
Praise the Lord!
For more devotional material on the Psalms, check out John F. Brug’s The People’s Bible: Psalms 1-72 (and 73-150). Another great resource for devotions on what the Christian life is all about is Pastor Mark Paustian’s Our Worth to Him: Devotions for Christian Worship.
Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.