OUR TRUSTWORTHY GOD

We are told that there are 31,174 verses in the Bible and that Psalm 118 vs. 8 is the middle verse, which reads “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man”. We know that the dividing of the Bible into verses was made by the translators but, at the same time, it is both interesting and instructive that God’s absolute trustworthiness should be mentioned in that verse.

Throughout the Old Testament we are reminded of the fact that God can be trusted at all times and in all circumstances (Psalm 62:8, 56:3, Job 13:15, Is. 50:10); these verses are well worth looking up. Actually, in the Old Testament there are no less than 76 references to trusting God. In the New Testament the word “faith” is used as an equivalent to the Old Testament use of “trust”. How are we to understand what it means to have trust in God? The word “trust” means “to have confidence in”, “to be sure about”, “to lean on”, “to depend upon”, “to take refuge”. It implies a firm belief in the reliability, the honesty, the strength and ability of a person or a thing. Think for a moment how hard it would be to get through a single day without exercising trust, for trust runs through the whole fabric of living. Let us use some examples: in our business dealings, in going to a doctor, in boarding a ‘plane, in banking, in using an elevator, in the turn of a switch.

Coming back now to our text, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man”, we might ask just why is it safer to trust in God than to trust in man? Here are some answers to our question.

1. God is totally trustworthy; men are not. David had been betrayed by men he had trusted: e.g. Absalom, Saul, Ahithopel, and it is probable that we have all been disappointed by people we have trusted.

2. God is Almighty: man is limited.

3. God is good: men are often selfish.

4. God is wise and knows what is best for us; men don’t always know what is best.

5. There are emergencies when men cannot help us, even though they are willing, but there is no circumstance in which God cannot help.

6. Men’s help is limited to this life; God’s help extends into eternity.

7. Men cannot meet the most important needs of the human heart, but God can reach into the deepest recesses of our hearts, removing guilt, bringing peace.

God invites us to put our trust in Him. These verses summarise the whole teaching of the Old Testament and the New Testament. God wants us to learn to trust Him at all times, in all places and in all circumstances. The Christian life is well summed up in the words, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey”. The man or woman who has learned to trust God in all circumstances can relax in complete confidence. Here are some of the benefits flowing from a wholehearted trust in our loving, wise heavenly Father.

Psalm 40:4, Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust.

Psalm 2:12, Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

Proverbs 16:20, Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

Psalm 5:11, But let all those who put their trust in you rejoice, let them ever shout for joy because you defend them.

Psalm 34:22, None of them that trust in Him shall be condemned (desolate).

Psalm 37:5, Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 56:3, Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You.

Proverbs 29:25, Whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

Proverbs 30:5, Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Isaiah 26:4, Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord is everlasting strength. Look also at Nahum 1:7 and Jeremiah 17:5-8.

“’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word; just to rest upon His promise, just to know ‘thus saith the Lord’”.

This article was written by Pastor Geoffrey Davies. He is a frequent contributor to this column. He lives in Melbourne, Australia, where he pastored a church for over twenty-five years. Since 1983 he has travelled widely, continuing his ministry of encouragement and Bible teaching.

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