“The LORD preserves all them that love Him…”
(Psalm 145:20)
One of the greatest assurances we have in Christ is that no one or no thing in heaven or on earth is strong enough to pry open God’s hand and take us from Him (John 10:28-29, 18:9).
In Romans 8 the apostle Paul asks four wonderfully rhetorical questions to challenge us to realize the extent to which our position in Christ is preserved by the power of the Almighty God… Verse 31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Verse 33: “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?” Verse 34: “Who is to condemn?” And Verse 35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
And the answer always comes back with the same resounding words… NO ONE! Because God’s omnipotent power preserves His own.
To be clear, His protecting love does not keep us from experiencing calamities in this life. Frowning providences will happen to us. But the bottom line is that no matter how bad it gets, God is always in charge of what’s happening. Nothing can touch us that He doesn’t ordain and control. And through all the difficulties – even when it feels like He’s not there – we are never separated from the everlasting love of our all-powerful, ever-living God.
Right now, in this moment, God’s love for you is as strong as it has ever been or will ever be because Christ stands at the right hand of God continually interceding for all believers. In other words, He is preserving you, right now, this very moment, as one of His sheep if you have faith in Him. His mediating work on your behalf is a continual action designed to keep you every moment of every day until the glorious day He brings you safely home to the eternal joy and blessing He has reserved for you and preserved you for His glory.
Knowing this, you can be sure that wherever you are, whatever circumstance you are in, “The Lord is near,” (Ps. 145:18). He is attentive and ready to respond when you call on Him for help. “The Lord is ready to help all who ask Him,” for God preserves His own. He is near to those who call on Him in sincerity (Ps. 145:18), reverence (Ps. 145:19), and love (Ps. 145:20).
William Price, Westminster Divine, comments on this saying, “They that fear God, and they that love God, are put in the same description by the Psalmist, and they are interested in the same promises, that their prayers shall be heard, their desires fulfilled, and that they shall be preserved and saved (Ps. 145:19, 20).”
“The Lord is near to all them that call on Him, to all that call on Him in truth. He shall fulfil the desire of them that fear Him, He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserves all them that love Him,” (Ps. 145:18-20).
- Lord, I desire to have the fear that is due You, but at the same time to be comforted by Your gracious protection. The Apostle John says that men will say “to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne,” (Rev. 6:16) and the writer of Hebrews warns that “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” (Heb. 10:31). But that kind of fear is reserved for those outside Your protection. As Your child, I need not have that kind of fear. Rather, I want to know comfort in Your holiness and a desire to magnify Your majesty as I tremble before You in humility with a contrite heart.
- When Your servant David was in a difficult spot, he cried, “Let us fall into the hand of the Lord,” (2 Sam. 24:14). And You promise, “I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me,” (Jer. 32:40). Help me rightly love and fear You, Lord, that I may cling to You, adoring You in the power of the Spirit as a beloved child of the Most High God.
- Trials and temptations come, afflictions come, difficulties come. But I know no matter what happens, nothing can separate me from Your love. Am I content in this, Lord?
- Do I truly love You Lord? You say that those who love You are preserved by You. I desire the comfort that Your preservation brings. I need the support of Your love. I live in a sinful world where daily I am saddened at sin, and especially my own. Will You preserve me in Jesus Christ? And will You give me a greater portion of Your Spirit that I might know peace and walk victoriously before You?
Further References for Psalm 145:20
Ps. 97:10, 31:23, 1:6, 91:14; Exod. 20:6; Matthew 25:41
