I could not figure out why my mother was calling me. She knew I was in a seminary class. It was my last class, actually, before I graduated, and it was a week-long, all-day affair. I was tired and grouchy, so I ignored the multiple rings and decided I would have to call her on my next break. Then I got a text from Krista that said I needed to call my mom right away. My dad had slipped into a coma and was in critical condition in a hospital in Knoxville, TN. It was during this dark day and the many that followed that Psalm 84:11 became a strange comfort to my soul.
I may have read this passage before, but I recalled it mostly from the biography of George Mueller. Mueller was the director of a Christian orphanage in Bristol, England in the 19th century. He helped to care for over 10,00 orphans in his lifetime, and all without asking for a single donation. He prayed and God mercifully delighted to answer His prayers. His is an incredible story of faith and power. But, Mueller was not without sorrow and heartbreak. The chapter I most remember discusses the illness and death of his first wife. When he preached her funeral – no small thing in and of itself – he preached from this text: Psalm 84:11. The text reads:
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
It’s a strange funeral text, but Mueller found comfort in it. He said that if God does not hold anything good from His children, then, it must be good for him that his wife died. What a hard thing to believe, I thought as I read the pages of his story. How could someone say such a thing within the dark hours of the soul? I marveled at Mueller’s faith and that Psalm and his use of it, stuck with me for many years.
The day I found out my father was dying I recall weeping uncontrollable in an empty room at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I cried out to God and pleaded for Him to spare my dad’s life. He chose not to. I remember thumbing through the pages of Scripture looking for any comfort, when the Spirit of God brought this passage back to my mind. It was surprisingly comforting. I didn’t find it strange anymore. I found comfort in knowing that God did what was best, and that even though I could not understand, and might disagree, I could trust Him.
The Psalmist reminds us of the character of God. God is good. He is a sun, bestowing warmth and helping us to grow, and He is a shield, protecting us from ill. He bestows favor and honor, and if it is good for us to have something, then he gives it to us. He refuses to withhold what is good from His children. God can be trusted, even with heartache, even when we don’t understand.
This text has been a powerful balm to my soul. These many years later when heartache still feels fresh, still hurts, I remind myself that God has done what is good for me, even if it doesn’t feel good. God can be trusted. Psalm 84:11 has been a great encouragement and hope to me in life. I pray it will be an encouragement to you too.
Thank you for this beautiful passage and the hope it brings us all thru it. When my younger brother drowned in Spain at 29 during Desert Storm, I never felt more pain, but thru it all I was thankful the Lord blessed me so richly. I’m in a different pain now but I can talk about it I’m too scared honestly, but I do know God is good and I still lean to Him thru any mud ar high water. Thank you for giving me this verse.
Hi, Pastor Dave
(Psa. 84:11) states :’The Lord God is a sun & shield; He bestows favor & honor. No good thing does he with hold from those who walk uprightly.’
The verse is propounded nicely in this article.
Favour means God’s kindness, acceptance or being pleased with someone.
This is a brief explanation
of: Who obtains God’s favour.
1. A good man & who has good sense, obtains God’s favour.
(Proverbs 12:2) states : ‘ A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but a man of evil devices he condemns.’
(Proverbs 13:15 ) states :
‘Good sense wins favor’
2. A humble person, obtains God’s favour.
(Proverbs 3:33) states : ‘ The
Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but to the humble He gives favor.’
3. He who finds a wife, obtains God’s favour. (Proverbs 18:22 )
4 The one who doesn’t forget God’s teaching, obtains God’s favour.
( Proverbs 3:1, 4 ) states : ‘ My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for you will find favor & good success in the sight of God & man.’
5. The righteous, obtains God’s favour.
(Psalm 5:12) states : “For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
A man can become righteous _:
a)’ By faith,’ (Romans 5 :1)
b) ‘By works.(James. 2 : 24)
But not by the works of the Law.’ ( Galatians . 2 :16)
c) ‘ By Jesus’ blood.’ (Rom. 5: 9)
And,
d)’ By God’s grace (Titus 3 :7 )
These are few examples
who received favor of God.
1. The Son of man, Jesus.
(Luke 2:52) states : ‘Jesus
increased in wisdom & stature, & in favour with God & man.’
2 Noah.
(Genesis 6 : 8 ) states :’ Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.’
3. Abraham .
(James 2 : 23)states : Abraham
believed God, & it was imputed unto him for righteousness: & he was called the Friend of God.
4. Isaac .
(Genesis 26: 3 ) states :’ LORD appeared unto Isaac & said, Sojourn in this land, & I will be with you & will bless you, for to
you & to your offspring I will give all these lands, & I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.’
5. Joseph.
(Genesis 39 : 21) states : ‘The
Lord was with Joseph & showed him steadfast love & gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.’
6. Moses.
(Exodus 33 :17 ) states : ‘The
Lord said to Moses,“This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in
my sight,& I know you by name.”
7. Ezra.
(Ezra 7: 6 ) states :’ Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, had given & the king granted him all that
he asked, for the hand of The Lord was on him.’
8 . Daniel.
(Daniel 9 : 22, 23 ) states : ‘ He informed me, & talked with me & said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill & understanding, for thou art greatly beloved.’
9 . Samuel.
(1 Samuel 2 : 26 ) says :’ Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature & in favor with The Lord & also with man.’
10. Naphtali
(Deuteronomy 33:23 ) states :
‘ And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, & full of the blessing of the Lord, possess the lake & the south.”
11. Gideon
(Judges 6:17, 21) states : ‘Gideon said to the angel, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me.
21Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, & touched the flesh & the unleavened cakes; & there rose up fire out of the rock & consumed the flesh. ‘
12 . Mary.
(Luke 1: 30 ) states :’ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’
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