When Abraham was promised with a son, the Bible says that he walked by faith, though old and already weak, yet, “against all hope, Abraham …believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead — since he was about a hundred years old — and that Sarah's womb was also dead” (Rom 4:18-19 NIV). Abraham did not deny in his thoughts the impossibility of his body to procreate, but against all odds, he trusted the Lord that He could fulfil His promise. Many of us would already balk when we are given a promise that will not be fulfilled immediately.

But Abraham trusted fully in God and at the set time, he had his reward, a promised son! Thus we are to be patient and declare with God, that though all odds are against us, yet we shall prevail in His name. David declares, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for Thou art with me” (God who Smites). Our trust must be fully in God though all hell surrounds us, though all odds work against us for we see not with our natural eyes but like Abraham, we see by the eyes of faith. Our hope is founded on a mightier deliver like no other the world has known. We should not fret nor worry for any slight injury because we know that we have a God who can smite our enemies. He alone can avenge us. He alone can fulfil His promises in our lives.

We do not become jealous of others’ promotions nor covet their properties or wives because we know that promotion does not come from the east or from the west but from God. Even if we are in the darkest pit of trials, almost to death, we will not fret because we know God can take care of us. Paul in his deep trials did not cry for human companionship or for bodily needs but simply wrote, I am more than abundantly supplied for (Phil. 4:18). Knowing God who smites is having an understanding that He can deliver you out of every difficult situation. For instance, when you are mired in debts, worrying will not help one bit, praying does.

After which, we receive wisdom or understanding how to solve the problem we have. If we are truly seeking His Kingdom every day, God will make a way. This brings us to the next, “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me” (God who Comforts). The Lord comforts His people and He desire no less among us; every trial that comes our way, He comforts us so that we can identify with those who are suffering similar situations. When the Black Plague came to devastate Europe in the Middle Ages, only the Christians were left to care for the sick and the dead. Most of them burying not just one body or two everyday but ten to hundreds! Think about that, when your neighbour will be the next one to be buried, do you care enough to spend time with the sick? Christians cannot be good only with speaking the Bible but in the doing!

This is why heavier judgement will come on those who preach and write on His Words but fail to practice them because every word that we release on earth will have repercussions. In Luke 19:22, the Lord Jesus spoke of the wicked servant, “He said to him, 'By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave.” By failing to practice what we preach, we actually propagate an empty religion which is our reflection rather than God’s. This selfishness breeds pride that only His grace can remove; this was how the religious Pharisees in the times of Jesus were. They have organized religion that lacks the presence or power of God; the years of practice and rote knowledge have made a parrot out of every one of them. By the time Jesus came about preaching the Kingdom of God, all the people were astonished at how He preached and with what power came from Him so that they spurned the Pharisees.

The eight one speaks of the presence of God among men, “Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (God of Presence). Whether in the darkest of trials or in the feast of victory, God is present to guide, heal, comfort, restore, give peace, security, righteousness and strike terror in the hearts of our enemies.

It is God’s presence that heals and resolves all conflicts, through Him and in Him we have our victory. God with us is a common notion during Christmas and New Year but the real translation is not only for a season that God is with us, but perpetually, God is with His people! Unless we have separated our church life from our everyday life, He is with us daily. Knowing that this is the case, let us not fail to ask His help and bless His people, “May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:2-4 NIV).

To this blessing, we can add that indeed, with David we can cry, “Thou hast anointed my head with oil” (God who Sanctifies). The anointing of God breaks any conundrum and allows us to write or speak fluently or to heal the sick. It gives us authority to do these things because the oil of God is also His power. In the Bible, the oil represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it is for consecrating the tent of meeting, ark of the testimony, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the laver and its stand and also the priests (Exodus 30:26-29).

By the cross of Christ, all believers have been consecrated as priests, or one who connects, communicates directly to God (see 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:10). This is what many Catholic Brethren missed by putting to pedestal one priest and ignoring the priesthood of all believers, they have made a substitute of what was instituted by Christ. Our priesthood is upheld by this verse, we are anointed and consecrated by God so that we can connect to Him. The Word became flesh so that He can become our Mediator and Intercessor. This alone opposes any need for other human mediators such as Mary or the saints who were not crucified for us. We do not need someone to mediate us before praying to God.

We can come before Him directly by faith and humbly ask for His forgiveness and blessings. This was made possible by the blood of Christ, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). Because of this great sacrifice, Christ’s blood was enough to bring us closer to Him. And because of this very generous act which no one deserves, we can declare with David, “My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (God of Eternity). It is because Jesus died that we have been accepted in the Beloved, in fellowship with the Father, which as mentioned, none has the right without the connection bridged by Christ (John 14:6).

Jesus who is fully divine and man, the Word made Flesh came to this world so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins which no blood of animals, bull or sheep could ever wipe. Living our lives in view of eternity will produce in us a holy desire that all the things we are doing have greater significance and attribution only by seeing it in the eternal view. If God so imputed in us faith, fellowship, joy, peace and righteousness, how much more then should we be thankful for this life to serve Him with? In heaven, they do not have socialism, not everyone will be equal. All were made and born equal, given opportunities to serve God faithfully but rewards differ, and for this reason, we shall be surprised if we arise in heaven, not having used our insignificant lives for the most Significant Reason of all, Jesus!