Text: Psalm 18:24-30

What a mighty God we serve! By again repeating verse 20 in the first verse of today’s text, David ensures all those who sing this song that it is God who delivers for “the word of the Lord proves true” (Psalm 18:30).

David opens his proof by illustrating a biblical principle penned to the Galatians centuries later by the Apostle Paul, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 ESV). This principle proves true because it is based in the character of God. David writes that God is merciful and blameless, pure and humble and because of His characteristics those who sow the same will be treated equivalently.

The Galatians’ context was to keep the church before their established teachers of grace versus a return to legalism as taught by the Judiziers; hence, verse six’s exhortation, shared now in Wuest’s expanded translation, “Stop leading yourselves astray. God is not being outwitted and evaded. For whatever a man is in the habit of sowing, this also will he reap.” Paul was telling the saints that it was vain for them to think they could outwit God by reaping a harvest different from what they had sown. The context of David’s prose was reward in righteousness and carried a similar meaning as did Paul:  it is vain to think we can live (sow) an unholy life and expect (reap) holy benefits.

Wuest was quoted because of the word “habit.” Habit means an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. In order to reap the benefits of mercifulness and blamelessness, purity and humility, it simply cannot be sown sporadically; rather, it must become a pattern of life in order to reap appropriately—that is, in order “to run against a troop and leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29).

Yesterday you acknowledged weaknesses to be fortified from; today purpose to establish yourself in the characteristics of Christ, who has given you all things that pertain to life and godliness (cf. 2 Peter 1: 3), in order for you to reap His rewards. Commit to trust Him at His Word.