The Middle of the Bible
These verses were once thought the middle of the Bible. I'm not entirely sure if that's true. Either way, they are a great couple of verses to meditate on.
Psalm 118:8–9 (ESV) It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
A few thoughts about this passage.
Notice it says it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better. It's not always easier. Man is visible and audible and available in our present reality. Man can make promises and seem sincere and appears to be the path to success. Go to the right school, work for the right company, get ahead, move up and move onward. That's the easy way.
The better and often more difficult path is to trust God. But this requires faith. God is unseen and not audible (apart from the scriptures). God is not visibly standing beside you and does not specialize in the fast track to financial success the world so often pursues.
The second verse ups the stakes. It talks about princes. These are men of power and prestige in your generation, the men of notoriety and means! The ones who can really give you a leg up in your dreams and/or plans. So often we look to princes for provision. Do you know a few princes you place your faith in? A few people who the world esteem?
It's not always easier to pick trusting God over trusting princes. But I have found that VERY often, God doesn't give you a choice. He plucks the princes out of your life so that you only trust Him! And you learn that His way is better.
Jesus didn't trust Pilate or Herod. Jesus didn't trust the religious establishment. Jesus didn't trust what people said about Him. He took refuge in His Father. He got away from the noise of the crowd and got alone in the care of His Father. He encouraged us to do the same (Matthew 6:1-4).
You know why Jesus didn't trust men? John tells us:
John 2:23–25 (ESV) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
I've always loved these verses. It's a wonderful lesson in leadership and confidence. Whether the crowd praises you or crucifies you - they have nothing to really do for you. Jesus knew that man was NOT trustworthy, only God is TRULY faithful. Mankind is deceitful, God is TRUE. Mankind is usually out for Himself. God is for His people.
Those who chose Him over the princes know this for certain.
Psalm 118:8–9 (ESV) It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
A few thoughts about this passage.
Notice it says it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better. It's not always easier. Man is visible and audible and available in our present reality. Man can make promises and seem sincere and appears to be the path to success. Go to the right school, work for the right company, get ahead, move up and move onward. That's the easy way.
The better and often more difficult path is to trust God. But this requires faith. God is unseen and not audible (apart from the scriptures). God is not visibly standing beside you and does not specialize in the fast track to financial success the world so often pursues.
The second verse ups the stakes. It talks about princes. These are men of power and prestige in your generation, the men of notoriety and means! The ones who can really give you a leg up in your dreams and/or plans. So often we look to princes for provision. Do you know a few princes you place your faith in? A few people who the world esteem?
It's not always easier to pick trusting God over trusting princes. But I have found that VERY often, God doesn't give you a choice. He plucks the princes out of your life so that you only trust Him! And you learn that His way is better.
Jesus didn't trust Pilate or Herod. Jesus didn't trust the religious establishment. Jesus didn't trust what people said about Him. He took refuge in His Father. He got away from the noise of the crowd and got alone in the care of His Father. He encouraged us to do the same (Matthew 6:1-4).
You know why Jesus didn't trust men? John tells us:
John 2:23–25 (ESV) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
I've always loved these verses. It's a wonderful lesson in leadership and confidence. Whether the crowd praises you or crucifies you - they have nothing to really do for you. Jesus knew that man was NOT trustworthy, only God is TRULY faithful. Mankind is deceitful, God is TRUE. Mankind is usually out for Himself. God is for His people.
Those who chose Him over the princes know this for certain.
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