GOD IS... FAITHFUL
God will always fulfill his promises.
Psalms: 36, 98, 136, 138
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN THE UNKNOWN
When I was younger, one of the most dreaded questions was: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I never knew the answer!
At the beginning of my freshman year, I was determined to go to Harvard, and this dream drove most of my choices around school and extracurricular activities. However, I also joined my school’s cosmetology program, which I loved. I had always been interested in hair, but I didn’t know much about what it would look like to have a career as a stylist.
Through a series of unexpected events, and even a terrible interview, I got an amazing job at a local salon. They took me under their wing, taught me everything I needed to know, and I ended up working there throughout the rest of high school. I discovered that I had a natural talent for understanding hair and a relational gift of connecting with my clients. All these things were not of my own doing but were a gift from God.
Approaching graduation, I had a big decision to make: was I going to do hair or go to college? Four years prior, I would have said 100% go to college, but the Lord had been faithful to his plan for me and opened up the doors for me to have a successful career right away without a degree. I wrestled with this decision for over a year. After many conversations with my parents, spiritual leaders in my life, and other hairstylists, I decided not to go directly to college but take a gap year and do hair.
God’s faithfulness to me and his plan for my life were evident through this whole process. All the doors opened at just the right moment, and pieces of my life fell into place in ways I never could have imagined possible. Even though I wasn’t always clear on God’s plan for me, I trusted the process and took the next small step. As I reflect over my high school career, I see how faithful the Lord was to me. He had a plan the whole time, even though I couldn’t see it in the moment. While I still don’t have all the answers, I can trust and have faith that God has me every step of the way.
- Forge Graduating Student
PSALM 136
- Read through the entire Psalm.
- Now, read through it again and do the following:
- Circle descriptions of who God is and what he does for his people.
- Underline how we are instructed to respond to God’s faithfulness.
- If there are any words you don’t know or understand, write them to the side and take a moment to define.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.
4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.
10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
11 He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
14 He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
16 Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever.
17 Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
18 He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
21 God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
22 a special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
24 He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever.
PSALM 36
1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.
They have no fear of God at all.
2 In their blind conceit,
they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
Their actions are never good.
They make no attempt to turn from evil.
5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.
10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 Don’t let the proud trample me
or the wicked push me around.
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
They are thrown down, never to rise again.
Questions
- Rewrite Psalm 36 in your own words. What is the author saying?
- What does this passage reveal to us about man?
- Who does this passage say that God is?
PSALM 98
1 Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
His right hand has won a mighty victory;
his holy arm has shown his saving power!
2 The Lord has announced his victory
and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!
3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.
The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break out in praise and sing for joy!
5 Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song,
6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.
Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!
7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth and all living things join in.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills sing out their songs of joy
9 before the Lord,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with fairness.
GUIDED PRAYER
Response to Psalm 98
Thank you, Lord, for all the ways you have been faithful in my life. You have done so many wonderful things in my life (vs 1), I cannot even write them all down. As I sit and pause for a moment, I want to thank you for how you have been faithful in my life. A few moments that come to mind are
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God, you are a loving and faithful God. You do not forget your promises or your children (vs 3). Often, I am distracted by people and things in this world—things like
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I confess that I too easily put others above you, but you alone are worthy of all of my praise and affection. Help me to live my days praising your name, shouting for joy with the rest of creation (vs 4–8). For there will be a day when you return and all of creation will praise your name (Revelation 15:4).
Through Jesus' faithfulness in his life and on the cross, I am redeemed (Ephesians 1:7). I know that I am a sinner, in need of your mercy, God. It is only out of your love and your faithfulness to the promises you have made that I am offered eternal life. Thank you for this gift I do not deserve. Thank you for your Son and the sacrifice he made. I praise you because you are a faithful God. I praise you because you are
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Amen
PSALM 138
1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name.
3 As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.
4 Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
5 Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
6 Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.
7 Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.
8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Reflect
- According to this passage, what does it mean that the Lord is faithful?
- What promises for God’s people are found in this psalm?
- How have you seen the Lord be faithful in your own life?
For Further Study
- Hebrews 10
- 1 John 1:8–10
- Lamentations 3:21–33
Songs
- Faithfulness
- Promises
- Same God