Listen

All of you who revere the Lord—praise him! All of you who are Jacob’s descendants—honor him! All of you who are all Israel’s offspring— stand in awe of him! Because he didn’t despise or detest the suffering of the one who suffered— he didn’t hide his face from me. No, he listened when I cried out to him for help.

I offer praise in the great congregation because of you; I will fulfill my promises in the presence of those who honor God. Let all those who are suffering eat and be full! Let all who seek the Lord praise him! I pray your hearts live forever! Every part of the earth will remember and come back to the Lord; every family among all the nations will worship you.

Psalm 22:23-27

Think

The thing about having someone keep their promises to you is that it really inspires you to keep your promises to them. When my kids keep their promises to clean their room or walk the dog, I feel motivated to keep my promise to reward them. When a local shopkeeper gets my special order right — and even more quickly than he had promised to — I keep my promise to send more customers his way.

Whoever wrote this psalm knows what it’s like for God to keep a promise. God promised to help, and that help was there when the writer cried out. The suffering was not forgotten; the pain was not ignored. The relief God promised was delivered. And so, the writer tells all who will listen, “I will keep my promise.” I will praise, honor, and stand in awe of my God. I will keep the promises I made to our promise-keeping God!

Peter Hanson

Pray

God, I know that you keep your promises. Help me to keep my promises to praise, honor, and worship you. Amen.

Go

Walk with God, trusting in God’s promises.

Be convinced that God will do what God has promised to do.

Live in that trust, in that conviction, in that faith.

Walk with God and be trustworthy.