Promise of Salvation…From What or From Whom?

LORD, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word. Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope. I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalm 119:41-45

God promised…salvation. Salvation from what you may ask. From our sins—from the troubles of this world…from our enemies…or from our own selfish desires. God is loving, pure, kind, good, unchanging, truthful, protective, omnipotent, omnipresent, understanding, and keeps His promises. He is awesome. There is no god like our God. He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving. I am in awe of Him always. In addition to the salvation that He has promised us, He has promised to give us the desires of our hearts.

Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires. Psalm 37:4

Is Salvation and New Life the Desire of Your Heart?

This verse is becoming a favorite of mine. I find it so encouraging that if I find joy—take delight—in the Lord, He will notice and give me what I so long for…my heart’s desires. Note that it is translated as plural “desires” not just “desire.” Desire in Hebrew is mish’alah meaning petition or request. God wants us to communicate with Him. We need to let Him know what our desire is. My greatest desire is to know God and to obey Him. The obedience part is the hard part. It means giving up the things I may want to do, an attitude, or a selfish desire. God isn’t going to give me something that isn’t good for me or for those around me. He will…as He promised…offer me—and anyone—salvation. The first time salvation is mentioned in the Bible is in the book of Genesis when Jacob is blessing His twelve sons right before he dies. This is part of the blessing of the tribe of Dan.

I trust in You for salvation, O LORD! Genesis 49:18

Trusting God is important…as is salvation. David wrote about salvation many times in Psalms. Some are also recorded in 2 Samuel. This verse below is one that David wrote after he was delivered from the hand of his enemy, Saul.

The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!  2 Samuel 22:47 and Psalm 18:46

Have you ever experienced God rescuing you from an enemy or a terrible situation? Did you praise the Lord? The words trust and obey may be the keys to this scripture. When we trust God we have to take our eyes off ourselves and put them on Him. This creates a relationship between us and God…and give us an opportunity to choose to obey. 

As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced." Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? Romans 10:11-14.

Tell someone today what God is doing in your life. 

Prayer ~ LORD, You are my strength and shield. I trust You with all my heart. You help me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7. Thank You, Lord, for all that you have done for me…and for my family, friends, and neighbors. My heart is overflowing with joy in knowing You…and knowing that You hear my prayers

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 26

© 2017 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.