March 21 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We live in a changing world. Political leaders are constantly adjusting their plans to fit the thinking of the day. The map of the world alters as superpowers rise and fall. In a changing and uncertain world we can find security in knowing God's plan remains the same.

Psalm 33 reminds us that the counsel of the Lord stands forever. He will not be sent down a course He doesn’t want to travel. No world power can shut down His work. The Assyrians scattered the ten Northern tribes and mixed them among the nations. But did they ruin the work of the Lord? Was His plan of salvation destroyed? Not at all! Isaiah writes, “The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: that I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains tread him under foot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?’” (Isaiah 14:24-27)

The main item on the Lord's agenda is the eternal freedom and liberation of His chosen people. That’s why the psalmist says in verse 12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” The “nation” is not a physical country but a people with whom the Lord has established His everlasting covenant. Putting it in New Testament language we can read it this way, “Blessed is the church whose God is the LORD.” The people whom God has chosen as His heritage are no longer restricted to one nation but they are spread throughout the world. That is why the apostle Peter can write to churches and say, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people...” (1 Peter 2:9)

The people who know this God and who call Him their LORD are declared blessed and happy. That’s because God chose them to be His heritage. He grants them a special position since through His work in the church He seeks freedom and deliverance for the world. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Blessed is the faithful church whose members follow the revealed will of the LORD in all their decisions.