Trusting God
A well respected prophet of Israel wrote:
Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in man Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD ... and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. ... and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. -- Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NKJV)
Wisdom
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
-- Proverbs 3:5-8 (NKJV)
and
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. -- Proverbs 9:10-11 (NKJV); Psalm 111:10
and
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. -- Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)
and
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith (trust), with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. -- James 1:5-8 (NKJV)
Provision
Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away (1 Samuel 21:10-15):
Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek (ask/cares about/inquire) the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
-- Psalm 34:9-10 (NKJV)
This is what Jesus taught during his first recorded sermon by Matthew:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
-- Matthew 6:25-33 (NKJV)
King David, shared this advise during his senior years (Psalm 37:25):
Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
-- Psalm 37:1-5 (NKJV)
Protection
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!...
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
-- Psalm 34:7-8, 15-22 (NKJV)
and
In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.
-- Psalms 62:7-8 (NKJV)
and
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place — the Most High, who is my refuge
No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
“Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
-- Psalm 91 (ESV)
and
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who trust in Him. -- Nahum 1:7 (NKJV)
Oppression
Paul also encouraged the oppressed (Romans 8:18-23) with the words:
We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. -- Romans 8:28 NKJV
Peace
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Authority
Justice
King David, who had many enemies and who had faught many battles, wrote the following:
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;Do not fret — it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit (take possession/drive out) the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit (take possession/drive out) the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The LORD laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
The LORD knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit (take possession/drive out) the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the LORD upholds him with His hand.
I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends and his descendants are blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good and dwell forevermore. For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit (take possession/drive out) the land, and dwell in it forever.
The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law (teachings) of his God is in his heart (mind); None of his steps shall slide.
The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit (take possession/drive out) the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.
-- Psalm 37:6-40 (NKJV)
Paul also advised:
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,
“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the LORD. -- Deuteronomy 32:35
Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” -- Proverbs 25:21–22
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
-- Romans 12:17-21 (NKJV)
Humility
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith (trust in God), knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
-- 1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)
The fear of the Lord
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD:
Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
- Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
- Depart from evil and do good;
- Seek peace and pursue it.
-- Psalm 34:11-14 (NKJV)