Meditation
 
WHEN GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE                                  Craig A. Cooper

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. Psalm 118:6-7
 
The psalmist here meditates on the incredible benefits of having the Lord as his ally. First, he enjoys relief from fear because the Lord is on his side. What comfort, peace, and security that brings! Our flesh wages its war internally in our souls, the world is arrayed against us at every turn, and the devil seeks our ruin, but the bottom line is, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).

No one and nothing is greater than God, so it’s a wonder of wonders that a sterling benefit of being a recipient of the gospel of grace is that God is now for us. God’s omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, perfect wisdom, unconditional love, and comprehensive sovereignty is fully engaged toward the aid of those who trust in Him, so the assistance of God carries with it freedom from fear. Amazing. Breathtaking. Liberating.
 
Let’s all just take a deep breath and enjoy the relief. Second, the psalmist glories in the presence of the Lord as his help. Incredibly, the Lord who was once our adversary is now our helper. With our sins forgiven in Christ, God is now favorably disposed to us. His inclination is to provide for us, to protect us, and to prosper our souls.

Like many of you, I have a strong personal friend who is wired as a defender. I believe God designs everyone uniquely, and He’s designed this friend with a high degree of natural boldness and ability to get things done. Over the years, this friend has proven to be a persuasive, resilient, and influential force in my life for good. I whispered something to my wife recently as I witnessed him in action.
 
I said’ “I sure am glad he’s on our side.” Honestly, I would not want to be on the other side of his strength. If you have a companion like this, you know how good it is for a tough and capable supporter to be on your side. Think of it: The Lord is on our side. What more could we need?
Finally, the psalmist pronounces the assurance of victory: “I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.”
 
This is a strong encouragement to all of us who trust in the Lord. The day is coming when the Lord God Almighty will right every wrong, wipe every tear, remove every burden, and crush every crumb of opposition. We shall stand in triumph—the triumph of the risen Lamb (Rev. 21:3-4).
 
Relief from fear. The presence of help. Assurance of victory. This is what it looks like to have the tender mercy of God Almighty on your side.