Today’s reading: Psalm 53-55; Acts 27:26-44
22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. Acts 27:34-36
Confidence in the Lord in times of trial is contagious.
The Psalmist describes the pain of betrayal. His close friend has turned against him. The person whom he trusted and ate with is out to get him. The burden of this is enormous. It’s as if the person you counted on to help you carry a load, quit carrying it, and jumped on your back and added to your load. David says to cast that burden on the Lord. The result is confidence in God’s sustaining power. Nothing can occur without His permission and He will not permit the righteous to be moved.
Jesus, too, knew betrayal by His close friend and disciple, Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:45-56). This psalm probably sustained the Lord who was the only Righteous One who could legitimately claim the promise that He would never be moved. Who are we to claim this promise, struggling sinners that we are? But by His suffering all who believe in Him are made righteous and, thus, Paul and all the saints down through history can cast their burdens on God expecting to be sustained and kept even in a time of betrayal, shipwreck, or other calamity (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Paul demonstrated his confidence in the Lord to sustain him by both his words and his actions. He reassured the crew and passengers and he ate a meal in front of them. They responded to him and did as he urged them. They gained strength for the impending shipwreck and the swim for shore. All were saved from the sea.
Have you seen how the godly spread confidence to others by their trust in the Lord? Consider how your words and actions today can be used by God to inspire others to trust Him and to cast their burdens on Him.
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