S8P8 – The journey of Psalm 143: the glory

Psalm 143:11-12
For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant

David ends his prayer by proclaiming the end game for everything we experience as we walk with God. It is all for His glory. The valleys are for His glory; the mountains are for His glory. The lean times are for His glory; the harvest seasons are for His glory. And it is through His righteousness and love, His kindness and goodness, that God sustains us through all of this. That sustenance glorifies Him before the world.

When David asks God to preserve his life for the sake of God’s name, He is standing on the truth that God’s actions must follow His character. He is asking God to defend His reputation of being good to His servants, because doing otherwise would rob Him of the glory to which He is entitled. God’s acting in accordance with His own good name and everything that it means is a testament to His perfect love. His coming through for us then stands as a testimony that our faith lies in the one true God.

When we face dark times, it should comfort us to know that God does only that which brings Him glory. In doing so, He is working for the good of His servants. We may not always understand His methods, but we can always trust His intent. If God desires to work in our lives only in ways that glorify Him and bring glory to His great name, then what He does must be good. Father, help us to remember that everything you do comes from Your perfect love and righteousness, and that we can trust You to preserve us for the sake of Your good name.