Psalm 62: Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
God is my rock and my salvation, my salvation and my Glory, my strength and my refuge–that we might trust in Him. Such a beautiful scripture. Yet, then I came to the last verse and sat in wonder as to what David meant. Why does David say that God is merciful and then in the next part of the sentence says that he renderest to every man according to his works. Since we have all sinned and are worthy of only God’s wrath and eternal damnation, then what part of rendering upon to me my just punishment would have in God’s mercy. There must be more to this verse than originally meets the eye. That answer I believe comes in two parts. First, if one goes in search of the Hebrew words found in this verse they are
כְּֽמַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ׃ (to his work). This word then when searched leads first to the following verse:
Exodus 28: 8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
The ephod was a garment that was to be worn to go before God, mostly worn by the High Priests. We too have a garment of fine works that covers our sin when we go before the heavenly Father and that is the shed blood of Christ which covers our sins. We are covered by His finished work upon the cross. Secondly, as you read Galatians you will find:
Galatians 2: 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
So, now faith is the key to our being justified before a Righteous and Just God. It is God’s mercy that looks upon sinful man and then through faith in Jesus Christ, God takes our sin and imparts to us His righteousness and His Glory.
Romans 4: 9 …faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Does that mean that I then take sin lightly and desire to continue in it. A thousand times NO. Indeed, when I understand the love and grace which God has provided; I will abhor the sins that are in myself. The more I see Him and His Glory the more I desire to follow after and be like Him. He continually is about the work of transforming me, so that one day I will be the bride without spot or blemish. One day I will look like Christ. Though that day may not have fully arrived; but, I know that He has promised to finish that work in me. Whatever cross or fire it takes to complete His purifying work in me, I eagerly accept; because I now seek Him above all else. This has been His act of mercy to step by step work in me to transform me each day, sifting and purifying my works so that they are His; as I surrender by faith daily to His Will.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t2Evnpn1do