“He Has Repaid Me” (Ps 18:20-36)

“The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God” (vs20-21)

God is the rewarder of the righteous. He justifies us by faith, causes obedience to prosper, and then rewards us for our submission to His will, our waiting upon Him by faith.

First, the Lord treats us how we behave (vs20-27). The Psalmist said, “With the merciful You will show yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd”. He is merciful to justify us, and then, in order to bless us, we learn to walk in His way. Christ deserved God's favor as the Perfect One, and yet by faith in Him, we walk uprightly and are rewarded in the end. We do good works by faith, loving our foes, preaching Christ, and living that others might be saved, so He rewards us with power over sin, victory over the world, and eternal life in bliss. He deals with us justly, even as He justly puts down the wicked. We read, “For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.”

Secondly, God is the reason that we're righteous (vs28-36). We read, “It is God who arms me with strength, and make my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places”. He gave us our faith as a gift; it wasn't something we conjured ourselves. He put us in the Lamb's book of life, and He made atonement for us, praying not for the world, but for us whom the Father gave Him (John 17:9). He sent the Spirit, taught us our need, and He has made us walk uprightly, chastening us lovingly and meekly teaching us Christ. We read, “He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.” He is the God of glory, and through Jesus Christ, He is our rewarder and the giver of our good works (John 20:17).

Finally, be assured. You are more than a sinner. You are living in the land of promise and expectation. It may be bitter now, but it shall be rewarded in the end, for you've chosen God's way.

Many live for passing pleasures, things that won't last or amount to anything, but you live for God's glory, your soul's welfare, and you spend your life preparing for the Judgment. You'll be rewarded, delivered, and made to say, “Therefore the Lord has recompensed me, according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight” (vs24; Matt 25).