As we come to the final section of this Psalm it is good to remind ourselves of the reason David wrote it, the title of the psalm is “A calm resolve to wait for the Salvation of God”. This suggests that there will be times when God’s salvation is not obvious. When we experience those times that is when our unshakeable trust in God takes over and we live knowing that we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. David makes it very clear that we should not put our trust in man’s ability and that we should set a good example for others. Verses 9-10 say: “Surely men of low degree are a vapour, men of a high degree are a lie; if they are weighed in the balances, they are altogether lighter than vapour. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase do not set your heart on them”. It is so good to be reminded of the futility of mankind because there is a grave danger that we can be tem[pted to live by our own strength. David makes it very clear that living by self is not God’s way of living. We understand that when we are born again that we become a new person in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is where the god of this world (Satan) is so unrelenting in trying to convince us to live a life that is pleasing to ourselves. This happens in so many subtle ways and if our continual focus is not on God then we will find it easy to drift away and live a life that is pleasing to ourselves. We live in an age when where pleasing ourselves is the way of the world and we must be aware of this and not live by that standard. It is so important that we trust in the Lord and that we are not moved by the standard of the world. Verse 11 says: “God has spoken once, twice I have heard this; that power belongs to the Lord”. The truth of this verse is sometimes lost if we are affected by the events of the world, while at times it may seem dark, despite this we can see God in all facets of the way that we live. God says in Psalm 46: 10 “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”. There is great calmness and confidence in the way that we live when we understand that God is in control. This only happens when we choose to put God first and live God’s way. Verse 12 says: “Also to you, O Lord, belongs mercy; for you render to each one according to his work”. It is so good to be reminded that the Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 16:6b ) There is nothing that we do that is not noticed by God, it is a fallacy to think that we can do things that God does not know about. It is also so good to be reminded that God is in control of our life and He rewards us as we diligently seek Him. This Psalm has reinforced the truth that there is a great reward for choosing to live God’s way.