“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.” Psalm 18:35
God’s Gentleness
I was struck by this verse one morning in my devotions. It has gone over and over in my mind for over a week. When I think of all the ways God can make anyone great, His gentleness does not come to the forefront. But when I delve deeper, it is perhaps the attribute that makes us greatest.
This gentleness also means meekness (strength under control) and humility. It is used to prophesy about Jesus in Psalm 45:4: “ In Your splendor ride triumphantly in the cause of truth, humility, and justice. May Your right hand show Your awe-inspiring acts” (Psalm 45:4 HCSB).
Christ humbled Himself to come to earth for us. He bids us: “Come to Me, all you who are and weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29 NASB).
In a David Guzik Study Guide on Blue Letter Bible regarding Psalm 18, he writes these words about verse 35: “We can say this was the gentleness of God in at least two respects. It was the gentleness that God showed to David, and the gentleness that David learned from God and showed to others. ‘While it was the gentleness God exercised that allowed David his success, it was the gentleness God taught him that was his true greatness’ (Kidner)”.
In God’s gentleness we find salvation in the form of His Son. We find a Teacher who will teach us awesome (powerful) things. We find rest for our weary souls. We find the model for what true greatness is—strength under control. As Paul urges in 2 Corinthians 10:1, “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ”…let us remember… “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).
We can have great victory in life and great victory in spiritual warfare, and still be gentle with others, just as God is gentle with us.
“Lord, thank You for Your gentleness towards us. Thank You for Your Son, who could have come as the Mighty King He is, but chose to come as a Servant. Help us extend Your gentleness to others. Amen.”