A WORD FOR TODAY, October 20, 2025
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, October 20, 2025
“Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful. He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” Psalm 111, WEB
The scriptures record many promises, some from God to people, some from people to God, some between people. The promises from God to people number in the thousands, some of which were for individuals, others for humankind throughout time and space. Many of God’s promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who guaranteed for us the mercy and forgiveness of God that grants us salvation and eternal life.
Some of the promises were not meant for us in particular. Take, for example, the promise God gave to Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. The promise was first given in Genesis 12, but God repeated the promise in Genesis 15 when Abraham doubted whether it could come to pass. “I don’t have any children. I’m nearly a hundred years old. Sarah is ninety and barren. How will I ever be the father of many nations?” Abraham and Sarah even tried to make the promise come about by using Hagar as a surrogate. God assured Abraham that He could do the impossible, and when Abraham was a hundred years old, God fulfilled the promise.
This is not a promise any of us could ever expect to be part of our story. I surely wouldn’t want it! I was happy to have my children when I was still young enough to have the energy and longevity to enjoy them. Yet, we read the story of Abraham and see how God does amazing things. We see how God is faithful to His promises, even those that seem impossible. We read the stories of the Old Testament, the promises that God gave to individuals and to nations, with awe that God can and does do everything to make things right in the world He created. We, like Abraham, sometimes question whether it can come to pass, but we have been given the Old Testament stories to remind us over and over again what God can do because we see that He did it. He gave Abraham the child that He promised, not in the way anyone expected, but in the way that proved God’s faithfulness and power. He is the Almighty and we are invited to ponder what God did so that we will be assured of what God can and will do for us.
The psalmist wrote, “Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them.” We sang the hymn, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” yesterday in church. In the hymn, we are reminded of the things that God does. He is our health and salvation. He shelters us under His wings and sustains us. He prospers our work and defends us. His goodness and mercy attend us. He befriends us. He makes the tempests that wage and elements that rage cease around us. He assuages the whirlwinds and waters. He makes light shine in the darkness to chase the horrors of night. He surrounds us with mercy. The hymn reminds us to ponder anew every day what the Almighty can do, singing praise before Him, sounding the “AMEN” in adoration of this God who grants wisdom to those who fear Him (stand in awe of Him) and praise Him for all He has done and continues to do.
A WORD FOR TODAY is posted five days a week – Monday through Friday. The devotional on Wednesday takes a look at the scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. A WORD FOR TODAY is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Word-for-Today-Devotional/339428839418276. Like the page to receive the devotion through Facebook. For information and to access our archives, visit http://www.awordfortoday.org.