“Strong lions suffer want and go hungry

but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.”

Elsewhere we read:

“His delight is not in horses

nor his pleasure in warriors’ strength.

The Lord delights in those who revere him,

in those who wait for his love.” (Psalm 147.10-11)

Those who count on their own strength are destined to suffer want and go hungry.  Our Lord’s pleasure is not with those who seek strength in themselves.  We were made to seek strength and mercy in the Word.  It was for us that he died.  Shall we then neglect so great a salvation, so natural a means, and seek the unnatural, albeit all too tempting inclination of our own strength?

The psalmist does not say that those who find the Lord lack no blessing.  Rather, those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.  Seek, then, and you will find those blessings.  And your heart will be filled, overflowing even.

In Psalm 91 we read “his faithfulness is buckler and shield.”  We often think that everything depends on our faith, that it is our faith that is buckler and shield.  But this empties the cross of its meaning, and perverts our faith.

“Those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.”  “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6.33)