Psalm 18:29-31 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

²⁹ With your help I can defeat an army.
    If my God is with me, I can climb over enemy walls.

³⁰ God’s way is perfect.
    The Lord’s promise always proves to be true.
    He protects those who trust in him.
³¹ There is no God except the Lord.
    There is no Rock except our God.

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International

When I began my morning bible study I opened The BibleGateway as always and found the quote of the day. My preferred version is the KJV because it is free of any copyrights and I can use it as much as I like. Secondly it is an archaic English language used intentionally by those writers. That makes me seek for meaning and that is a good thing.

So this morning I settled on the ERV because of two things. One was its simplicity and the second because it quoted the verse in context. Not all versions give translations in context. They leave context to the reader.

There is a tense change. The KJV uses a past perfect tense while the ERV uses a future tense. That seems like such a little thing but King David had history of victory with the Lord. He has a right to declare what God has done with him. Many of us have no right to claim such a victory, at least not on that scale. The fact that we have not does not diminish the power of God to be “that strong buckler” as the KJV puts it.

The ERV focuses on God’s promises because those are true even if our personal history has not experienced it. It is relatable to a wider group of readers. It serves new believers better to focus on God’s promises rather than seeking for personal victories which may not be as obvious to new believers.

Hebrews 10:34-35 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Mercenaries risk their lives for gold. Missionaries risk their lives for souls.

What recompense of reward do you expect? How substantial will it be? What will it consist of in heaven? All we know is of this world. Our desires center upon those things we can see, touch, and use.

Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Three times in Matthew 6 Jesus uses the term “They have their reward.” Each one dealt with being seen of men, to be honored, respected, and looked upon as noble, charitable, and compassionate. A reputation is their reward of men.

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

There is no substitute for God’s gracious gifts, earned or otherwise. If God Himself is our exceedingly great reward, why should we look forward to a “thing”?

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

How about a name? Would you accept a name as your substantial reward? Perhaps it is secret sacred name, your true identity, to finally discover who you were created to be.