Psalms 138:8
8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Here we have a promise so wonderful and broad that we are tempted to doubt it. Can it be true that he will perfect me? Our current reality is so far from perfect that we have a hard time imagining perfection, especially for the likes of us. Rest assured there is not one promise of God that is exaggerated, he will perfect us. The word perfect carries with it the meaning of being completed and finished. I remember on the cross of Calvary those were our Lord's last words, it is finished. It has been and will be perfected, from that moment our salvation was destined for perfection and completion. Jesus left nothing undone while here on this earth, he set in order all our salvation, he righted all our wrongs and not one sin slipped through the cracks, he died for the sin of the whole world, his work was perfect and if we are ever tempted to think that he won't perfect us, then his life and death are a testament to his perfections and if he perfected his work here on earth in days gone by will he not perfect his work on earth in the present day, the church? There are so many NT promises that assure this very thing, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" [Php 1:6]. "For we are his workmanship" [Eph 2:10]. "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." [1 Thes 5:24].
Then notice how broad a promise this is, "That which concerneth me." Not what concerns my sanctification, or my welfare, or my fellowship, or any one area of my life. The promise encompasses all of the believer's life, earthly and eternal, all of our affairs, carnal and spiritual, everything that concerns me he will perfect! We are often lacking in some area of our lives, perhaps the Lord has strengthened our faith but we feel as if our courage is failing, or perhaps he has helped us with faithfulness but our zeal is lacking, don't lose heart he will perfect all that concerns you! He isn't going to leave one stone unturned in your sanctification. While here on earth he uses his power and providence to mold us into his image, " all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This is the doctrine of predestination, not that we were chosen before the world began, but that once in Christ, we are predestined to be formed into his image, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son." Those who are predestined are also called, and justified and those he justified he will also glorify! "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." [Rom 8:30].
It is by his mercy that this is possible. We are not like a piece of wood that has no will or like an animal that has no soul. We are men, made in the likeness of God, and with a stubborn will, and character that is twisted, we are of such base material that only God could perfect us. Only he is merciful enough, longsuffering enough, and powerful enough to deal with such resisting subjects. Despite all our efforts to undo his work in our lives, he will still perfect us, Pslam 145:9 tells us "his tender mercies are over all his works." He remembers our frame that we are but dust and he shapes us with his Godly wisdom. He is the potter and we are the clay, and if we are marred in his hands he will make another work with us, but he doesn't throw the clay away. His mercy endureth forever! Here again, we are overwhelmed with the breadth of this promise, "Forever." As long as God exists so will his mercy endure, and that is forever!
Then our psalm ends with a prayer, "Forsake not the works of thine own hands." This is "praying in the Holy Ghost." David was inspired by the Holy Ghost to pen down this prayer, it is a request for God to do what he has already promised he would do. That is a prayer that you can be sure will be answered. When we pray let us pray those promises that we have seen and are seeking to be convinced of. "Lord carry out this truth I've seen in your word! Here is the promise, O Lord make it a reality in my life!" Carry these promissory notes to the Bank of Grace and show the teller the amount the check is made out for, who it is that has signed it, and whose account this is to be drawn from, and the First Bank of Grace is obligated to answer such promises. God's riches are without measure, Jesus's name is on the line and he has written the promise to you! So take it to the LORD in prayer and receive the promise in reality, don't be contented with the check until it has paid its dividends. Queen Elizabeth had a noteworthy prayer, "Look upon the wounds of thine hands, and forsake not the works of thine hands.” His wounds bought us access to such promises, he gave us the best he had, will he not freely give us all things? Here is a promise broad beyond comprehension and blessed beyond measure; "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever." Now let us take this promissory note to him "Forsake not the works of thine own hands."