Deliverance of faithful servants of God

THEME: Delivered: Deliverance of faithful servants of God – (LENT SEASON)

SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 71:1-9

PSALM 71 unlike the Psalm 25 we read yesterday, does not talk about sin and deliverance but purely talks about the deliverance of a faithful servant of God from the scheme of his enemies. David passionately prays to God to deliver him from wicked and unjust people and actually mixes the prayer for deliverance with praise and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty over his life.

ALSO READ: Christ, Our Example – Sermon by Rev. Jean-Paul Agidi

REFLECTION
When my late father, Very Rev.Dr. Seth Senyo Agidi was the District Minister in charge of EPCG, Sekondi-Takoradi District, we once lived in a bushy and uncompleted manse. I vividly remember an incident that took place while we were indoors on one sunny day. We heard my sister shout for help while fetching water outside. My dad quickly runs out to see what had happened to warrant that kind of life-threatening call. It was indeed a huge snake, coiled with pride ready to attack my sister. She was crying, screaming, and totally helpless. Our father picked a long hoe, came in-between my sister and the snake, and managed to kill it.

I shared the above story to demonstrate how human parents can be responsive to the distress call of deliverance from their children. The point is that if human parents are that responsive how much more God who even knows before hand the harm that may come our way.

There are many snakes in our lives, some are cunning and others are venomous. Like David, we do not have the power and ability to fight our enemies back or retaliate when they strike. However, we have one assurance and insurance and that is our physical and spiritual life policy with God. Let us learn to call on God through prayer just as David did when he prayed that ” Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.” Psalm 71:4-6 . God is ever faithful and responsive to our call for deliverance.

Cheer up my good friend as you journey through the lent season. Temptations may come from your enemies whom I describe above as snakes. Do not let the attack and schemes of your enemies against your life discourage you and send in you into a state of despair and frustration. Remember that Isaiah 54:17 says “no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.” Continue to be a faithful servant of God and let God do God’s own work in your life. The battles remains the Lord’s. Amen

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
1. How do you feel in the midst of a group of people you trust yet they wish to see you fail in life?
2. Have prayed about about the above situation or you keep fighting back with your feeble strength?
3. Are also trying to destroy others? Do you know that our God is a God of righteousness and justice?