“I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. Ensure Your servant’s well-being; let not the arrogant oppress me. My eyes fail, looking for Your salvation, looking for Your righteous promise. Deal with Your servant according to Your love and teach me Your decrees. I am Your servant; give me discernment that I may understand Your statutes. It is time for You to act, O LORD; Your law is being broken. Because I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all Your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.” -Psalm 119:121-128 Ayin

Look at how many times the psalmist refers to himself as God’s servant. In between his pleas, the writer reminds himself of where his allegiance lies. He cannot be anything but for the Truth. This makes him a prime target for the enemy. Will the Lord protect him? Did He come to the writer’s rescue? The short answer is ‘Yes’. Our Father snatches His children from the enemy’s grasp through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. The believer’s soul is never in danger because the ransom has been paid, those in Christ are free.

Yet the dogs of Satan and Lucifer himself would love nothing more than to silence God’s children. If our souls cannot be claimed for the prince of the air, then the devil seeks to devour Christian pilgrims through paralysis of fear, hopeless doubt, loneliness, vainglory, material distractions and persecution, to name a few. In our flesh we even give Satan a helping hand. It is possible to destroy ourselves in sin without external afflictions. But God is faithful. Not only does He keep His Beloved and fight for us, the Lord our Shepherd is sure to teach His sheep. The Spirit teaches God’s thoughts, ways and commands through the written Word. This is how He rescues us from our enemies, our sin and godless world views, by faithfully instructing His children. Jehovah El Emeth, the LORD God of truth, does not forsake His own. This is our encouragement. We are not left floundering on our own, fending for ourselves. God rescues and then equips those He dearly loves. The psalmist’s prayer is answered ultimately in the Greatest Rescue Plan. God our Father bought each redeemed sinner with the blood of His own Son, Jesus Christ. Those He saves are His delight.

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: John 10:1-18; Ephesians 2:1-10; 6:10-18

‘Before the Throne of God Above’ hymn