Where trails are, men may go; and where men go there is often death, and the buzzards have a pact with death.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Broken Gun)
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
–Hebrews 7:25(NKJV)
——————————-
The words of George Whitefield are appropriated for Psalm 140, “Let us never despair while we have Christ as our leader!” The NIV starts with the words, “Rescue me…” It is almost a frantic plea.
1 — Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
2 — Who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war.
3 — They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. Selah
4 — Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
5 — The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. Selah
6 — I said to the LORD: “You are my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7 — O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 — Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his wicked scheme, lest they be exalted. Selah (NKJV)
“Steven Lawson states, “The storms of life either make us or break us. They either mold us into the persons God wants us to be, or they cause us to lose heart and crumble. Fiery trials either drive the believer closer to God, or they drive him farther away. But no one ever remains the same after experiencing a severe distress. Affliction either softens the believer or sours him. It either makes him better or makes him bitter. This is the powerful effect of trials upon our spiritual lives. All believers go through storms, but none pass through them unchanged.” There are storms rising, the winds are building, the house is ready to crumble under the onslaught. What house? Why the house of your soul. “Rescue me!”
When storms have come, whether wind, rain, or fire, there is always the situation that follows–scavengers. Those people who will raid a person’s home after the storm has passed just to please their greedy, evil appetites. People who don’t mind hurting others, and seem to delight in it when they are down. “Deliver me!” from the hands of evil. It is an urgent cry, almost to the point of pleading, “Do it now. I need help now!” The NLT says these people, “stir up trouble all day long”; the NIV translates verse 2, “who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.” There are people out there who go about wrecking havoc throughout society. Ruthless people who care nothing about the rights, feelings, and property of others. And their tongues, oh my, they run their mouths continuously against you. Poison seems to be injected into every word they spit out.
These evil people have a hidden agenda. They set hidden traps. One of the most feared traps during the Vietnam War were punji sticks hidden in holes along the paths. On top of that the enemy would coat these sticks with feces to bring about quick infection. They laid the trap for the unsuspecting, but even the old veteran sometimes fell into one of them. Close scrutiny must be given to the path we are traveling on. One cannot walk through life complacent or wham! They are jammed with a punji stick hidden by the enemy. Another careless traveler has been waylaid. David writes, “Selah,” at the end of this. Just think on this…just think on what type of person this is. Hmmm, we should realize that the enemy of our souls is not a gentleman, but a seething evil being who wants nothing more than to hurt, destroy, or kill you. Think of that! Don’t let it leave your mind.
But then…recall the next words and realize that you too can say them: “You are my God!” Note that in “the midst of this difficulty, his faith was active and dynamic.” (Lawson) No matter who is out there to get you, no matter what circumstances may come your way, the Lord God Almighty is there with you. When someone tries to get you to respond in a like manner, don’t give them that satisfaction. Stay above their antics, be aware of them, but don’t give in to them. Go to God, ask Him to act on your behalf, He is able and willing to deliver you.
“Through all the changing scenes of life,
In trouble and in joy,
The praise of my God shall still
My heart and tongue employ.”
–Nahum Tate
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
–Hebrews 7:25(NKJV)
——————————-
The words of George Whitefield are appropriated for Psalm 140, “Let us never despair while we have Christ as our leader!” The NIV starts with the words, “Rescue me…” It is almost a frantic plea.
1 — Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
2 — Who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war.
3 — They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips. Selah
4 — Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
5 — The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. Selah
6 — I said to the LORD: “You are my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7 — O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 — Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his wicked scheme, lest they be exalted. Selah (NKJV)
“Steven Lawson states, “The storms of life either make us or break us. They either mold us into the persons God wants us to be, or they cause us to lose heart and crumble. Fiery trials either drive the believer closer to God, or they drive him farther away. But no one ever remains the same after experiencing a severe distress. Affliction either softens the believer or sours him. It either makes him better or makes him bitter. This is the powerful effect of trials upon our spiritual lives. All believers go through storms, but none pass through them unchanged.” There are storms rising, the winds are building, the house is ready to crumble under the onslaught. What house? Why the house of your soul. “Rescue me!”
When storms have come, whether wind, rain, or fire, there is always the situation that follows–scavengers. Those people who will raid a person’s home after the storm has passed just to please their greedy, evil appetites. People who don’t mind hurting others, and seem to delight in it when they are down. “Deliver me!” from the hands of evil. It is an urgent cry, almost to the point of pleading, “Do it now. I need help now!” The NLT says these people, “stir up trouble all day long”; the NIV translates verse 2, “who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.” There are people out there who go about wrecking havoc throughout society. Ruthless people who care nothing about the rights, feelings, and property of others. And their tongues, oh my, they run their mouths continuously against you. Poison seems to be injected into every word they spit out.
These evil people have a hidden agenda. They set hidden traps. One of the most feared traps during the Vietnam War were punji sticks hidden in holes along the paths. On top of that the enemy would coat these sticks with feces to bring about quick infection. They laid the trap for the unsuspecting, but even the old veteran sometimes fell into one of them. Close scrutiny must be given to the path we are traveling on. One cannot walk through life complacent or wham! They are jammed with a punji stick hidden by the enemy. Another careless traveler has been waylaid. David writes, “Selah,” at the end of this. Just think on this…just think on what type of person this is. Hmmm, we should realize that the enemy of our souls is not a gentleman, but a seething evil being who wants nothing more than to hurt, destroy, or kill you. Think of that! Don’t let it leave your mind.
But then…recall the next words and realize that you too can say them: “You are my God!” Note that in “the midst of this difficulty, his faith was active and dynamic.” (Lawson) No matter who is out there to get you, no matter what circumstances may come your way, the Lord God Almighty is there with you. When someone tries to get you to respond in a like manner, don’t give them that satisfaction. Stay above their antics, be aware of them, but don’t give in to them. Go to God, ask Him to act on your behalf, He is able and willing to deliver you.
“Through all the changing scenes of life,
In trouble and in joy,
The praise of my God shall still
My heart and tongue employ.”
–Nahum Tate