10/10/2019
When we are facing evil, and ruthless, people, what does God require for us to do to secure or deliver ourselves from them? The answer comes back to us in the form of a single word... nothing. Our God is perfectly capable of dealing with those who come against us, and that is indeed His promise. Our task in all of this is to love Him, believe in Him, lean on Him, and praise Him in His victory.
“I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless."”
Jeremiah 15:21 ESV
I have been faced by evil and ruthless people in my life. I think that is almost certain for each of us if we live long enough. In my case it has occurred on more than one occasion, but each time I would fret, worry, and pray, while trying to find a solution to dealing with them, until, despite my best efforts, God would step in and handle it. Has this ever happened to you? Did you think it was your prayer that made it happen? Well perhaps our prayers help bolster us in our belief as we call out, but God needs nothing from us to perform the rescue He has promised. As we are being set upon... our Father sees, and provides relief for us.
“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?”
Proverbs 24:11-12 ESV
Even when we are weak, and unable to do for ourselves, God’s strength is sufficient. We worry, and fret, because we doubt, but in our self-doubt we should never lose faith in God’s ability to defeat our enemies. Even when we doubt our own strength we should have the utmost faith in our Lord. God spoke to Jeremiah regarding his doubt and the fear he had in himself with these words...
“Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."”
Jeremiah 1:6-8 ESV
God told Jeremiah not to fear... He likewise delivers us like helpless children from those who desire to do us harm. When one of your children is in imminent danger do you require that they save themselves, or do you just act to rescue them? Why of course we act, and it is likewise for us when our Heavenly Father comes to our save us from harm.
“In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 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.”
Psalms 71:2-6 ESV
So when we are confronted by wickedness, and ruthlessness, we might have doubt in our own ability to extricate ourselves from it, but we should never lose hope in God’s ability, or desire, to rescue His children. When we call out to Him it is a cry for help; like tiny eaglets in the nest who are beset upon by a bobcat, we call out, and in all certainty our Father swoops down to save us. There is no help we can provide him... He is able.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalms 34:17-19 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your promise of rescue when we are confronted by the wickedness, ruthlessness, and the evil that surrounds us. Thank you Lord for being able to conquer all our enemies, because although we are weak, and though the faith we have in our own ability might waver, we hold firm to our confidence, and belief, in you. help us Holy Father in our Unbelief, and give us peace, and calm as we are confronted by danger. Set a table for us before our enemies, that we might show our faith and confidence in you. Shine a light upon us, and let none see any hint of doubt in us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is mighty in all things, and sees the thoughts of our enemies, just as you our own. Praised be your name in every rescue, and for our salvation. Great are you in battle, and great are you who plucks us from the waiting jaws of evil. All glory is yours Heavenly Father, and there is no doubt concerning your victory. Your goodness and grace is our comfort, and the might of your right arm our steadfast confidence before our foes. Praised be your name in our rescue, now, always, and forevermore!
“Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”
2 Corinthians 1:9-10 ESV
Rich Forbes