Today’s Reading:
Psalm 59; 2 Kings 9:1-13; 1 Cor. 1:18-31
“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God. Set me securely on an inaccessibly high place away from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who practice wrongdoing and save me from bloodthirsty men. Look! They lie in wait for my life; Fierce and powerful men [are uniting together to] launch an attack against me. not for my wrongdoing nor for any sin of mine, O Lord. They run and set themselves against me though there is no guilt in me. Stir Yourself to meet and help me, and see [what they are doing]! You, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise to punish all the nations; Spare no one and do not be merciful to any who treacherously plot evil. They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, And go [prowling] around the city. Look how they belch out [insults] with their mouths; Swords [of sarcasm, ridicule, slander, and lies] are in their lips. For they say, ‘Who hears us?’ But You, O Lord, will laugh at them [in scorn]. You scoff at and deride all the nations. O [God] my strength, I will watch for You; For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower]. My God in His [steadfast] loving kindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly on my enemies [who lie in wait for me]. Do not kill them, or my people will forget; Scatter them and make them wonder [endlessly] back and forth by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield! For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them ever be trapped in their pride. And on account of the curses and lies which they tell, Destroy them in wrath, destroy them so that they may be no more; Let them know that God rules over Jacob (Israel) To the ends of the earth. They return at evening, they howl and snarl like dogs, And go [prowling] around the city. They wander around for food [to devour]. And growl all night if they are not satisfied. But as for me, I will sing of Your might, strength, and power, Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your loving kindness in the morning; for You have been my stronghold. And a refuge in the day of my distress. To You, O [God] my strength, I will sing praises; For God is my stronghold [my refuge, my protector, my high tower], the God who shows me [steadfast] loving kindness.”
(Psalm 59, AMPV)
Psalm fifty-nine was written by David the Psalmist when King Saul sent soldiers to watch his house in order to kill him. As he is known to always do, David encouraged himself in the Lord. Written and used over millions of years ago, this Psalm is still very relevant to us today. When we are faced with difficulties, challenges, oppression, and persecution, we should encourage ourselves in the Lord. The Bible, both Old Testament and the New Testament have been put together to encourage, motivate, strengthen, help us, show us which way forward anytime we are challenged or at a crossroad. Over millions of years, testimonies abound till today in the lives, situations of people and nations that put their trust in the God of Israel.
In the world today, we all need to strengthen and encourage ourselves in the Lord. As selfish, evil minded and blood thirsty people are around in our world and perpetrating their evil and wickedness every minute, they will not rest until they shed innocent blood. We should not be tired of crying unto God, until our joy is full. David always cries unto the Lord, and he always gets good results (vv. 1-2). The curse of the Lord is always on those who perpetrate these evil. God is asking: “Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and would not think of praying to God. Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before … The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed but the Lord will protect his people.” (Ps. 14:4-6; 53:4-5 NLT).
David pleaded with God not to kill them because people will soon forget their lessons. They should be staggered by the mighty power of the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, and be brought on their knees, be put to shame. Let them be captured by their pride, their curses, and their lies (vv. 11-12). I pray for as many as are reading this and are going through challenges, oppression and oppression, you shall have respite in the Lord, in Jesus’ name. Stand your ground in the Lord and the Lord will surely appear in situations of your life. But as for all of us who trust God as our shield, do not let us relent in crying unto the Lord. Morning and night, we will continue to sing with a joyful heart, about the power, the mercies, and the unfailing love of God towards us all. Because God is our refuge, a place of safety in our distress. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Let us continue to uphold and admonish ourselves in the goodness of our merciful God.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father thank You because You are our shield, our refuge, and our dependable God in time of distress, in Jesus’ name.
Thank you for the blood of Jesus that speaks good things into our lives. Thank You for the consolation that, the wicked will not go unpunished, even for generations, in Jesus’ name.
Father, console our weak and failing heart in the midst of the tumult of our life’s wild, and restless sea, in Jesus’ name.
Father, in your love, capture the minds of all that are living in vain glory, let them experience Your mighty power of deliverance and transformation, in Jesus’ name.
Father Lord, by your mighty power, uproot everything you have not planted in your Church, and revive your Pentecostal power and fire, in Jesus’ name.
By the power in the blood of Jesus, we pull down and smash the strongholds of wickedness in our nation against the Rock of our Salvation; and we command the consuming fire of God upon all strange altars, in Jesus’ name.
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