13 Apr 2009 02:48 AM

An odyssey in the Psalms:Psalm 22 (Conclusion)

In this third part, we discover an intercession still relevant for us today, and promises for those who have to fight for their faith.

19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

We can ask for protection in our lives, in these four aspects:

20 Deliver my soul from the sword,

In the Word, we find the sword as the heinous words, the wickedness, that can wound our soul.

4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Psalm 57:4

21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Psalm 55:21 

Who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, Psalm 64:3

Let us not be ashamed to ask God for His protection in this area of our life.

Our spiritual health depends on it.

If unfortunately, we are the ones using our tongues as a sword to protect us, let’s ask Him His deliverance so that our tongue becomes a source of blessings, not a source of cursing.

My precious life from the power of the dog!

Sometimes, the dog represents the spiritual leaders who failed to protect the people against the enemy’s attacks through fasting, intercession, and neglected to bring God’s blessing through words of exhortation, of compassion, of direction, inspired by the Spirit for their assembly.

10  His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark,dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.

11 The dogs have a mighty appetite;  they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way,
each to his own gain, one and all.

12 "Come," they say, "let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure."

It is also a type of man or woman who brings a corrupted teaching in the assembly of saints, and lives a life filled with compromission, contrary to the teachings of the Truth.

The word exhorts us to beware of them.

1  Finally, my brothers rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2  Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. Philippians 3:1-2

9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the d ay of judgment,

10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Bold and wilful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power; do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.

12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction,

13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.

14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,

16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.

18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.

19T hey promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

21 For it would have been better for them never to know the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

2 Peter 2:9-22 

 

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!

The lion sometimes refers to the enemy, ready to catch us, to destroy us.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

7 casting a ll your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 1 Peter 5:6-9 

You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

The horns represent the power, the might of man over his fellows.

Unfortunately, among brothers and sisters, are often people who crave for power, and who will use all their influence to cast out those who disagree with their “dominion” in the assembly.

20 "Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. .

21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered t hem abroad, Ezekiel 34:20-21

What are we to do in a situation where the flesh and the devil work together to cause us to fall? 

On what promise can we hold on to remain steadfast in these times of spiritual storm?

Here is a flawless receipt to find our peace, wonderful promises to encourage us to persevere:

22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will praise you:

23 You, who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel !

24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever!

27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

29All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.

30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

 

Prayer :

«Glory be to your name, Lord of Armies! Thank you for protecting us in these four aspects of our life. Thank you for faithfully being there when your servant cries out to You!»

We wish you a good week!

Jacques Brouillard

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