Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Need Deliverance?

I've been reading in the book of 1 Samuel lately. I just love the courage of David, the shepherd boy who faced up to the largest of enemies, killing him with a single stone. Seems impulsive and rash to engage an enemy that even the bravest and most experienced of soldiers refused to confront. Yet his confidence rested not on his ability with the slingshot, but on the deliverance of God he'd experienced in the past.

"The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine." (verse 37)

Raises the questions -
What has God delivered me from in the past?
What do I need deliverance from today?

Sometimes in the roughest of times, the most turbulent seas, it encourages our hearts to review the deliverance of God in past times of difficulty.

When face to face with the giant, David said, "You come to me with the sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of host, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have taunted... the battle is the Lord's." (verses 45, 47)

What faith! What confidence!
David went boldly into battle
     Armed with the assurance of God's presence,
     Equipped with only a slingshot and 5 little stones
To confront the well armed, heavily protected giant of a problem.
His courage and boldness were based on the belief that God would fight for him.
And his belief was rooted in the truth of seeing God's help in the past.

So - how about you? What has God delivered you from in the past?
What do you need deliverance from today?

May we be like David, who in times of great difficulty "encouraged himself in the Lord his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

"I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:4