Our Deliverance is in Christ

Day 28:  Psalms 17:9-15

            Psalm 17:9 From the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me.

            Jesus, you faced enemies from before you were born, in the days of your incarnation, and then all through your ministry and life on the earth. Even now, there are those who do not want you to rule over them. They seek to reject Your perfect, good, holy, and loving best for themselves and all humanity. Even though You created mankind and know what is best for all, too often people turn to seek their own ways even to the point of their own hurt.  Again and again Your enemies attacked you with lies, slander, and trickery with a goal to do You harm. But Lord Jesus, You showed us that You are the victor over all! Thanks be to You, Lord God.

And in Your victory, we find victory. As David looked back on his life, he could see not just one occasion of Your deliverance, but repeated times when You delivered him and his people. Even so in our lives, Lord, You have not only brought Your children the great deliverance from sin’s power and penalty, but many times You have delivered us from our enemies and You will do so again! You will bring us through their clutches safely to our heavenly home!

            Psalm 17:10 They have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly.

            Apart from Your amazing grace that shows the truth and causes us to desire your truth, we fail to see and know You, love You, and desire Your will and way for us. If it was not for Your grace our hearts would be self-absorbed, closed to You and Your will. Just like our Savior, we see it in others, also.

Lord, they have lost compassion for You and for others. The fat on their heart makes them insensitive and they care less and less about others. Their pride takes over and they are more and more self-centered. O Lord, forgive my self-centeredness, my coldness, my slowness, please keep working in my heart.

            You have said that in the latter days, because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Lord, help us not be like those whose love grows cold. Please protect us so that  other people’s disobedience, cynicism, bitterness and other forms of evil do not drag us down with them. Change their hearts and please help us, O Lord, to fix our eyes on Jesus.

            Psalm 17:11 They have now surrounded us in our steps. They have set their eyes, crouching down to earth.

            Lord, the darkness does not love the light. They want to put extinguish it. They want to destroy us. They have made their plans and it is obvious they are ready to strike, but You know their plans and will deal with them in Your time and in Your way, O Lord. As You allow the ocean waves only to go so far and no farther, so Lord, You put limits even on their wickedness and destruction. 

            Psalm 17:12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey and like a young lion lurking in secret places.

            Lord, to some, their evil is like a game, a sport (Proverbs 10:23). They hunt Your people to kill them like sheep (Psalm 44:22). Yet, O Lord, in Your providence, Your sovereign wisdom and Your mercy, You have delivered Your people and will deliver them. Thanks and praise be to God. Though the devil is like a roaring lion seeking to devour Your children (I Peter 5:8), You, Lord Jesus, are the ultimate Lion of the of the tribe of Judah … who has conquered all (Revelation 5:5).

            Psalm 17:13 Arise, O Lord, confront him, cast him down; deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword.

            O God, it is ultimately in the deliverance of the Lord Jesus Christ that we, Your children, find our deliverance. As Jesus overcame Satan and all evil and will one day fully display this victory, so You have delivered Your people through Him into Your eternal me on many occasions. You have delivered Your people from opponents and from those who raised their hand against Your anointed, against conspirators, traitors and those who would pass on an evil report. You snatched us out of their jaws and You have led us to pleasant places. Even in death You overcome the power of death.

            Psalm 17:14 From men by Your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure. They are satisfied with children and they leave their abundance to their infants. 

            Lord, deliver Your children from worldly men who love this world too much, and grant us the blessings of the righteous who give an inheritance to their children’s children and beyond – even until Christ returns and forever. Lord, You are our treasure, just as You were Abraham’s exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1).

            Psalm 17:15 As for me I shall behold Your face in righteousness. When I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness.

            O Lord, I am to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), transformed by a renewing mind (Romans 12:1-2) and heart. My greatest treasure and the greatest treasure of all Your creation is to know You and Your glorious presence to bless and guide us! Thanks be to God, Amen.