Shield and Buckler

Psalm 91 - Study 14 - Shield and Buckler 

We read in Psalm 91:4, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (KJV) 

The shield and buckler are weapons that protect one from the attacks of the enemy. The adversary may attack us from afar or from close at hand. Whatever be the case, God’s children must realize that God’s protection is available to us nonetheless. It is the truth of God that serves as the shield and buckler which alone can protect our lives. If you are wondering as to how the truth of God can save us let us study this incident recorded in John 8. 

Jesus teaches at the temple 

We read in John 8:2, “Early the next morning he went back to the Temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and began to teach them.” (GNB) 

The Lord Jesus was at the temple and a great number of people had gathered to listen to his teachings. If you notice the ministry of Jesus, regardless of where he taught, on the sea shore or at the temple or synagogue there were large crowds that thronged to hear his teaching. The reason was that Jesus taught the truth in a way that was easily understood by the multitudes, and His words were true life which transformed the lives of the people who heard Him. As Jesus taught the people that day at the temple, all of a sudden there was a commotion. 

A commotion at the temple

We read in John 8:3, “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery, and they made her stand before them all.” (GNB) 

As Jesus began to teach, perform miracles and wonders, large groups of people sought after Him and began to turn towards Him. Jesus’ popularity among the people was not received well by the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees who were the religious leaders at that time. Their one intention was to trap Jesus and to hinder the work that He was doing. However, all their schemes and plots proved to be a total failure. 

Strangely we notice that the teachers of the Law and Pharisees who had difference of opinions, set them aside and conspired together to target Jesus, simply so they could find fault with him. In this incident the religious leaders brought to him a woman who was caught in adultery and presented her to Jesus. When this problem was brought into the temple, the sad consequence was that Jesus had to stop His teaching that was eagerly being received by so many. 

As children of God we must be cautious about the people we keep company with. Our friendships must be godly and if we are aware that some of these are detrimental to our walk with the Lord, we must let go of those relationships. Ungodly relationships will corrupt us and never build us up. 

Recently many countries have amended their laws and according to this amendment, adultery is no more a punishable offense. Mankind has the unique distinction of being created in the image and likeness of God, and by compromising on God’s standards, humanity has lost their true identity. Laws have been altered to suit man’s desires so that things that were once frowned upon have now become acceptable in society. However, for those who are children of God, the word of God is our guide that we should follow. It is only those who heed these commands of God and follow them, who are promised entry into the Kingdom of heaven. 

Problem brought into the Temple of God

When the Pharisees and Scribes brought into the Temple premises the woman caught in adultery, they actually disrupted the teaching of Jesus. 

Even today people bring problems that happen outside the church into the church, thereby affecting the ministry of the church. Today the churches have been shut, but soon the doors of the churches will be opened. At such a time we must be cautious to see that we do not bring the problems that are outside into the church into it. If we do so, the ministry and teaching that the church should be engaged in will certainly be hindered. 

The religious leaders sought to have the woman condemned

We read in John 8:4-5, "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?" (GNB) 

The group of religious leaders brought a band of people who had come ready with stones in their hands to stone the woman. Their premise was based on the fact that Moses had commanded them in the law that such a woman who was caught in adultery, should be stoned to death. They eagerly awaited the response that they would receive from Jesus. That group of people were not zealous for God or the truth, but their only intention was to trap Jesus and to find defect with His judgement. These religious leaders were using the Law of Moses as a tool in their hands to ensnare Jesus. 

Sadly, even today when someone dislikes another, they take every effort to slander their name. We can aptly call this the stone throwing of the present times. The people who indulge in this are those who have no regard for the truth or society, but are obsessed with making a name for themselves. In recent times you may have noticed that people use the social media to express their disfavor or dislike towards others. Many people resort to creating controversies deliberately in order to increase their viewership. 

At this juncture when we are petrified by things that are happening around us, we must realize that we are in this calamity because we have not been using what God has entrusted to us, for His glory, but our personal gratification. In the same way, if we continue to misuse the freedom of expression on the internet, we could lose that great opportunity too. 

This is form of stone-throwing happens in the family, at our work place, at church and in society at large. And if we have by any chance engaged in any such activity, this is the time to repent and let go of all the hatred and bitterness in our hearts against others. 

Like the religious leaders of Jesus’ days we should not use the word of God to settle personal scores we have with others. The word of God teaches us to go to the person who has offended us and to resolve the matter with them on a one on one basis. 

Here’s what the Law actually stated as was given by Moses to the people of Israel. 

We read in Leviticus 20:10, “"If a man commits adultery with another man's wife or with his neighbor's wife, both he and the woman must be put to death for their adultery.” (GW) 

The Law of Moses actually demanded that both the man and woman who were involved in the act should be put to death. However, in this incident, the religious leaders only brought the woman to Jesus. 

Every time we condemn others we must be reminded that we too are prone to make the same mistakes. Also when we judge others, we should keep in mind that we do not know everything about the other person and most often we end up with totally wrong judgements. 

No room to pass judgement on others

Here’s what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:1, “Stop judging so that you will not be judged.”(GW) 

Jesus was very categorical that we should judge no one and only then we too will not be judged. Let me explain this from an experience that many of us may be familiar with. If someone were to ignore or not notice us as we pass by on the road side, we may assume that they willfully avoided us. We wouldn’t stop with that. We will add that their new position or job is what has made them so lofty which resulted in such behavior. However, the fact of the matter may be that the person might have been so burdened with the problems from their new job, that they actually did not notice us. Let us not judge others by mere outward appearances for this does not please the Lord. Sometimes the reason for this kind of a judgmental attitude is that we esteem ourselves to be higher than others. We need to be humble, be the first one to take the initiative and not pass unnecessary judgements on others. 

The grace that Jesus extended to everyone

As the religious leaders continued to heap their accusations against the woman, this is what Jesus did in response. 

We read in John 8:6, “....But he bent over and wrote on the ground with his finger.” (GNB) 

Jesus did not lift up His head to look at the crowds that stood around Him and pretended not to hear them. He simply bent over and chose to write something on the ground with his finger. There has been much speculation as to what Jesus might have written. I tend to believe that Jesus was telling those who stood around accusing the woman with His silent reply, that they would be better off if they left His presence immediately rather than be exposed and put to shame in front of the large crowds. To these religious leaders, who were chosen to be the spiritual heads, Jesus was giving them one more chance to escape embarrassment before the people. 

Many people continue to slander and judge others only because they have forgotten the grace of God that has been lavished on them. The grace of God is taken for granted because He does not judge us instantaneously. The time when Jesus wrote on the ground, corresponds to that period of grace that we are enjoying, when the Lord does not wish to shame us for all our sins. 

There is something even more disheartening that is happening among the children of God. This is the fact that some people gather together to pray against others believers giving it a very religious attire. As we live among those who are unbelievers, may we make it our goal to not take the name of the Lord in vain, but to honor Him through our words, deeds, prayers and all of our lives. 

There was a time when the disciples asked Jesus if they could command that fire come down to consume those who did not accept them, and Jesus rebuked them for this attitude. 

No one could throw a stone

We read in John 8:7, “As they stood there asking him questions, he straightened up and said to them, "Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her."” (GNB) 

We have the right to throw a stone at someone else only if we are totally without fault. However, when Jesus questioned the crowd that stood before Him that day, there was none who was without blame. There are some who claim that they have never coveted or stolen from others, but, when we defame another person’s good name it is definitely a form of robbery. 

God does not approve of it for in His sight, He does not differentiate sins as little sins or big sins. There is nothing hidden from the sight of our Almighty God. We may justify ourselves saying that we are better off than others. This is like a student who secured ten marks in his exam who bragged to his father that he was far better than his classmate who got just one mark. The fact of the matter was that both of them had failed. God has not given us the authority as human beings with faults to judge our fellow humans. We are cautioned in Romans 3:10, “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;”” (NKJV) 

Sinned and caught for it /or/ Sinned but not found out  

There were two kinds of people who stood before Jesus that day at the temple. The woman who was caught in adultery and religious leaders. The former was caught in sin while the other group comprised of those who sinned, but were not caught, and hence had the boldness to stone others. So also there are those today whose sins have been found out, and are therefore penitent. There is however a majority of those who justify themselves, hide their sins and are eager to condemn others. 

No one could condemn her

We read in John 8:9, When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first. Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there. (GNB) 

Jesus is truth and speaks words of truth. When the crowds heard His words of truth, there was not one from the oldest to the youngest who could take a single stone and throw it at that woman. Jesus was the Truth who was that woman’s shield and buckler. 

Jesus did not condemn but freed her

Jesus looked at her in John 8:10-11, He straightened up and said to her, "Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you?" "No one, sir," she answered. "Well, then," Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again. (GNB) 

Jesus sent her away with no condemnation and admonished her to leave her sinful life behind to start anew. 

The truth of God will be a shield and buckler only to those who choose to put their faith in Him. If there are those who are hurt emotionally because of the condemning words of others, the Lord wants such to trust in the Lord believing that He will be our shield and buckler. When this is so, it doesn’t really matter if the stones are flung at us from those near to us or those far away from us. God’s word is with us to protect us and keep us safe. 

We can come to the Lord however crushed or distressed we are knowing that He can change everything around, and give us a fresh start if we come to him in humility and repentance. May God help us to be associated with the right kind of people and stay away from ungodly relationships. If we have hurt anyone with our words of judgement may we ask forgiveness of the Lord and decide to live the way He want us to. It is good for us to turn to the Lord in repentance during this time of grace that He has extended to us and not wait for that day when we will stand to be condemned before everyone. Judgement belongs to God alone and none of us is worthy to take that place of judging others as we are all guilty and fall short of God’s standards. May the truth of God always be our shield and buckler.

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Your love for us.  We know that Your Truth alone can protect us as a shield and buckler from the attack of the enemy.  Thank you for helping us realise that every person born on earth is born in sin and we all need a Redeemer.  Thank You Lord for sending Your Son to earth and to die for our sins on the cross.  We are ever grateful.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Pastor Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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Feathers and Wings

Psalm 91 - Part 13 - Feathers and Wings

We read in Psalm 91:4, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor.” (GW) 

There are two words that I wish to highlight from the above mentioned verse, feathers and wings. Often we don’t differentiate between feathers and wings, but in this study we will try to understand what the Lord would like to teach us through them. Feathers are generally soft and gentle and can be compared to the love of God. Wings on the other hand are tough and can be compared to the firmness that the Lord displays toward His children. While feathers give us the comfort, wings give us the strength that we are in need of. We will therefore, correlate feathers to the grace of God and wings to the truth of God. Just as wings without the feathers will be of no use, so also feathers without wings would be futile. In these last days there is much emphasis on the grace of God, but as children of God we must comprehend the fact that the grace and truth of God are inseparable. 

We will study a few incidents from the bible to understand how the grace and truth of God are connected to each other.

1. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit

We read in Genesis 3:23, “So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden and made them cultivate the soil from which they had been formed.” (GNB)

When Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God’s commands, and ate the forbidden fruit, God had to drive them out of the Garden of Eden. God’s heart must have grieved much as He did so, for the reason God created man was that He desired to have fellowship with Him. Only after God had completed all of creation did He create man, so that he could grant him the position to rule over all that He had created. Also while all other created things were varied in nature, man alone was made in the image and likeness of God Himself. This is a unique privilege that God has granted to us that we must be constantly aware of. 

The Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve were placed in was a glorious one and the presence of God filled the garden. Nonetheless, God had to cast them out of the garden when they disobeyed His command. 

We read in Genesis 3:21, “And the LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife, and he clothed them.” (GNB)

The above mentioned verse is a most astounding one. God who is almighty, awesome, powerful, the One who created the heavens and the earth by the word of His mouth, though He punished man because He is a God of truth, He also made clothes out of animal skin and clothed them both. The fact that God cared enough to clothe both of them signifies the grace of God which is most evident through this loving act of His. God as one who is the epitome of truth could have left Adam and Eve to suffer for their rebellion, but instead He being a God of grace chose to lovingly clothe them. We discover how the truth of God and His grace were wonderfully displayed at the outset of creation itself. 

2. When Moses struck the rock

We read in Deuteronomy 3:25, “Let me cross the Jordan River, LORD, and see the fertile land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon Mountains.'” (GNB)

This was the request that Moses implored of the Lord, that He would grant him permission to cross the Jordan River to enter the promised land and behold it’s beauty.

Here’s God’s reply to Moses as recorded in Deuteronomy 3:26, “"But because of you people the LORD was angry with me and would not listen. Instead, he said, 'That's enough! Don't mention this again!” (GNB)

Moses was the chosen one whom God used to deliver the Israelites from their bondage under the cruel hands of Pharaoh. Oftentimes he interceded with God on various matters and God had favorably answered Moses. However, as Moses appealed to God that he should be granted permission to enter the Promised Land, the Lord was resolute that He did not want Moses to even discuss it with Him any further. 

There was a reason why the Lord responded to Moses this way. God is one of truth and He will not ignore the sins that we commit, as He is a God of justice. The reason why God forbade Moses to enter the Promised Land is explained to us in the passage mentioned below. 

We read in Numbers 20:11, “Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out, and all the people and their animals drank.” (GW)

God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water to quench the thirst of the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness. However, Moses disobeyed God’s instruction and in anger against the people struck the rock twice. Though God is a God of truth, He did not want Moses to be humiliated in the assembly of the Israelites. God therefore, allowed the water to gush out of the rock in abundance so that the people and livestock could drink from it. In spite of the fact that Moses dishonored God, the Lord did not permit Moses to be disgraced among the people. The truth of God however, did not allow Moses to enter the promise land. Here again this incident reveals to us that the God of truth, is also a God of grace. 

3. When God shut Noah’s Ark

We read in Genesis 7:16, “A male and a female of every animal went in as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD closed the door behind them.” (GW)

Noah had been directed by God to build an ark so that he and his family could be saved from the impending floods. The Lord had decided to destroy all the people of the earth as wickedness had greatly increased which He was unable to bear. Noah and his family alone found favor in the eyes of the Lord. After the ark was prepared, Noah and his family entered into it along with the animals as God had appointed. It is only logical for us to reason that if Noah could build such a huge ark, he would also be able to close the door to the ark. However, it was God who shut the door so that Noah could not open it. 

If you are wondering why God had to shut the door to the ark, this is because He is a God of truth. The heart rending wails of the people outside may have prompted Noah to open the door to let them in. God had decided to destroy the people and therefore, He shut the door so that no one could enter whom the Lord was displeased with. 

We read in 1 Peter 3:20, “Long ago they disobeyed while God kept waiting patiently, in the days of Noah as the ark was being built.” (TLV)

The God of truth shut the door, but before He did that the Lord waited patiently for a very long time hoping that the people in Noah’s days would repent. This portrays to us the gracious side of God who is constantly waiting for all men to repent and turn to Him. 

Jesus the manifestation of grace and truth

It was this God of grace and truth that revealed Himself in human form through our Lord Jesus. 

We read in John 1:14, “The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.” (GNB) 

We see that the grace and truth of God were both evident from the beginning of creation. However, man could behold this with his eyes only when the Lord Jesus came down to the earth in human form. We read therefore that Jesus was an embodiment of this grace and truth. 

Firstly, in the Garden of Eden man because of his disobedience became the object of God’s wrath, and an angel with a flaming sword stood at the entrance to forbid man from entering into that garden again. However, through Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, God made a way for sinful man to come back boldly to the throne of grace.

We read in Colossians 1:21-22, “At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.” (GNB)

When God made the clothes out of animal skin for Adam and Eve, an animal sacrifice had to be made in order to clothe them. That sacrifice was the fore shadow of Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God who came down to sacrifice His life for the sins of all mankind. 

Secondly, you may be wondering, ‘What was the big deal about Moses striking the rock twice that he was given such a harsh punishment to not enter the Promised Land?’ Moses had previously struck the rock once, and this time the Lord clearly commanded him to only speak to it. The rock that Moses struck represented Christ and we read about this in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 10:4, “.... that rock was Christ.” That rock was supposed to have been struck once only as Jesus too was to be slain for the sins of the world only once. There therefore remains no more sacrifice that can be made for the redemption of mankind’s sins. 

We read in Hebrews 10:12, “Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God.” 

By being offered as a sacrifice for sins once for all, there now remains no offering that can be made for the remission of our sins. 

Thirdly, though the ark that Noah made was huge, there was only one door to enter it. 

We read in John 10:9, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved….” (ESV)

In those days when Noah was constructing the ark, the people would have watched and some may even have been part of the work force. Nonetheless, none of them were saved but only Noah and his family who chose to walk into that door into the safety of the ark, before God shut the door. Everyone else who refused to believe and enter, were totally destroyed in the floods.

Even today the door to the ark of salvation is wide open. Those who believe and enter in will be saved. Each one of us must be able to believe and confess that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We must believe that He alone is the only way to heaven and we must by faith enter into that door which is Jesus Himself. Yes, God is most certainly a God of grace and truth, and we will conclude with this verse from Psalm 91:4, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor.” (GW) May each one of us find shelter under those feathers and wings of the Almighty God who is full of grace and truth.

Prayer :
Our loving Heavenly Father, we thank You for showing us that You are a God of grace and also a God of Truth.  We love grace and often are not so comfortable with the Truth.  Help us to accept the fact that our actions have consequences and so help us Lord to make the right choices in life.  We thank You for revealing this truth to us.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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The noisome pestilence

Psalm 91 - Study 12 - The Noisome Pestilence 

For this study we will look at Psalm 91:3, “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” (KJV)

The word of God assures us that He is able to save us from any kind of deadly disease. The thought that comes foremost to our mind when we hear the word pestilence, is an epidemic that results in death. The word ‘noisome’ can also be interpreted as words that are spoken. Recently, we might have noticed that the most discussed topic by everybody worldwide, is the outbreak of this pandemic that is caused by an unseen virus. The reason this has become such a central part of our conversation is because, we are constantly listening to information that is being shared through various sources. Our newspapers, news channels on television, social- media apps all of them are discussing the effects of this pandemic, and about the overhanging threat to our lives. What is so strange is that the entire world’s focus, and conversations are all about the same issue.

There are many people who have recovered totally from this deadly disease. However, if we observe the news, these numbers are downplayed, and the death rates are projected. The consequence is that a sense of fear has gripped the hearts of people. If we as God’s children wish to overcome these fears and anxieties, it is vital that we pay attention to the kind of messages we give heed to. The fact is that what we spend time listening to most, will adversely affect our mental state and our emotional being as well. The one emotion that has predominantly seized most people is that of fear. When the news of the pandemic was confined to China many of us were not concerned. It did not even bother us when it spread in North India, but now that is has come close to home, the majority of us are gripped with a fearful dread and worry.

Let me highlight some incidents from the bible that will help us realize how what we hear affects our life and behavior.

The reports that the people of Jericho heard

We read in Joshua 2:10, “We have heard how the LORD dried up the Red Sea in front of you when you were leaving Egypt. We have also heard how you killed Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan” (GNB)

Jericho was a fortified city in which Rahab lived. The above mentioned words are those of Rahab. She mentioned two things that the people of Jericho had heard about God and the people of Israel. They had firstly, received accounts of how God parted the Red Sea to make a way for the people of Israel to cross over when they fled from the Egyptian bondage. They also had heard the news that though the Israelites wandered in the wilderness like nomads, the Lord had helped them to defeat the two Amorite kings Sihon and Og. Even though the modes of sharing information were different in those days and probably slower, this news had anyhow reached the people of Jericho.

We read in Joshua 2:11 a, “We were afraid as soon as we heard about it; we have all lost our courage because of you.” (GNB)

In Joshua 2:11 b, “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and here on earth.” (GNB)

When the reports of God’s dealings on behalf of the Israelites reached the people of Jericho, their hearts melted with fear and all of them lost courage. However, Rahab who also lived in Jericho had faith instead of fear, for she started to think about the God of Israel as God whom she could trust. In the second part of this verse Rahab acknowledged the fact that if the Lord can part the Red Sea, He is indeed God of heaven above for this was something no human on earth could do. So also, if the Lord had helped the wandering Israelites to defeat the kings of the earth, He was indeed the Lord of the earth as well. No wonder then that when God gave Israelites the victory and the walls of came crumbling down, Rahab and her family, whose house was on that very same wall were safe and secure.

This incident reinforces to us that everything we hear will most certainly have its effects on our mental and emotional state. A majority of people allow themselves to be bombarded with dreadful news all through the day, unaware of its adverse influence on them. All of us may have been familiar with score boards for games, but sadly today we have a score board on the number of people who are affected by the virus, and the number of deaths that happen daily. Like Rahab if we place our trust in the Lord, He is most certainly able to keep us safe and secure in the midst of all the calamities that surround us.

It is up to us to decide if the God we believe in is greater or the pandemic that is threatening us is bigger. For those who truly believe that our God is far greater, we will not spend all of our time listening to the woeful news that is being constantly shared. I am not in any way trying to downplay the effects of this pandemic. I believe that it is important for us to follow the precautions prescribed by the government and medical professionals with regards to hand washing, wearing mask and social distancing. Nonetheless, we must keep in mind that the one who keep us safe and secure is the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth.

The news that threatened Jacob

We read in Genesis 32:6-7, “When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you. He has four hundred men with him." Jacob was frightened and worried.” (GNB)

As Jacob was returning back to his home town with his family and herds, it was reported to him that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men. This news bothered Jacob a great deal as he had as a young man cheated his elder brother Esau of his birthright and all the blessings that were due to him. Esau was so angered with Jacob that he had threatened to kill Jacob at an opportune time. No wonder then that when Jacob heard that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with a band of four hundred men, he was filled with fear and anxiety.

This is what Jacob did as recorded in Genesis 32:9, “Then Jacob prayed, "God of my grandfather Abraham and God of my father Isaac, hear me! You told me, LORD, to go back to my land and to my relatives, and you would make everything go well for me.” (GNB)

We also read in Genesis 32:12,“Remember that you promised to make everything go well for me and to give me more descendants than anyone could count, as many as the grains of sand along the seashore."” (GNB)

The first thing that Jacob did was to turn to the Lord, and reminded Him of the promise that God had made to him. He was pleading with God to not forget the promises He had made not only to him but to his father and grandfather as well. This was the promise that God would make everything go well for him, and that He would give him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore. Jacob trusted God, and the Lord did save him and his entire family.

As we began this year, I am certain that the Lord gave each one of us His promise. God wants to assure us that He is our faithful God, and will without doubt fulfill the promises that He made thought the circumstances may not seem favorable. The storms may be fierce, the problems insurmountable, the calamities life threatening, but we have the confidence that the Lord is with us. Like Jacob, let us go to the Lord to claim His promises, believing that the one who promised is our unchanging and faithful God.

The order that threatened the Israelites

We read in Exodus 1:22, “Finally the king issued a command to all his people: "Take every newborn Hebrew boy and throw him into the Nile, but let all the girls live."” (GNB)

This was the edict that was issued by Pharaoh, King of Egypt. The order demanded that all the new born Israelite baby boys be thrown into the river Nile and to let the girl babies live. This kind of a command by Pharaoh caused much turmoil and grief to all the people of Israel. It must have been a most excruciating experience for the women who had borne their babies for nine long months to obey the King’s command, and throw them into the river.

It was under those circumstances that Moses was born. When Moses’ parents saw their baby, they realized that he was God’s gift to them. They therefore believed that God was able to preserve the life of their baby boy.

We read in Exodus 2:2, “The woman became pregnant and had a son. She saw how beautiful he was and hid him for three months.” (GW)

Moses’ parents did all they could to protect their baby, and his mother managed to keep him hidden for three months. What made them do it by risking their very lives?

It is recorded in Hebrews 11:23, “It was faith that made the parents of Moses hide him for three months after he was born. They saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's order.” (GNB)

In the above mentioned verse, we see that is was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months defying the king’s orders. When they could no longer hide the baby, they placed him in a basket made of reeds coated it with tar and pitch, and placed it in the river among the reeds. The baby was noticed by the princess who was Pharaoh’s daughter, who took pity on the baby and decided to bring him up as her own. Moses grew up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter in the very same palace of the king who had ordered the death of all male babies in Israel. Moses received all the training in the king’s palace, and the Lord called and brought Moses back to Egypt, to deliver the people of Israel from the cruel bondage to the Egyptians.

Many parents are worried and anxious about their children’s safety today, as there is statistics that predicts that children and elderly are more vulnerable to the attacks of this virus. There is a declaration of economic crisis. Instead of allowing these messages to overwhelm us, we must tune our ears to listen to the voice of God who assures us that we are safe in the shelter of the Almighty and that we will certainly enjoy the fruit of our labor. It is only when our thinking gets transformed will our behavior change as well.

The fear of the pandemic has swept across the globe, leaving none exempt. In such circumstances we are called to trust implicitly in the Lord and His word. We will choose to dull the noises of this world, and tune our ears to listen, read and believe the words that come from the Lord Himself so that our faith will grow, and this is the faith that will overcome the world. Like Moses’ mother when we have done all that we can, the Lord will take over to do that which is beyond our control.

May I encourage us as children of God to not feel discouraged or anxious, but to be confident that in the midst of all these trials that the Lord is in charge. We looked at three people in this study. Rahab who trusted the Lord in spite of the reports that she received and the Lord saved her and her family. Jacob stood firm on the promises of God when challenged with the threat to his own life and he was protected. Moses’ parents did all that they could and when they left the rest to God, He took over to raise Moses up to be a mighty deliverer for the Israelites. No matter what happens, may we never lose heart, because our God promised to be with us and He is able to lead us on till the very end of our lives.

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, we have learnt that there is a great danger in listening constantly to the bad news of this world.  Help us to keep our ears open to the Word of God so that we will have enough faith to overcome all situations and never to have fear.  Thank you for the lives of Rahab, Jacob and the parents of Moses.  Help us to put into practice what we have learnt today. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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Keep me safe from secret traps

Psalm 91 - Study 11- Keep me Safe from Secret Traps 

We read in Psalm 91:3, “The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases.” (CEV)

In this study we will meditate on this part of the verse mentioned above, where the Lord assures us that He is able to keep us safe from falling into secret traps. If we were to define ‘traps’ they are positions or situations that are covertly set up with the intention to catch one unawares. These traps which are nets or enclosures, are used by hunters, usually hidden from view and with the motive to catch a bird or an animal. The word of God assures us from Psalm 91:3 that the Lord is able to deliver us from such a snare of the evil one, whose goal is to set a trap to ensnare our souls.

We will explore from the bible as to how we can identify these cunning or subtle traps that the enemy sets up for us, so that we can with God’s help be safe, and not fall prey to them.

The trap that King Saul fell into

We read in 1 Samuel 18:7, “They sang: Saul has killed a thousand enemies; David has killed ten thousand enemies!”(CEV)

As Saul and David were returning home after an astounding victory, the crowds were present to give them a rousing welcome. Saul as the King of Israel and David as a warrior who had won a great victory over the Philistines, came together peaceably. The Psalmist describes it this way in Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (ESV) As these two men entered the town the women came singing and dancing to greet them with these words, ‘Saul killed a thousand and David has killed ten thousands.’ When Saul heard this refrain, he was disturbed and the song bothered him greatly.

It is recorded in 1 Samuel 18:8, And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” (ESV)

Saul was displeased when he heard this song and it also made him very angry. He began to deliberate the thought that now that the people had attributed ten thousands to David, and ascribed only thousands to him that the kingdom too would soon be passed on to David. Saul and David were unified when they came from battle, but a simple song that was sung by the women, proved to be a trap for King Saul and he not being aware of it, got entangled in it. Saul and David could have accomplished much together, and David did not have the vicious thought or desire to secure the throne from King Saul.

Satan will usually set a trap for people when they are living together is unity, just as it happened between Saul and David. There have been many who have been in harmonious friendship for many long years, which was pleasing to those around, and most certainly to the Lord. However, some have fallen into the snare set by the enemy, and their love for each other has been replaced with hatred. These divisions take place in the family, in the church, work place, in the political scenario and the reasons for these are that people are unaware of these pitfalls that Satan has cunningly devised. If we are not wary of these ploys, we will most certainly be caught in them.

Saul was jealous and suspicious of David

We read in 1 Samuel 18:9, “And so he was jealous and suspicious of David from that day on.” (GNB)

From that onwards Saul began to eye David with intense envy and suspicion. After this incident, if we study the life of Saul, the rest of it was spent entirely on him trying to harm or kill David. God had chosen Saul who was an ordinary man to be the King of Israel, but wistfully Saul fell into the trap of hatred and jealousy. He lost his zeal for the Lord and for the kingdom, when his mind was diverted solely towards destroying David.

If we observe any kind of break in relationships, often they are related to jealousy and suspicion. There are many people who like Saul are constantly devising schemes for the downfall of those whom they hate. They will gossip, speaking ill of the one they hate and spread rumors to malign their reputation. We may not like Saul connive to physically kill those we dislike, but if we deliberately plan to slander them, we too have fallen into the trap of the evil one. If a bird or animal is caught in a hunter’s net, they are left to his mercy, and he will choose to do what he wishes to his prey. Many believers too have sadly fallen into this snare of hatred, jealousy, irritation or anger towards others. When this happens, we become tools in the hands of the devil for his wicked schemes, instead of being useful vessels in the hands of the Lord to build His kingdom.

David too had a trap set up for him

We read in 1 Samuel 24:4, “They said to him, "This is your chance! The LORD has told you that he would put your enemy in your power and you could do to him whatever you wanted to."” (GNB)

As Saul relentlessly pursued after David to take his life, David along with his men hid in a cave. Interestingly, when Saul entered that very same cave, David’s men advised him that this was his chance to get even with Saul. They also encourage David that it was the Lord Himself who had handed over Saul into his hands, and that he could therefore do to Saul whatever he wished to do.

This was David’s response in 1 Samuel 24:6-7, “and he said to his men, "May the LORD keep me from doing any harm to my master, whom the LORD chose as king! I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the LORD!" So David convinced his men that they should not attack Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and started away.” (GNB)

David was categorical that he would do no harm to Saul, for David realized that this was a trap that the enemy had set for him. Circumstances were extremely favorable to David if he wished to take revenge on Saul, but David chose to dissuade his men from doing any wrong to Saul. It was this amazing character of David that I believe God approved of, and also the reason why Jesus was pleased to be called the ‘Son of David’. David chose to not take revenge and honored the anointing that King Saul had received from God.

We must be aware that we too will may find opportunities to get even with those who have wronged us. When there is enmity between brothers, the thought that is foremost on their mind is how they can put the other one down, and defame them in any possible way. Instead like David we must be willing to be silent, and let the Lord vindicate us in His time.

Joseph escaped the trap that was set for him

It is recorded in Genesis 39:20, “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.” (Webster)

Joseph was a young man who landed up in prison in Egypt. This was not the place that Joseph should have been in. He was the favorite son of his father Jacob, and back home he should have led a comfortable life. When Joseph was at home with father and brothers, he had dreams. In his dreams it was revealed to him that his brothers who were elder to him would submit to him with reverence. When his brothers heard of these dreams they were filled with hatred towards Joseph. I believe that this too was a subtle trap of Satan that Joseph’s brothers were not conscious about. Instead of being united, they allowed the evil one to bring division amongst themselves.

The hatred that Joseph’s brothers had for him was so intense, that they sold him as a slave. Not only did they sell him, they even lied to their father that some wild animal had mauled Joseph to death. Joseph ended up as a slave in the house of Potiphar in Egypt, where Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him, which was why he landed up in prison. As Joseph languished in prison, he had every reason to turn bitter. He could have contemplated on the cruelty of his brothers, his father’s love and the false accusation that was framed against him. This was a situation where a trap was laid for Joseph to harbor bitterness in his heart against his brothers, against his master and his master’s wife, and even against God.

For instance, let us say there are two ladies who sing melodiously in a choir, and they are good friends too. All that a divisive person needs to do is to praise one over the other. They have by so doing created ill-feelings between both the women. If we allow hatred to grow in our hearts, it will like it did to Joseph’s brothers lead us into numerous sins. We must be watchful and understand the will of God if we desire to escape these snares that the devil sets up for us.

There are so many entanglements today that could cause husbands to hate their wives or vice versa, parents to dislike their children or children to be antagonistic toward their parents and we must be alert to escape these schemes of Satan.

God raised up Joseph and He forgave his brothers

In due course God raised up Joseph right there in Egypt to be the ruler next only to Pharaoh. The God who gave Joseph the dreams as a young man, also fulfilled those dreams. When the land where Joseph’s father and brothers dwelt in was struck with famine, they had to go to Egypt as there was food available there. The brothers of Joseph who reached Egypt were unable to recognize that the Egyptian ruler who stood before them was their own brother and they bowed down to pay obeisance to him. When Joseph revealed to his brothers on their second visit that he was indeed their own brother, they were filled with dread that Joseph would be angry with them and would take revenge on them.

Here are the words of Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50:19-21, “And Joseph said to them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.” (Webster)

We may wonder as to how it was possible for Joseph to speak kindly to his brothers who had done so much of evil to him. Joseph knew that the trap set for him by the devil was to be bitter, to hate, take revenge and he was also endowed with the authority to do so. However, Joseph perceived that the hand of God was with Him, and that God had in His wisdom turned the evil done to him for the good of his entire family.

As children of God let us get rid of all bitterness, hate and anger from our hearts. Let us not give Satan a foothold in our lives to trick us into the snares that he sets for us. There is much division today, in families, amongst siblings and even in the church. There may be real hurts that we carry that people have meted out to us, false accusations, slander or treacherous plots to ruin us. It is time to seek God who is able to change all the evil that is aimed at us so that it will eventually work out for our own good.

When Saul harbored hatred towards David, an evil spirit tormented him and the Spirit of the Lord left him. David and Joseph on the other hand, were willing to let go of all their hurts and bitterness to allow the Lord to vindicate, and turn things for the good of many. Let us therefore like them decide to forgive everyone who has hurt us in any way, and be set free from all the snares of the evil one, with the help and strength of the Lord Jesus for only then the peace of God will rule our hearts and minds.

Prayer :

Heavenly Father we thank You for the Word of God where You have taught us about the traps that Satan lays for our souls.  Help us to be alert and never to get caught in Satan's evil traps.  Help us to trust in You like David and Joseph who refused to take offense and thereby avoided the traps.  Give us the wisdom and knowledge that we need everyday to escape such traps.  We give You all the glory and honour and praise. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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