Heralds Digest

  “ In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.” Psalm 31 : 1 - 2 KJV Deliverance in the human economy is a game of chance that can either go right or wrong. In the seeming context of right deliverance, the deliverer often boasts in his capacity or superpower to bully other people’s rights and privileges; and the beneficiaries are still subject to shame in the questionable deliverance. And in the wrong deliverance, there is no deliverance at all; and everyone is ashamed. The morality here is that there is no sweet and secured deliverance with any trust in the arms of the flesh. For example, the most reliable deliverer of the psalmist is Joab; but everyone knows that Joab finally became David’s turn in the flesh. And when the psalmist declared “ In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust” , he underscored the risk of falling into sha...

  “ In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness .” Psalms 31 : 1 NKJV Everyone understands the importance of trust in a relationship, but not everyone who falters on trust is actually guilty of distrust. For example, Judas Iscariot wasn’t guilty of distrust, but rather he was condemned for his mistrust. Whatever the list of his mistrust among the likes of financial considerations, extension of privileges, social engineering with the chief priest and scribes, etc, the major reality was that his heart was shifted from Jesus as the absolute source of true trust. Therefore, when the psalmist declared “ In You, O Lord, I put my trust “, he meant that true trust embodies the (1) testament , (2) righteousness , (3) uniqueness , and (4) excellency of the Lord; and not a trust in anyone or anything else. By trusting in the testament of the Lord, believers are called to stand firmly on scriptural revelation and divine instruction at all times...

  ” Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. “ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One funny reality and the burden of life is the growth of human strength with advancement in position, prosperity, and property or prospects. And our abilities to recognize the different strata of human strength create the necessary culture of respect, loyalty, and decorum in the constituted system, institution, and authority. Invariably, every sane person is wary of the superiority of the system strength, compared to personal strength, no matter the perceived strata. For example, the psalmist could even realize his imprisonment and helplessness under the system’s strength, even though anyone would be carried away by his perceived immunity as the king of Israel. Therefore, king David unveiled the superiority of the Saviour’s strength over the system’s strength. Unfortunately, many bel...

   “Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ There is something awry about human intelligence, secret surveillance, and scientific superpower; it boasts beyond its capabilities until an encounter with a superior or the day of adversity comes. Put in scriptural parlance, all of human strength are small strengths, compared to the Omnipotent strength of the Lord. Therefore, instead of wishing for how to outsmart the enemies in their game of secret surveillance, the psalmist just prayed for grace to acknowledge God as his strong strength. Unfortunately, many believers often preferred to stay in the captive net, dissipating energies for strategies against the enemies; and thereby compounding their captivity with bitterness, anger, and all forms of unrighteousness in protests. Whereas, we lose a sweet fellowship with God, our reliable shield and strong strength, when we stay where the enemies laid us. Anyone wh...