Heralds Digest

  “For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭29‬-‭30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Smart people in our world run along with a troop and not against a troop for relevance, popularity, opportunities, and privileges. Even when it is obvious that a troop is committed to unrighteousness, evil, and wickedness, only a fool stand against a troop alone; not minding being run over. Notwithstanding, David wasn’t a fool by saying “ For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall”. ‘For by God I can ..’ is not the same thing as ‘I can ..’. Absolute trust in God always gives strength to the righteous in heart, and enables him to run against a troop. Then, the trust would not be based on personal abilities, intelligence, and exposure; and neither can the trust be based on the promises of support or shield from fellow men. In fact, sometimes and i...

  “The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.” Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Whenever someone says ‘You shall eat the fruits of your labour’ , some people may be cautious to affirm the declaration as a statement of prayer. Whereas, personal affirmation is really not necessary. As confirmed by the psalmist and many people’s true life stories, God does reward everyone in life according to the righteousness and the cleanliness of his hands. However, David received tremendous negative rewards for his uprightness from many trusted people before the divine recompense arrived. And this is always the challenge that draws many people away from waiting upon the Lord; while opting for the unrighteous recompense from the world, through shady deals, compromises, cheating, and all forms of wickedness for perceived gains. Unfortunately, the testimonies of people with unrighteous recompense get the loudest ovations in the present e...

  “He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, The foundations of the world were uncovered At Your rebuke, O Lord, At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.” Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ There is no doubt that foe represents the activities of darkness and wickedness. When darkness invades, channels of opportunity and the passages for advancement will seem unclear. An example of blocked channels was the Red Sea before the children of Israel and the invading army of Pharoah at their back. And like many other unclear channels, believers are often subjected to fear and intimidation anytime they are confronted, until the revelation of the wisdom from God appears. Inspired by the psalmist’s experiences with unclear channels, the scriptures declare “ He (God) sent out His arrows and scattered the foe, Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them ”. The fear of this great God remains the begi...

  “Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Even though the network of evil and wickedness in this world has sophisticated secret service system, the sacred service from the Almighty is much more reliable for those who can find confidence in it. Otherwise, the fear and timidity that confronts players in any secret service (controlled by powerful personalities and principals in our economic, social, administrative, and political systems) can be nothing but the beginning of wisdom. Unfortunately, believers also have learned how to play the game against an absolute confidence in God. When we fall down for the threats of sudden terror, and quiver at the trouble of the wicked; it implies that we obviously pledge our allegiance to the world’s secret services, instead of abiding in the sacred service of God. Notwithstanding, God’s sacr...

  “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ One of the reasons for the seasons of wilderness, wickedness, and wastefulness is the stories of deliverance. There is always an exchange of delights between the Deliverer and the beneficiaries of deliverance, with possible development of faith for future battles of life. It is true that faith comes by hearing of the words of God; but believers’ faith is strengthened by the records of the stories of deliverance: “ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ ” (‭‭I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬). Likewise, just as the psalmist declared “ I will love You, O Lord, my strength” after walking out of his wilderness experience, believers sho...

  “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” Psalms‬ ‭17‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Oftentimes, we ask God for deliverance from the enemies without truly knowing our real enemies. While the conclusion of the psalmist’s prayer for deliverance aligns with the New Testament’s essence “ To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭74‬-‭75‬), the preceding verses in the psalmist’s prayer desired the destruction of the enemies, instead of deliverance from the hand of the enemies. It implies that true deliverance acquires grace to live daily in the likeness of the great Deliverer, even in the fiercest of the enemies’ manifestations. Actually, it is difficult to ascertain the blessing of grace to serve God without fear in the absence of the sources of fear. Neither is it possible to claim the virtues of holines...

  “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.” Psalms‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ A prevailing prayer is no doubt the engagement of a powerless petitioner with a powerful Potentate. Unfortunately, man is often tempted to explore the engagement of seemingly powerful personalities to his gross disappointment. Unless a guarantor-man’s interest is seen to be serviced by the engagement of the requesting party, there could be no guarantee for fairness and justice. Therefore, the psalmist cried “ I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God “. Morning, afternoon, nighttime, and in all circumstances, and if only believers can sincerely cry unto the Lord, there is always an assurance of salvation for those who trust in God. Whenever a powerless petitioner acknowledges the need of protection, power, and provis...