Heralds Digest

  “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.” Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without the evidence of struggling with slippery places in every believer’s life engagements, it will be difficult for anyone to appreciate the comfort of God’s presence. Otherwise, the affluence in wealth that men can see, and the convenience in position that men can feel will always control the desires and pursuits of the hearts. And after these opportunities slipped away from the psalmist, he became confronted with the priceless portion of the abiding presence of God. Unfortunately, the end of an endless pursuit of earthly possessions is destruction. Beyond affluence and convenience, there is divine guidance in the wilderness and divine comfort in the darkness for those who care to listen to God. Actually, the currency of all earthly possessions does fade; but believers’ confidence in the Lord will never ...

  “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The search for a strong and reliable security (whether physical, financial, or social) requires enormous strategies, including political and administrative support and collaboration. When king Saul was privileged to secure the headship of this security system in Israel, it was apparent that his children and the generations of children after him had found a reliable fountain of refuge. Unfortunately, that was never to be after he lost the favour of God. Even for king David, who had the privilege of securing the special security covenant for generations after him, his immediate successor (king Solomon) could not sustain the everlasting covenant without the fear of the Lord. By the inspiration of the Lord, the righteous does realize that only “ In the fear of the L...

  “Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭1‬, ‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Pure prosperity is not cheap. It requires costly purging of the heart from all forms of unrighteousness. Therefore, those who appreciate the value of pure prosperity or the prosperity of the heart are not envious of the prosperity of the wicked. And since the pattern is reserved with God, the process of obtaining pure prosperity requires a consistent focus on God, while the heart is plagued with the refining fire. Unfortunately, and like many believers, the psalmist was distracted by the apparent ease and cheaper price for the polluted prosperity of the world. Most times, the distractions of the polluted prosperity are personally allowed by believers, when a fading of the pure prosperity is privately encouraged by prayerlessness.

  “Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice.” Psalms‬ ‭72‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ System revolt is a simple response to the wicked and corrupt reign of kings, principals, and political leaders. But people rejoice when righteous leaders are in positions of authority. Notwithstanding, the reign of earthly monarchs and leaders are not universal; it is limited in scope and size. Otherwise, why would an earthly king commit suicide when confronted by superior powers and challenges higher than his authority? Universal reign of righteousness comes only from God; and He gives unlimited authority to His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore, anyone who desires all-round dominion must submit to the lordship of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Anyone who submits to the righteous reign of the Lord Jesus Christ will not have to fear the unrighteous reign of earthly kings.

  “You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, Shall revive me again, And bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.” Psalms‬ ‭71‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Although the psalmist sounds here as someone rehearsing a happily-ever-after movie script, everyone knows that real troubles do not wear such hopeful garments without absolute faith in God. In fact, David’s expression in one of his escapades on the trouble tunnel captured the true feeling: “ So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up ” (II Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭30‬). Therefore, why is faith in God seeing a triumphant trail in every trouble tunnel? This is because God is focussed instead of the troubles; there is no triumph without trouble; and trouble helps believers to calibrate the stories of br...

  “The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps. A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.” Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ When the scriptures say the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and He delights in his way, it suggests that the righteous has so much to learn from his own steps more than falling into the temptation of getting enraged by the steps of others. The rage race is infuriated by the negative energies exhibited in the actions and inaction of people in our world. Unfortunately, life is heavily influenced and powered by people who are gifted for the rage race; and the ‘simple’ believes or is easily deceived by every word from the rage race. Whereas, the righteous are called to be prudent with learning and understanding from his own steps. No matter how many times he stumbled and fall, he would always get focused on discovering how to rise and what can be done to avoid tripping on the same ste...

  “I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” Psalms‬ ‭71‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Pure and uncorrupted power and human strength display nothing but the evidence of the presence of God. Beside supernatural miracles, signs, and wonders, God’s strength is readily manifested through the display of human physical, financial, political and social prowess, when human beings are released as the battle ax and weapons in the hands of God. Like the declaration of the psalmist’s intent, this is how the righteous display the wondrous works of God from generation to generation. Unfortunately, human selfish ambition and the pursuit of personal agenda often create a diversion or discontinuity to the straigh...