2 Samuel 22:17-18 "He (God) sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me." These Bible verses are part of a song King David wrote when he was rescued, redeemed from an enemy (see 2 Samuel 22:1-51. It is also very familiar to Psalm 18:1-50). David knew to cry out to God, to call out, to plead for The Lord to rescue him.
Psalm 13:3-4 "Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken."
Psalm 401-2 "I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure."
Psalm 69:1-3 "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God."
In these verses, David was surrendered to God’s rescue. Are you? It reminds me of my Senior Lifesaving Class I took back in college. I wanted to be a life guard, but my vision was not good enough. But knew it would be a good skill to have just in case. One key lesson in making a water rescue is to calm people so they are willing to surrender to your care. It they are panicking and thrashing about, they could drown you as well. Most people who are not freaking out will surrender quickly and let you swim them to safety. David was fearful for his life, on the run, yet willing to look for and relinquish to God’s control. Do you?
I am not sure what kind of situation you may need rescue from, but I do know if you are willing, God is willing. Our Redeemer lives! (See Job 19:25)
Maybe pray this prayer of David: - Psalm 69:13-16 "But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me."
God can and does rescue. Will you surrender to His rescue? It may not be the way you hoped or in your timing, but He will walk with you through it all.
1 Peter 5:10 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
To surrender to God is to relinquish control, to follow God’s instruction, to trust in God, to see Him and proclaim, “I know my Redeemer lives!” It’s how we gain help and hope in times of trial and in life.
If you have been watching our live-stream Sunday worship gatherings or taken in some of the resources in the REVIVE section of our webpage, you will see we are studying the Bible book of Job. Job does surrender to God’s rescue. The book is a great help to us walking through our own times of trouble. The series is called “#Whyme.”
Seeking to surrender to God’s rescue along with you,
Pastor Mike
|