We have come to the last of David’s two-word requests in his “Cry for Help” Psalm 143. It too, is extremely relevant for our times.
“Because of Your name, Yahweh, let me live. In Your righteousness deliver me from trouble.” [v11 HCSB]
Deliver me … from trouble. Trouble surrounds us. As Christians, we seem to have exited decades of quiet and if not acceptance, at least indifference from society. Now we appear to be entering a time of opposition that may lead to persecution. To ask our LORD, YAHWEH, to deliver us from trouble is timely.
Trouble. The Hebrew word means adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble. It definitely could be applied to what we see around us daily, whether it is coming from the virus-and-fear pandemic, politics, nature, or opposition to us as individuals or as the church corporate.
As I survey our world, I am reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 24. Jesus’ disciples asked Him what the signs of His return would be. So, He told them.
“For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these events are the beginning of birth pains.” [vs7-8 HCSB]
One particular phrase stands out this morning in those verses, “All these events are the beginning of birth pains.”
Beloved, this is just the “beginning!” Unless I am grossly mistaken, we will not see our world get better, but will see a consistent decline. It will get darker and more evil. In fact, Jesus said it will be like it was in the days of Noah. [Matthew 24:36]
God Himself described what it was like in “the days of Noah.” He said that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” [Genesis 6:5 NKJV]
But as God protected Noah, God can protect us in times of trouble. So, we pray each day as David prayed, deliver me from trouble, LORD. Amen.
