Shalom,
The last time we covered Psalm 107 we looked at all of the verses that encouraged praise to the LORD! This time we are going to look at these verses:
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.
19 Then they cry to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivers them out of their distresses.
Notice that all of these situations came about because the people did things their own way! They rebelled against the Word of God and reaped the results of their disobedience. They were so fed up with their situation that they called on God for help, the same ONE they had disobeyed in the first place! What did HE do? He delivered them! Every time they called out to Him! Take heart when YOU miss it! Call on the LORD and HE will deliver YOU from your situation! Then be a DOER of verse 2:
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom HE has delivered from the hand of the adversary.
The word "so" has been added by the translators to try to clarify the meaning of the passage. It actually says: Let say the redeemed of the LORD. This is the Hebrew word "`amar", which means: to say, to speak, to tell, to utter, to boast. OUR boasting or bragging is in the LORD Who delivered us! Keep it up! The Word of God says to do this, so OBEY!
James 4:7:
7 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
We quote that verse a lot and want to take our God-given authority over the devil, but we must also obey the first part! To "subject" to God is the Hebrew word, "hupotasso", which means: to subordinate, to obey, to submit to. This word is primarily a military term! It means to be under the authority of and in subjection to. This MUST come first in order to have the faith, trust and confidence necessary to operate in authority! Then, once we are submitting OUR will to HIS will, then we must "resist" the devil. This is the Hebrew word, "anthistemi", which means: to stand against or withstand, to oppose. It is a compound word made up of "anti" = against, and "histemi" = against. It takes an act of our will and a strong determination to withstand anything, especially one whose ONLY goal is to steal, kill and destroy! (John 10:10) But the promise that follows our submitting to God and making a strong STAND against the enemy AND all of his ways, is that he WILL flee from us! I really like the Wuest Translation of this verse:
7 Be subject with implicit obedience to God at once and once for all. Stand immovable against the onset of the devil and he will flee from you.
And then we have this promise in verse 8a:
8 Come close to God and He will come close to you.
Make the first move towards God and He will envelope you with His presence! Stay close and you will always have confidence in His love, protection, provision and safety!
In Jeremiah 13 & 22, God sends Jeremiah to the people of Judah with the message of what will happen if they don't repent and follow Him. He has been SO patient with them! He keeps warning them and sending messengers to them because He DESIRES to bless them! The same is true for us! 3 John 2 says:
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
It is God's desire, ABOVE ALL THINGS, that we prosper in every area! he knows that it will only be "even as", or , "in proportion to" our soul prospering. Joshua 1:8! Get the Word of God in on a daily basis so that your mind will be renewed, your your emotions will be under control and your will, your "chooser", will be in line with the Word of God! Then WATCH, for prosperity COMETH!
Shalom in Him!
