Today’s Devotion
Topic: Deliverance Through Prayer And Praise!
(Self Assessment 136)
Background: The psalmist writes an unusual passage for our discussion today. He brings to the table the reality of the existence of evil attackers and provides us with some basic truths that should help us whenever we find ourselves in such situations.
We shall take the passage verse by verse, discuss what they mean in themselves, and also how they relate to the other truths in the subsequent verses. Kindly gather the family around; it is time to study the Bible.
Text: Psalm 57: 1- 7
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me — God sends forth His love and His faithfulness.
4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts — men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6 They spread a net for my feet — I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path — but they have fallen into it themselves. 7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Amen
Questions:
i. In your opinion, what is Mercy? Why do we cry to God for mercy, and when does a person cry to God for mercy?
ii. When the Psalmist says, “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed”, what is he implying? Secondly, how do we practically take refuge under God’s wings?
iii. What is the hope in prayer that we have when we find ourselves in the day of disaster, or when we find ourselves being hotly pursued by evil attackers? (Read vrs 2 & 3)
iv. Kindly read vrs 4 again. If the psalmist found himself surrounded by this much evil, why did he go on to exalt and praise God instead of complaining that God had not been fair to him? What role does praise play to ensure deliverance from evil attackers?
v. When the Psalmist exalted the Lord in verse 5, what happened to the enemy in verse 6?
vi. When a believer who has gone through all the above exclaims, “My Heart, Oh God, is steadfast, My Heart is steadfast” (vrs 7), what is he/she implying?
vii. When you put the passage, its corresponding questions and the answers the Holy Spirit has provided through you together, what, in your opinion, are the main themes of today’s passage and what you have learnt from this study?
Kindly reply us on this same social media platform (Whatsapp/Facebook). We learn a great deal from the answers you share.
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