Tag Archives: rescue

The God Who Stoops Down

06 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by in Psalm 113, Psalms

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Reading: Psalm 113
Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, you his servants;
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD (NIV).

Reflection
In today’s reading the psalmist has a question for you and here it is: Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

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Finding treasures in the trash — photo by David Kitz

Who indeed? Why would the exalted One, the enthroned One, stoop down? How undignified! Doesn’t the LORD know that kings and potentates don’t bend over or stoop down? They certainly don’t do that sort of thing in public—not where they can be seen by others. Rulers rule from the seat of authority. They sit; they don’t stoop down. But our God stoops down. If the truth be told, it’s even worse than that.

The LORD gets His hands dirty. Actually, He has been getting His hands dirty from the very beginning. The LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). Now that was a failed experiment, if there ever was one. Those living, breathing dust bags showed no gratitude. They disobeyed God at the first opportunity and down through the generations, humanity has continued that pattern of disobedience. 

Now in this psalm we read this: He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. Why would God show such affection for fallen humanity—humans who keep plunging deeper into the mire? There is no greater mystery. Our God keeps finding treasures in the trash—the human trash.

Still I keep wondering why anyone would stoop so low. Why would the One, who sits enthroned on high, stoop so low to rescue me?

Response: Father God, your love is beyond comprehension. Thank you for stooping down and involving yourself in my life. When I reach out to you, Father God, you lift me up. I praise you, LORD. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the LORD lifted you from the ash heap? How did that make you feel?

The Acts of God

04 Friday Nov 2016

Posted by in Psalm 105, Psalms

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Reading:                                        Psalm 105                                                                 

 (Verses 23-38)

Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
The LORD made his people very fruitful;
he made them too numerous for their foes,
whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants.

He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They performed his signs among them,
his wonders in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness and made the land dark—
for had they not rebelled against his words?
He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die.
Their land teemed with frogs,
which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.
He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
He turned their rain into hail, with lightning throughout their land;
he struck down their vines and fig trees
and shattered the trees of their country.
He spoke, and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number;
 they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil.
Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their manhood.
He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold,
and from among their tribes no one faltered.
Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them (NIV).

Reflection

In its entirety Psalm 105 celebrates the redemption and release of the people of Israel from cruel bondage and oppression in Egypt. They are the LORD’s called out people. That call began with Abraham and was passed down and renewed through the generations as the patriarchs had their own personal encounter with the LORD. With each succeeding generation their covenant with the LORD was reaffirmed.

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Sunset on the Ottawa River — photo by David Kitz

Today’s reading recounts the actions the LORD undertook to free His people. This psalm portion is filled with powerful verbs—action words. Take a moment to scan through them. The LORD made, sent, turned, spoke, struck and brought. He did not sit back and watch from afar. He got directly involved in rescuing His people.

Redemption takes a concerted effort. It took a determined effort to redeem and rescue Israel from Egypt. And it took a determined effort for Father God to redeem you and me from the allure of the world and the power of the devil. Redemption came at a price. It cost the life of every firstborn in Egypt. But for you and me, who live under the New Covenant, it cost the life of Jesus, God’s only Son.

Response: Father God, thank you for the effort expended to rescue me from the grip of sin. I appreciate you, Lord Jesus. You were willing to lay down your life for me. What awesome, undeserved love! Amen.

Your Turn: Do you appreciate the New Covenant that was sealed by the blood of Christ?

Satisfaction!

15 Thursday Sep 2016

Posted by in Psalm 91, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 91

Verses 9-16

If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation” (NIV).

Reflection

Let’s be honest. We all want it. We all want satisfaction. For our sex-obsessed society that can only mean one thing, but in reality personal satisfaction encompasses so many facets of life. I want a satisfying meal when I sit down to dinner this evening. I want satisfactory service at the restaurant, at the auto repair shop and on the plane that I’m catching tomorrow. Above all else I want a satisfying life.

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Ah, a lazy late summer afternoon — Sweet Satisfaction — photo by David Kitz

This may come as a surprise to many people, but the simple truth is God wants to give you a satisfying life. Here is the long list of promises that the LORD promises to undertake on your behalf. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation”

In summary, we will be protected and rescued. Our prayers will be answered. We will know God’s presence in times of trouble. And just imagine this; the LORD will honor us. Consider for a moment the implications of that. Furthermore, we are promised eternal salvation, and in the here and now, we will have a long and satisfying life.

That sounds like an amazing offer and it truly is. But there are two conditions attached. We need say, “The LORD is my refuge.” In other word we need to confess our dependence on God, and then we must make the Most High our dwelling. We need to live in God, not our own little world, but rather His world with our minds and hearts set on Him. Are you ready for that kind of satisfaction?

Response: LORD, you are such a good God. I don’t deserve your goodness and love and yet you continually pour out your blessings. I love you, LORD. I want to dwell in you. Amen.

Your Turn: What do you think it means to dwell in God?

Who cares for the poor?

04 Thursday Aug 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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You, LORD God, bless everyone who cares for the poor, and you rescue those people in times of trouble (Psalm 41:1, CEV).

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Fountain, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is rescuing.

Here’s an old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” It’s a handy proverb that applies in many situations. For example, if we are generous, people will in turn be generous with us. Or if we are cruel, at some point we can expect that others will treat us cruelly. In other words, we reap what we sow.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of this principle.

You, LORD God, bless everyone who cares for the poor, and you rescue those people in times of trouble (Psalm 41:1, CEV).

God will look after us if we will look after others. He will intervene in our lives and provide the help we need. The day is coming when our generosity will be rewarded. Hardhearted stinginess will be rewarded too, but it’s not the kind of reward that any of us want to get.

St. Paul amplifies these thoughts in his letter to the Galatians. You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up. We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord (Galatians 6:7-10).

Response: LORD God, open my eyes to the needs of others today. Show me how I can help in practical ways. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you experienced your generosity coming back to bless you?

Discouraged?

03 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope (Psalm 34:18, CEV).

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Petrie Island, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is rescuing.

Here is a personal confession, or maybe it’s just a pet peeve. I get annoyed with people who casually say, “If you need help, I’m there for you.” But when your hour of need arrives these same people are busy or unavailable.

The phrase, “I’m there for you,” makes me nervous. I won’t say it to others because I can’t predict my situation or response when the call for help comes. I may offer help, but I hate to promise something and then renege because I can’t deliver at that time or in the desired way.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that there is someone we can always count on in trying times:

The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope (Psalm 34:18, CEV).

Unlike human help that is fickle or unpredictable, we can count on the LORD. He is always there. Always. He is always there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope. If you are in that situation today, call out to Him. He is there for you!

Response: LORD God, you have helped me in the past during times of frustration and discouragement. You rescued me from drowning in my sorrows. I trust you now. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God “been there for you?” How has He helped you?

Trapped?

02 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth

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I always look to you, because you rescue me from every trap (Psalm 25:15, CEV).

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Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is rescuing.

I got some disappointing news this week. A Christian brother that I meet with regularly confessed to being involved in an adulterous relationship. Actually, that’s the good news. Confession brings sin into the light where it can be dealt with appropriately. Now comes the heavy lifting—seeking forgiveness from his wife and restoration in his marriage. Sin always has unwanted, hurtful consequences.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that God is there to rescue us from the traps we walk into with our eyes wide open:

I always look to you, because you rescue me from every trap (Psalm 25:15, CEV).

But I have to wonder, why are so many Christian brothers trapped in ongoing adulterous relationships? Why are so many outwardly godly men addicted to pornography? Yes, there are traps all around us, but why are some individuals able to avoid the traps while others routinely blunder into them?

Maybe the greatest rescue the Lord initiates is the preventive rescue. He rescues a man or woman from ever engaging in an affair. He rescues us from giving in to the lure of pornography. He keeps us faithful to our marriage vows. Now that’s the best rescue of all!

Maybe it all depends on where we are looking. Are we looking to the Lord or looking at the lures?

Response: LORD God, I want to fix my eyes and my heart on you. Help me to stay faithful to my marriage vows. Guide me around the traps in my path. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you fixed your eyes and heart on the Lord? Is a course correction needed?

When His People Pray

01 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles (Psalm 34:17, CEV).

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Petrie Island, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is rescuing.

Have you ever needed rescuing? I recall hanging suspended upside down with my car on its roof in a snow-covered ditch. When you are in that position you see things from a different perspective. It’s not difficult in such times to find yourself crying out to God. On such occasions, today’s verse from the Psalms has special meaning:

When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles  (Psalm 34:17, CEV).

Yes, God did send someone to rescue me and my wife. In fact, we drove our flipped over car back into town that evening with no visible damage. The LORD does a good job of rescuing us from our troubles. On the other hand, do we do a good job of praying?

When I listen to a newscast, I can’t help but conclude that our world is in a huge amount of trouble. We need a God—a Savior—who will step in and rescue use from the mess we have created. And while we are at it, let’s stop this nonsense of blaming God for the disasters, hate and discord that we have created. We simply need God to rescue us from our troubles—the troubles we have set in motion.

Response: LORD God, this world is a mess. There are desperate people all over this world that need you to step in and rescue them. Please do that today in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Your Turn: Take a specific trouble and bring it before God today. Watch for answers in the days ahead.

Powerful Hands

04 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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Rescue the weak and homeless from the powerful hands of heartless people (Psalm 82:4, CEV).

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Image courtesy of alex_ugalek at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is power.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that some humans have powerful hands.

Rescue the weak and homeless from the powerful hands of heartless people (Psalm 82:4, CEV).

We are not powerless though the world and the devil would like us to believe that we can’t change anything. The truth is when we work with the Lord, we have tremendous power.

When more than 5,000 hungry people gathered to hear Jesus, he told his disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16). And that’s exactly what they did. Jesus did the miracle, but their hands distributed the bread and fish.

God does not work alone. He chooses to work through people. Today you can be the hands of Jesus at work in the world.

Response: LORD God, thank you for the opportunity to work with you today. I want to use my hands to work powerfully for you. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God worked through your hands recently?

Turn and Come

18 Monday Jan 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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Turn and come to my rescue. Show your wonderful love and save me, LORD (Psalm 6:4, CEV).

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Lake Ontario surf – photo by Eric E. Wright

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is salvation.

In today’s verse from the Psalms, the psalmist pleads with God to, “Turn and come to my rescue.”

Though I don’t doubt the psalmist’s sincerity, I wonder who really needs to do the turning. Does God turn His back on us, or is it we who turn our back on God?

From personal experience I can say I am prone to walk away from God until…

Until I get in trouble, and then I come running back to Him pleading to be rescued.

Fortunately, God continues to show us His wonderful love despite our blunders. He is the LORD, who saves us from ourselves.

Response: LORD God, thank you for being the God of my salvation. You have rescued me over and over again. You are a kind and loving Savior. Amen.

Your Turn: Is your heart turned to God or are you prone to wander?