Is your help in the name of the Lord?

Psalm 124:1–8 (ESV):  

1  If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— 

let Israel now say— 

 2  if it had not been the Lord who was on our side 

when people rose up against us, 

 3  then they would have swallowed us up alive, 

when their anger was kindled against us; 

 4  then the flood would have swept us away, 

the torrent would have gone over us; 

 5  then over us would have gone 

the raging waters. 

 6  Blessed be the Lord, 

who has not given us 

as prey to their teeth! 

 7  We have escaped like a bird 

from the snare of the fowlers; 

  the snare is broken, 

and we have escaped! 

 8  Our help is in the name of the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth. 

You wouldn’t be where you are right now if it were not for God’s intervention. You wouldn’t have; survived, been as successful, as peaceful, as whole, or as strong as you are right now, if it were not for God’s hand upon your life. 

You may not feel strong, whole, mighty, free or at peace, but can you imagine what your life would be like if God wasn’t looking after you? Imagine what a mess you’d be in. You could be defeated, destroyed, in greater pain and distress, encompassed by sin, bound and swallowed up by anger. What kind of life would that be? Yet, ‘the snare has been broken’ and you have not been ‘swallowed up alive’! Not because of luck, your own quick thinking or actions, but because The Lord has been on your side. He has saved you from the ‘raging waters’, the full force of people’s anger, and you have escaped being prey ‘like a bird’ because your ‘help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’

Therefore, thank God! Thank Him that He is on your side, and that He helps you, and all of His followers. He has not allowed you to be overcome or defeated, He has facilitated your escape from trouble on this Earth, as well as rescuing you from the wages of sin for eternity - ‘the snare is broken and we have escaped’! What an incredible promise! It is God who has done this, all of it! It is not your own ideas or capability, strength or knowledge that has helped you out of trouble, but God has saved you. God has healed you, protected you, recused you, intervened for you and saved you from the wages of sin! He has helped you in more ways than you can count. 

So, simply and honestly, all you need to do is thank Him. Show your gratitude, sing praise, give to him, tell stories, shout and cry in triumph if you want to! Store up the stories. remember and tell others of the times you have ‘escaped like a bird’.  Acknowledge that God is the greatest help you have. You wouldn’t be the person you are today, having accomplished and survived what you have ‘if it had not been the Lord who was on our side’. Hallelujah!

Help!

 Psalm 121:1–8 (ESV):  

1  I lift up my eyes to the hills. 

From where does my help come? 

 2  My help comes from the Lord, 

who made heaven and earth. 

 3  He will not let your foot be moved; 

he who keeps you will not slumber. 

 4  Behold, he who keeps Israel 

will neither slumber nor sleep. 

 5  The Lord is your keeper; 

the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 

 6  The sun shall not strike you by day, 

nor the moon by night. 

 7  The Lord will keep you from all evil; 

he will keep your life. 

 8  The Lord will keep 

your going out and your coming in 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

Who helps you and who do you help?

It is great to feel useful, to desire to help people, and to be helped. At times, we need it, some people require more help than others, but all of us at some point realise that we cannot do this life alone, and we need some support. The thing is, have you ever encountered a situation where the support offered, or the support you have offered is not actually helpful? I know i have. Where someone has the desire to help, but often it takes longer or makes the problem worse, not because they are trying to scupper things, but because although the person is willing, they are not able to provide the right kind of help needed in that situation. We can all be that person if we are not careful. 

There are situations when people require help, but you are not the right person to provide it. This means that you need to put pride aside, and allow other sources of help to step in. There are also people who always seem to need help with something, but really they need to learn to become capable themselves rather than getting others to do things for them all of the time. In addition, there are times when we step in to help, and we shouldn’t because our help is not what is needed, and God has a bigger plan than fixing this issue by human means. So, when there is a situation where help is needed, do you give God a chance to be the One who helps? 

Is God your first port of call when there is something awry? Whether it’s a health or financial issue, a mechanical problem or a work issue, a relational discord or community welfare? Like the psalmist, do you look to God for help in all of these things? Or do you just look to Him when things get REALLY bad? Don't get me wrong, there are some simple things that we should just get on with, like a screw needing tightening, a ripped garment mending, or an injury tending to. But, what about the bigger things? The more complex problems, where there is no clear or easy path? Do you lift your eyes up before you act, or jump in to help someone then?

The promise in this psalm is that God helps. Plus He is; creator, guide, sustainer, provider, protector, leader, truth bringer, watchman, eternal, and He is ready. This is great news! Surely, you want someone like this helping you?! One who is capable, considerate, kind, honest, wise and powerful, Our God, is ready and waiting to help you and others in your life who need help. You don’t have to wait for disaster to strike or things to get desperate before asking God to intervene, He is ready and available now to listen and to help. He can help with the big and the small things, the practical, emotional and political things. God can help with any problem you have, no matter how time-consuming or complex, He knows all about it already, the question is, are you giving God opportunity to act? People can get busy trying to solve the problems of life themselves in their own lives and for others. Yet, people are finite and fallible, God is not. God is your keeper now and forever more (v7-8). Are you giving Him opportunity to act when help is needed? Is your first response to jump in, or do you ask yourself, 'From where does my help come?'. 

Wondrous works

 Psalm 107:1–43 (ESV): 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, 

for his steadfast love endures forever! 

 2  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, 

whom he has redeemed from trouble 

 3  and gathered in from the lands, 

from the east and from the west, 

from the north and from the south. 

 4  Some wandered in desert wastes, 

finding no way to a city to dwell in; 

 5  hungry and thirsty, 

their soul fainted within them. 

 6  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 7  He led them by a straight way 

till they reached a city to dwell in. 

 8  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 9  For he satisfies the longing soul, 

and the hungry soul he fills with good things. 

 10  Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, 

prisoners in affliction and in irons, 

 11  for they had rebelled against the words of God, 

and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 

 12  So he bowed their hearts down with hard labour; 

they fell down, with none to help. 

 13  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, 

and burst their bonds apart. 

 15  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 16  For he shatters the doors of bronze 

and cuts in two the bars of iron. 

 17  Some were fools through their sinful ways, 

and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 

 18  they loathed any kind of food, 

and they drew near to the gates of death. 

 19  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 20  He sent out his word and healed them, 

and delivered them from their destruction. 

 21  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 22  And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, 

and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! 

 23  Some went down to the sea in ships, 

doing business on the great waters; 

 24  they saw the deeds of the Lord, 

his wondrous works in the deep. 

 25  For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, 

which lifted up the waves of the sea. 

 26  They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; 

their courage melted away in their evil plight; 

 27  they reeled and staggered like drunken men 

and were at their wits’ end. 

 28  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 

and he delivered them from their distress. 

 29  He made the storm be still, 

and the waves of the sea were hushed. 

 30  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, 

and he brought them to their desired haven. 

 31  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 

for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

 32  Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, 

and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 

 33  He turns rivers into a desert, 

springs of water into thirsty ground, 

 34  a fruitful land into a salty waste, 

because of the evil of its inhabitants. 

 35  He turns a desert into pools of water, 

a parched land into springs of water. 

 36  And there he lets the hungry dwell, 

and they establish a city to live in; 

 37  they sow fields and plant vineyards 

and get a fruitful yield. 

 38  By his blessing they multiply greatly, 

and he does not let their livestock diminish. 

 39  When they are diminished and brought low 

through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 

 40  he pours contempt on princes 

and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 

 41  but he raises up the needy out of affliction 

and makes their families like flocks. 

 42  The upright see it and are glad, 

and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 

 43  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; 

let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. 

If you have been:

in trouble and rescued

brought into community 

lost and found purpose 

in distress

given direction

dissatisfied with life 

desperate and found hope

walking in darkness

in fear of death

imprisoned 

rebellious

helpless

freed

foolish

sinful

afflicted

hungry

suffering eating issues

ill

chasing business

travelling

through storms

brought low

sorrowful….

…..Then, ‘thank the Lord for his steadfast love,  for his wondrous works to the children of man!’ For God does not leave you as He finds you. He changes distress into hope. feeling lost into belonging, loneliness into community, hunger into satisfaction and rebellion into order. When you turn to God whatever situation you are in can change. Even if the condition you are in is due to your own choices, God will hear you if you turn to Him with a repentant heart for He, ‘raises up the needy out of affliction’. 

It does not matter if you have suffered through circumstance, other people or your own sin and rebellion or if you are suffering privately or publicly, God will listen. God can heal, He can calm storms, He can end oppression, He can stop evil and cease sorrow You just need to approach Him to transform your life. God can do the impossible in your life, for 'He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.' He has the power, influence and love that can put an end to difficulty and heal internal and external suffering.

There are many methods that we can seek to feel better or seek to escape our circumstances and there are all sorts of manners in which we try to find freedom, purpose and direction. However they all eventually fail. Some give but temporal relief, and some things make matters worse. Yet whenever mankind has, ‘cried to the Lord in their trouble… he delivered them from their distress’! Every time. Every time mankind has called to God and waited for His salvation, 'he delivered them from their distress'.Calling out to God, asking for His input, direction, hope and intervention causes a radical transformation in situations and in your heart. So if there is a situation or an internal distress that you need to end, stop looking for other relief, other comfort, other sources of hope and joy, and approach God. Then wait, and do what He directs then you will be joining others who are thanking Him for His steadfast love and His wondrous works! 

When you seek change, are you prepared for the change to start with you?

 Psalm 72:1–20 (ESV):  

1  Give the king your justice, O God, 

and your righteousness to the royal son! 

2  May he judge your people with righteousness, 

and your poor with justice! 

3  Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, 

and the hills, in righteousness! 

4  May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, 

give deliverance to the children of the needy, 

and crush the oppressor! 

5  May they fear you while the sun endures, 

and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 

6  May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, 

like showers that water the earth! 

7  In his days may the righteous flourish, 

and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 

8  May he have dominion from sea to sea, 

and from the River to the ends of the earth! 

9  May desert tribes bow down before him, 

and his enemies lick the dust! 

10  May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands 

render him tribute; 

may the kings of Sheba and Seba 

bring gifts! 

11  May all kings fall down before him, 

all nations serve him! 

12  For he delivers the needy when he calls, 

the poor and him who has no helper. 

13  He has pity on the weak and the needy, 

and saves the lives of the needy. 

14  From oppression and violence he redeems their life, 

and precious is their blood in his sight. 

15  Long may he live; 

may gold of Sheba be given to him! 

May prayer be made for him continually, 

and blessings invoked for him all the day! 

16  May there be abundance of grain in the land; 

on the tops of the mountains may it wave; 

may its fruit be like Lebanon; 

and may people blossom in the cities 

like the grass of the field! 

17  May his name endure forever, 

his fame continue as long as the sun! 

May people be blessed in him, 

all nations call him blessed! 

18  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, 

who alone does wondrous things. 

19  Blessed be his glorious name forever; 

may the whole earth be filled with his glory! 

Amen and Amen! 

20  The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. 

Solomon (the king’s son) here is asking for God to give him the character and gifts needed to lead the nation well. He knows he will inherit the throne of his father, David, so he is preparing himself to lead. Therefore as he takes on this mammoth task, he asks for God’s help and blessing in the role. He is clearly not confident or sure of what he will need to do, but he is sure that God can help him and the nation. He prays for the kind of rule he wants, and the kind of kingdom that anyone would like to lead - righteous, just, prosperous, protected, free and God-honouring. Solomon knows that he cannot achieve this alone, and he knows the battles his father has fought to protect this people, so he is under no illusion that being monarch is going to be easy! Therefore he asks God for help, and for his character to be moulded into the king that the nation needs. Solomon is prepared to do the hard work of changing himself in otder to be the vessel God and the Israelites need (notice all the times he says 'may he'). When you pray for change, are you prepared for the change to start with you?

Solomon understands that in order to lead the nation into peace and justice that he will have to handle judgements and he desires to do that right. He needs the spirit of God to help him discern, so he asks. He goes to God and asks Him to help, do you? Whatever is needed to do the tasks you are given in life, do you ask God to help you do them well? Solomon did. He knew change was required for the benefit of the people he was serving, and he asks God for it even if that means he has to change, learn and stretch himself. Solomon recognises that he needs to take responsibility, but it is scary and too big a job for him. His vision and ideal reign will be peaceful and prosperous, so he asks God to deliver it and transform him into the kind of person that can lead a nation like that. He firstly asks to become just and righteous (v1-2), then he goes onto ask for courage to defend those with the least and defeat ‘the oppressor’ (v4), next he asks that he refreshes the people of Israel (v6-7). He does not want to be a burden, but a blessing, He wants to enable the country to flourish, and so realises that there are expectations and responsibilities that he needs to take on that he doesn’t feel ready for. Therefore he needs the power of God to come! To change him, to provide and go before him. 

Solomon must have learnt from his Dad how to pray! He must have seen him crying out in distress, praising and petitioning God for help. He may have read some of the songs and prayers David wrote. He had seen the success of a life lived depending on God, and reigning from an attitude of God first, and so he copied this successful way. Solomon had seen that the fear of God from the king will cause the nation to prosper (v5). As he wants to rule well and for a long time (v6-7), for a wide expanse of land (v8-11) in a peaceful time, and for the nation to be renowned for peace, justice and prosperity, Solomon knows he has to look to God for it. He trusts God for the things yet unknown and unrealised because he has experienced the success of his father's relationship with God and seen how that has brought salvation and restoration to Israel. So as the time approaches for him to be the leader, he desires to continue to develop and grow the nation into goodness. He was aware that David and his mother,  Bathsheba, were preparing him to be king, so he wanted to prepare himself. Therefore he sought God so that he could become the man God needed to rule Israel. He was prepared for the change to start with him.

We know that these things Solomon prayed for came about. Israel knew peace and prosperity during his reign, and he was known as a wise and just king, other kings voluntarily paid homage to Solomon voluntarily (v10). God gave Solomon what he had asked for. After all, Solomon had prayed for what God desired already, and so it came about plus Solomon was willing to change himself first in order to complete his job well. He asked God for His assistance in the everyday things that he needed to do, knowing that there was personal development required, and he trusted God with the vision he had for the future. We can read this psalm and conclude that Solomon was asking for the perfect nation, and why not?! Why limit your expectations of what God can do? Solomon didn’t, and look at the nation of Israel when he ruled - he was known to be wise and just, and Israel was a peaceful and prosperous nation with other kings and queens voluntarily bringing him gifts and learning from him. Solomon prayed for big things, and God delivered. Solomon allowed himself to be changed first so that the nation could be transformed, and it happened. When you desire change, are you prepared for it to start with you?  Will you ask God to help and prepare you for today and the future, asking Him to help you be the change He needs?

Do not let situations dictate your faith, but let your faith dictate how you handle any situation!

 Psalm 43:1–5 (ESV): 

1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause 

against an ungodly people, 

from the deceitful and unjust man 

deliver me! 

2  For you are the God in whom I take refuge; 

why have you rejected me? 

Why do I go about mourning 

because of the oppression of the enemy? 

3  Send out your light and your truth; 

let them lead me; 

let them bring me to your holy hill 

and to your dwelling! 

4  Then I will go to the altar of God, 

to God my exceeding joy, 

and I will praise you with the lyre, 

O God, my God. 

5  Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me? 

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, 

my salvation and my God. 

This psalm is rather similar to the previous one and ends with exactly the same verse therefore it is reasonable to assume that they have the same author, most probably David. As both of these psalms also reference sorrow, harassment and a desire to be in God’s presence it makes sense for them both to be attributed to the same circumstances and author.

As mentioned, this psalmist is suffering. Due to this they have considered their predicament, evaluating his own heart and actions in the process and wondered if he has erred or sinned.  After examining himself, he clearly finds nothing deserving of discipline or punishment and so his first words of this psalm are 'vindicate me'. Only someone who is innocent can be vindicated as this word means to prove righteousness, and so the author must have reason to be assured of their integrity and innocence. Yet what this person is experiencing right now seems punishment. Have you ever encountered a time when you have felt unfairly treated? Or when you are punished for something you haven't done? It is easy in those times to fight back and become adamant and indignant in your self-righteousness, and who can blame you? It is unjust and unfair. However this writer, although he knows he does not deserve this discomfort and pain, he calls upon God to support and clear his name. He does not blame God or take matters into his own hands, but trusts and relies on God to, 'defend my cause'. This in itself must have been painful! To not retaliate, to not fight his own corner, the internal conflict is real. Instead this psalmist has considered and concluded that this battle is not his, but God's. As a man of God who has done his best to live right, he calls upon God to vindicate and rescue him. The author knows that God can work out things better than he can. They know God can give; vindication, refuge, rescue, restoration, joy, truth, guidance, hope and salvation. What could they do that would offer a better result?! When you are caught in a battle, or in a situation in which you are an innocent suffering party, assess your own actions first, then know and trust can and will vindicate and defend you too. If you need; refuge, rescue, salvation, joy, truth, guidance and hope, you can call upon and trust in Him to redeem the situation in a way that cannot be achieved any other way, and it is worth waiting for. 

It is horrible to have to go through and endure these things, this psalmist understands, and seems to be reminding himself that he is alright with God and can rely on him even when he is surrounded by difficulty, feels stuck and ‘cast down’. Have you ever felt like that? If so, then you, like this writer, probably need to remind yourself of the truth of who God is and what He can do.

Difficult times can cloud over your heart and mind and cause you to start to believe in the lies and disaster around you rather than continuing to hope in God. Once you start to remember the truth of who you are and who God is as well as what you can expect from Him - you have already won! Changing your mindset is half the battle. This psalmist has begun to walk in victory already by trusting in the character and nature of God. You have the opportunity to do the same when you meet trials. When circumstances can no longer dictate your mental or emotional state. and you learn to depend on and honour God no matter what, you are victorious! You are just waiting for the final triumph and vindication to come, for restoration to arrive and light and truth to reveal the reality. You are already victorious and vindicated so you can live with that mindset even as suffer. During the tough times continue to praise and honour God. Be inspired to hope when everything feels oppressive, disastrous and difficult. Remember who you are to God, and who He is and what He has done already. 

You have God on your side even if everyone else around you abandons you or turns against you. You can, along with David encourage yourself to, ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God’. Do not let situations dictate your faith, but let your faith dictate how you handle any situation!

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle

 

Psalm 39:1–13 (ESV):  

1  I said, “I will guard my ways, 

that I may not sin with my tongue; 

I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, 

so long as the wicked are in my presence.” 

2  I was mute and silent; 

I held my peace to no avail, 

and my distress grew worse. 

3  My heart became hot within me. 

As I mused, the fire burned; 

then I spoke with my tongue: 

4  “O Lord, make me know my end 

and what is the measure of my days; 

let me know how fleeting I am! 

5  Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, 

and my lifetime is as nothing before you. 

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah 

6  Surely a man goes about as a shadow! 

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; 

man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! 

7  “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? 

My hope is in you. 

8  Deliver me from all my transgressions. 

Do not make me the scorn of the fool! 

9  I am mute; I do not open my mouth, 

for it is you who have done it. 

10  Remove your stroke from me; 

I am spent by the hostility of your hand. 

11  When you discipline a man 

with rebukes for sin, 

you consume like a moth what is dear to him; 

surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah 

12  “Hear my prayer, O Lord, 

and give ear to my cry; 

hold not your peace at my tears! 

For I am a sojourner with you, 

a guest, like all my fathers. 

13  Look away from me, that I may smile again, 

before I depart and am no more!” 

Clearly, David is experiencing another time of distress, and it is a time when he is adamant not to discuss his frustration with other people. So he is enforcing himself to be, 'mute and silent’. This is a powerful and tremendously difficult thing to do. The natural, and most common thing for people to do when they are unhappy and annoyed is to share their situation; moan, whinge, rant or cry. So David does something very unusual by vowing to be silent whilst the 'wicked' were within earshot. David was suffering as he was pondering life. He seems to have sinned as he speaks about God's rebukes and discipline, and this has got him considering the brevity of life. He does not want his words and concerns to be misconstrued by others and so he resolves to be quiet about the internal disturbance he is dealing with. He decides to, ‘guard my ways’, ‘not sin with my tongue’ and ‘guard my mouth with a muzzle’. David really restricted himself didn't he?! These phrases sound harsh and painful! You can sense the frustration David feels and also the level of internal discomfort he is feeling. David disciplined himself and was strict with himself with what he said and to whom he said it. This is a sign of wisdom. 

Being able to discern how, when, if and with whom a matter needs to be discussed takes a lot of consideration. David recognised that his words could cause a negative impact if he used them wrongly, and as he was feeling confused and frustrated with life, he knew expressing that to other people would effect the faith they had in God. So, David forced his mouth shut. He knew the power of his words. He saw that speaking without consideration and talking to the wrong audience can cause sin and damage. As a man of God and as a king, he wisely considered how to manage his thoughts, fears and feelings as expressing these to the wrong kind of people could cause untold damage to the kingdom of Israel as well as the kingdom of God. The same is true of you. Your words, or lack of them can impact the community you are apart of and the kingdom you represent. What does the way you deal with disappointment, discipline or frustration communicate about you and the God you believe in?

David fought to be electively silent. 

He found this incredibly difficult and frustrating. Do you also know the strain and pain of restraint? David muzzled himself because he was more concerned about being innocent before the ‘wicked’ and not dishonouring God than relieving his mind and emotions. So he patiently waited for the appropriate place,  time and audience. David waited until he could pour out all his thoughts, fears, emotions and pain before God. He knew the only one that could help, that could comfort, that could bring reassurance and relief was God, and so he waited until he could safely and honestly share his suffering with Him. David held this uncomfortable and painful silence so that he did not dishonour himself or God. He was aware that there were people around him, watching and listening that were ‘wicked’ and he did not want to share his anger or suffering in front of them or for them to overhear his musings and agitations. They could misuse the information to defame David or God and so David 'burned' as he guarded his mouth. His ‘distress grew worse' yet he remained adamant in his vow of silence over the matters of his mind. He was unable to explain or alleviate his mind until he had a chance to speak with God. Is this what you do when you have a burdening heart and a distressed mind? Are you able to be, 'mute and silent' awaiting for a chance to speak to God even when anger and confusion seem to burn inside of you? It takes a great deal of self-discipline to do so. It is hard, and it is painful, yet it can be to your ultimate benefit and to the benefit of God's kingdom.

We can learn from this psalm several things:

• You can sin with your words. So learning to guard your mouth as David did is essential for your righteousness. It is important that you consider your words and not just speak on a whim or out of anger. At times it is better to ‘burn’ inside with anger and frustration than speak out and cause damage to; others, yourself and to offend God. 
• Sharing your emotions is important, but it needs to be done in the right manner and with the right audience. God can hear and bear all of your fear, frustrations, joy, happiness and anger. He is the One who can come and comfort and can change circumstances and ease your mind. Therefore you need to consider who you share your burdens with. 
• Keeping your deepest thoughts and feelings between you and God is ok. In fact it is the best idea!  He will always take time to listen and he understands your heart. Therefore you can share your internal turbulence with Him no matter what it is. If you share your concerns and frustrations with others, some will use what you say to think badly of God and your faith. Some will give you terrible advice and some will not understand but may gossip about your turmoil rather than assisting you in it. Therefore when you are in turmoil consider if you too should take a vow of silence on the matter as David did. Before speaking to others, talk to God and ask Him if there are people of faith that you can trust and share your concerns with.
• Silence can be more powerful than words. It takes a lot of discipline and self-control to not talk of your worries and frustrations. David's silence must have been noted especially as he was in a state of distress, but he knew it was the right course of action for the situation he was in. He knew others could misconstrue his words or dishonour God if he talked to them, so he kept a powerful, God-honouring silence. He did not defend himself or God, but struggled on. When people go through trying seasons without grumbling, it demonstrates an incredible strength.

David knew no-one could assist him with some of his internal struggles, only God. The same is true for you. As, who else holds the answers to life? Who else can explain the purpose of our own lives? 

Is God's reputation on the line?

 Psalm 31:1–24 (ESV): 

1  In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; 

let me never be put to shame; 

in your righteousness deliver me! 

2  Incline your ear to me; 

rescue me speedily! 

Be a rock of refuge for me, 

a strong fortress to save me! 

3  For you are my rock and my fortress; 

and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 

4  you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, 

for you are my refuge. 

5  Into your hand I commit my spirit; 

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 

6  I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, 

but I trust in the Lord. 

7  I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, 

because you have seen my affliction; 

you have known the distress of my soul, 

8  and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; 

you have set my feet in a broad place. 

9  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; 

my eye is wasted from grief; 

my soul and my body also. 

10  For my life is spent with sorrow, 

and my years with sighing; 

my strength fails because of my iniquity, 

and my bones waste away. 

11  Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, 

especially to my neighbours, 

and an object of dread to my acquaintances; 

those who see me in the street flee from me. 

12  I have been forgotten like one who is dead; 

I have become like a broken vessel. 

13  For I hear the whispering of many— 

terror on every side!— 

as they scheme together against me, 

as they plot to take my life. 

14  But I trust in you, O Lord; 

I say, “You are my God.” 

15  My times are in your hand; 

rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 

16  Make your face shine on your servant; 

save me in your steadfast love! 

17  O Lord, let me not be put to shame, 

for I call upon you; 

let the wicked be put to shame; 

let them go silently to Sheol. 

18  Let the lying lips be mute, 

which speak insolently against the righteous 

in pride and contempt. 

19  Oh, how abundant is your goodness, 

which you have stored up for those who fear you 

and worked for those who take refuge in you, 

in the sight of the children of mankind! 

20  In the cover of your presence you hide them 

from the plots of men; 

you store them in your shelter 

from the strife of tongues. 

21  Blessed be the Lord, 

for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me 

when I was in a besieged city. 

22  I had said in my alarm, 

“I am cut off from your sight.” 

But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy 

when I cried to you for help. 

23  Love the Lord, all you his saints! 

The Lord preserves the faithful 

but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 

24  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, 

all you who wait for the Lord! 

This psalm seems to be a prayer of a disordered, troubled mind. One who is in imminent danger and is trying to figure out what to do and desperate for help. Urgently seeking God in the midst of the ‘terror on every side’. It appears that outside circumstances and internal thoughts are producing a time of great disturbance for the writer. For example at the start of the psalm it says, ‘Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me’. Asking God for refuge and protection, yet also knowing that God provides it shows the distress and disordered nature of his mind. David needs to know security and protection and so is asking God for it, yet he also knows that God IS those things already. What a natural, heart-felt response to a time of desperation and attack. David knows who God is and asking for Him to be who he knows He is, because at the present moment he is threatened and hounded and struggling to see God’s protection, guidance, security, and strength. This whole psalm demonstrates clearly the disordered, rushed prayer of desperation. Don't you find it comforting to have this written to know that it is ok when we pray the same way?! When you find circumstances overwhelming and distressing, it’s ok to speak out even if it seems jumbled. God can make sense of it and hears your heart. 

David flits from; calling for rescue to knowing God rescues, trusting in God, talking about how terrified he is, requesting God’s grace and acknowledging His goodness. This shows the devoted love of God that David has. Even when he is surrounded by enemies, is terrified and weak, he still acknowledges the presence of God and seeks Him for his rescue. David does not accuse God of having caused the situation or say that God has run off and left him. He still knows God is his refuge and rock. it is just David is aware that he is struggling to see that right now because of the turmoil and danger he is in. 

Yet, even in his terror and desperation David acknowledges that, ‘for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me’. David still trusts and looks to God for the way to go, the way to respond and live. He knows that God does and will guide him because David trusts in Him and God will help because God’s reputation is on the line if He doesn’t! As a known, committed follower of God, David recognises that God will be glorified through this situation. Are you aware of that in the midst of chaos and distress? That whatever is happening now is not the end of the story, but restoration and the glorification of God is waiting to be revealed?! What an expectation and assurance David has of God’s intervention, and of his standing with God. David has shown his commitment to following God in many different circumstances. He does so when things are going well and when things aren’t because even when situations change God doesn’t. God is still good, loving, strong, secure and helpful no matter what you are facing. Accepting this truth and trusting in Him as David does is the reality of living life as a follower of God. Being a committed christian means accepting the nature of God through every circumstance of life, leaning into Him, trusting and obeying Him even when it looks like life as you have known it is over. Then you too can build the same level of trust and dependence on God that David has. You can still be assured that even in the most terrible of situations that God will do you good for His name’s sake. 

So, consider the faith you have. Are you committed and assured of God's relevance and presence in all circumstances?  Are you living knowing that God’s reputation could be on the line if He does not rescue you from a time of trouble and distress? Will God restore you for his 'names sake'? Clearly God did rescue David. Later in the psalm he says, ‘The Lord preserves the faithful’. David’s dedication to following God paid off - he survived, was rescued and strengthened because he remained faithful. Do you remain faithful to God when the going gets tough? 

God rewards the committed, faithful follower, 'how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you' God will reward those who are loyalty and dedicated to Him. Not only will he rescue and protect you from trouble, but He will also share his goodness with you which he has even 'stored up'! How kind of God is that?! The question is, are you living in such a way to receive God's goodness and to expect His glorification in and through your life?

Are you religious?

Throughout his letter, James is calling you and I to account for the faith we profess. He carries on inviting us to look at ourselves honestly to assess where we are with following God. It is great when brothers and sisters challenge us in our faith, if we allow them to without taking offence. Then we can grow and develop into good, obedient disciples. How are you at taking instruction from others?

The next couple of verses are aimed at the 'religious' people. We sometimes have negative, pre-conceived ideas about the type of people this entails, but really, if you are someone that says or thinks that they are a christian, one that follows God, then this means you. Do not automatically discount yourself from this category of being a religious person as James is speaking to those of faith, not those outside of it. So even if you think you have it all together, are you ready to see if you really have, and if you are being obedient to God's call on your life?

*26*If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. *27*Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 

James 1:26–27

• ‘Bridle the tongue’
• ‘Visit orphans and widows in their affliction’
• ‘Keep oneself unstained from the world’

Are you doing these things? 

‘Bridle the tongue’ - Are you carefully considering your communication? If not, James is quite clear that you are deceiving yourself and that the faith you have is worthless! That's pretty harsh! Yet, do you not think this makes sense? If a person says they are a follower of God, but they are not mindful of how they communicate, in fact they speak like most other people, isn't there something wrong with that? If you trust and believe in Jesus, then that faith should effect every area of your life, including how you talk. No unwholesome speech should come from you. In fact, you should try your best to think before you speak, so that your communication is clear, kind and useful for building up others. Do you make an effort with how you communicate? Is your tongue bridled? If so then you are displaying the faith you have by doing so. Your faith is useful and you are living with integrity.

'Visit orphans and widows in their affliction’ - Do you care for others? Are you serving others who have nothing, or very little? Do you even know of others who society shuns or overlooks? Are you bothered by poverty? Here James calls for your faith to be faith in action. 'undefiled' faith is giving to those and loving those from whom you will get little or nothing back from. Who are those people in your community that you can step in to help and how can you interact with and help them? Can you sit and chat for a while with someone who is lonely and left out? Can you provide a meal for someone who cannot afford to eat and pay the rent? Could you look after someone's children so they can do something else? Pure faith requires you to put what you believe into action, and that will look inconvenient and maybe even messy. Are you doing it? Are you displaying 'pure and undefiled' faith?

‘Keep oneself unstained from the world’ - Are you living a life undistinguishable from those around you? Do you stand out in the crowd or blend in? Do people notice when you are around non-believers that there is something significantly about you? If not, why not? If you are a believer in God, and you trust in Jesus for your salvation, then you have been given a life unlike anyone else. Do people know and see how your character, decisions and lifestyle are different to theirs? Or are you getting mixed up and messy with the things that the world offers? How are your relationships? Do you manage the desires of your heart? Do you live a life honouring Jesus or a life fitting in with those around you? You cannot do both. If you try to please the world, you are displeasing Jesus and you are becoming 'stained'. Jesus saved you from that not for that. He died to the world so that you could be free from the influences of it, is that how you are living?

As a 'religious' person, how are you doing? Is your character developing along these lines? If you are a believer in God and a follower of Jesus, your faith should be living and active and noticeable, in a good way. The expectation is that you are growing and developing in your walk with God. Is the life and death of Jesus really changing you? 

Are you becoming more concerned with your communication, with those who are on the fringes of society and your own struggle with sin? 

James is showing you here that faith is not just inside of you, a notion or an understanding in your head or heart. It is to be lived out and demonstrated to the world around you through how you interact with others and how you keep yourself away from certain things. In reality, if you are a believer, other people should be able to see it from these things. Your behaviour, character and communication speak more about what you are really living for than the words you say. What are you showing others about what you believe through how you act? What can you do today to grow and become more of a person after God's heart? Do you need to consider your communication, take care of others or keep yourself away from worldly influences? James is helping you learn how to be an obedient disciple, demonstrating the love and power of Jesus, are you going to take up the challenge?

God promises to turn your life around - will you let Him?

‘The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. 21 Saviours shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.’

Obadiah 20–21.

In these verses God shows the culmination of the prophecy over Edom and Israel. One day, the Israelites, the exiles of Jerusalem, that were once outcasts and looked down upon, will become landowners. They will have provision, not just for themselves, but will also become ‘saviours’ for others. Mount Esau will also be transformed - From a place of pride and self-sufficiency to a kingdom where God reigns. 

God can turn lives around. 

God doesn’t design things to be destroyed. He didn’t want the Edomites to suffer and be wiped out, but the way they were going was already destroying themselves and those around them. These people of Edom had become sinful and a terror for people following God. They led others to persecute and kill the Israelites and they were proud of it. In this book God is showing how that is going to change. No more will His people be those that are abandoned, alone and without, but they will have their own place, their own land and they will prosper. Those that were once kicked out, dragged off, persecuted, bedraggled and mistreated will become owners, leaders and helpers. They will transform the mountain where their enemy lived into one where God's kingdom is. Where truth, justice and love prevail so much so that ‘saviours’ will be there. There will be those available to help, heal and lead the people of God into real freedom. Not the perceived freedom the Edomites had been living where everyone did what they wanted in order to get what they wanted. 

This is a radical turn-around of events. The place of worldy prosperity and self-sufficiency (Mount Esau) is promised to become a place led by God! It seems unbelievable and unreal, but God can turn any life, any situation and any place around. No matter the current circumstances, your history, or what you’ve got yourself into - there is hope, and there is rescue available. God can turn your life around if you let Him. 

If you are feeling like you are stuck, that there are things that are coming against you, or that you've got involved in things that you wish you hadn't, then you can ask God to intervene. You can call out to Him and ask for rescue. Ask Him to remove you from the place of Edom, to send you 'saviours' - people who can help you out of this mess. There are people willing and able to help because they too have been saved by the love of God through the greatest saviour, his son, Jesus. 

If you ask God to change your life, He will. It will mean some changes required from you too - after all, you have changed the rulership. When you ask God for help, you give Him permission to be the commander of your life, not you. This is because when you are in control, look where it ends up - becoming fed up of the drive for independence and self-gratifying behaviour, never being satisfied, stuck in a never-ending loop seeking self-fulfilment which brings chaos, destruction and defeat. When you invite God in to help you, God will invite you to make a change and invite you to the place where He reigns. This will turn your life around.

We see how God had a plan for the Edomites and the Israelites in this book of Obadiah. He also has a plan for your life. A plan where you will have possession over some things, where you will be provided for, and have purpose as well as the ability to lead others to salvation. Your life can be transformed when you trust God. You can escape the torment and suffering of years gone by, and have a prosperous future prepared for you. You can be transformed from feeling forgotten and downtrodden to being recognised, safe and given purpose. 

God promises to turn your life around - will you let Him?

Have mercy whilst saving others

Following on from the instructions of how to live; to build your faith, pray in the Spirit and keep in God’s love, Jude now tells us what we should do about these erroneous teachers and those swayed by them;

 *22*have mercy on those who doubt; *23*save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 

Jude 22–23.

Do you notice that Jude, surprisingly, does not tell us to kick those living an unclean life out of the community of believers? Neither does he advise us to ignore them, or tell them off. Instead Jude tells us to, ‘have mercy’. It is so easy to judge or berate people when they get it wrong, yet Jude, as Jesus would, instructs us to have mercy. Even though they have got it wrong and are enticing others to do the same and it may seem right to punish them or berate them, the instruction here, is to have compassion and show forgiveness. Isn't that quite radical? Jude is quite clear, as he twice repeats the need for mercy. Payback, punishment or a good tongue-lashing are not the answer to help these people. Instead we should have compassion on them - why? For one thing, the reality is that each one of us are susceptible to sin. It could be any one of us that goes astray. Plus, we have all already been shown significant grace and mercy by God. Isn't it then our duty to extend that to others? 

Jesus instructs his followers, "in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12). Or, as we often say at home, treat others as you would like to be treated. So, think about it, how would you like to be led back to Jesus if you go off path? Would a good telling off do it or a punishment turn you back? Or would a merciful chat, guidance and demonstrations of love help you more? 

As you seek to restore those that have wandered away from God's best for their lives; Be warned; it isn't easy. Jude says, ‘Save others by snatching them out of the fire, to others show mercy with fear’. This verse shows the danger, 'snatching', fear'. It could be scary for you. You will be putting yourself in a dangerous situation where the enemy is at work, you are seeking to save those blinded by satan and you could be harmed too. So be aware and be careful. Jude purposefully put his instructions for how you should live your life before how to help those in error - your connection and dependence on God will be essential for you to come through this yourself. That is why you need to continue to; build your faith, pray in the Spirit and keep in God’s love, You must have that as an embedded part of yourself and your faith before you can attempt to help others out of the fire. 

It is also good to be aware of your own responses and temptations. If others are being led astray by things that you have been caught up with before, are you now in a condition to help or will it still be a temptation for you? You need to continue to build your faith remember, so do not get involved in things that may cause it to topple - satan would like nothing more! 

The first way to help those that are going awry, is to have mercy on those that are doubting. Don't tell them off, or spout of loads of verses, but listen with compassion, and then ask them what they thing the Bible says about it - get their view and then encourage them as to the truth. This situation is a need for discipleship and encouragement and hopefully they will follow. The next set Jude refers to are those that you can 'snatch' out of the fire. The warning here for you is not to get too close - getting too near fire burns, and can cause you damage.So, be quick, don't spend lengths of time in that environment, but remember it's a smash n grab situation. Get in, get out. You may need to repeat this, but don't spend too long otherwise the fire of sin will hurt you. ' to others show mercy with fear,' there are other situations that can't just harm you, but can also cause you to become embroiled in things that you really don't want to be. Getting close to those that sin can cause you to be tempted into it yourself, or in some way, to be lead to think,'oh, i'll just do this, this isn't so bad', and then a spiral can form in your own life. That is why, when seeking to help those out of their messes you too need to be concerned for yourself. It is a dangerous place to be, and the enemy is sneaky and inviting, so keep the fear of losing what you have. This doesn't mean that you should avoid trying to rescue people, but you do need to prioritise looking after yourself. I have seen people really come very close to those who are stuck and wandering off, seeming to be at their beck and call, but here Jude is telling us that it is a snatch n grab job. It is not an intense, sit in and smoulder situation - you will get damaged if you do that, even though you are trying to do something good. Remember your priorities;  build your faith, pray in the Spirit and keep in God’s love. This comes first. If you are finding that you do not have time for these things, or that you cannot be as bothered to do them when you are trying to help others, then return to building up yourself first, because you cannot be much help to yourself or others otherwise. 

The positive things that i see about these instructions are that;

1) God wants to protect us

2) God has mercy on everyone

3) We are able to help those that others may consider a lost cause by showing mercy

How incredible, that once we have developed strength and faith in ourselves, we can be invited into helping others who have gone off piste, and return them to relationship with God. 

So, based on these thoughts today, what is it you need to do or change?