By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
FRIDAY
THEME: HIDING UNDER THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS“
SCRIPTURE: Psalms 17:5
“Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.”
REFLECTIONS
David continues to amaze us with his relationship with God. He loved God so much that he delighted in spending time with Him in prayer—his personal conviction and deed. The title of Psalm 17, which he wrote, is “Prayer with Confidence in Final Salvation.” It expresses his confidence in the power of the Lord to save and protect. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9).
David seeks vindication and deliverance from the Lord. He begins with these words, “[1]Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. [2]Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. [3]You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” – Psalms 17:1-3. He prays with honesty and truthfulness. He also determined not to sing against God.
As he sought God’s deliverance from a terrible situation, he wanted to be obedient to him, so he pleaded in verse 5, “Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.” In verses 6 and 7, David expresses his confidence in God’s lovingkindness and marvelous deeds and demonstrates how God has heard his prayers and delivered him in the past. Praising God for His deeds in our lives is a way of showing gratitude and honor to Him.
In verse 8, David pleads with God, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” The apple of the eye is the pupil and must be protected; likewise, the shadow of His wings connotes God’s care for His people. David trusted that God alone could deliver him from his enemies and called for His help. Beyond this, David expressed hope in God’s ultimate salvation. In verse 15, he states: “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” For every Christian, our ultimate goal is to behold Jesus at His second coming. We pray that we shall be with Him in heaven when we have experienced His deliverance and protection.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 529 – “Under His Wings”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His deeds in your life; thank God for His protection and deliverance; trust God to keep you under His wings and as the apple of His eye;
– Pray for people whom their enemies assuage that they will find hope in God to deliver them;
– Pray for Christians to trust in God’s salvation and share that hope with others; pray for the safety and protection of people caught in war zones, disaster, violence, etc;
– Pray for the nation’s peace, employment for job seekers, economic improvement, and ease in people’s burdens.
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