The Nearness of God.
He is never closer than in our trials.
I want to share with you two verses from Helen Spurrell’s translation of the
first Hebrew text: “When designing pursuers approached
me, who are faraway
from thy law; then thou, O Jehovah, wast near, with all
thy faithful commandments” (Psalm 119:150-151).
Embedded during
this passage may be a glorious
truth which
will change your life, bringing you peace and supplying
you with rest beyond anything you've got yet
experienced. Once you understand the very fact that
God loves you and is continually near you, all fear and anxiety must go.
In this text, the Psalmist sees the wicked approaching him, coming ever closer
in an
effort to ruin and destroy him. He’s saying, “Vile,
corrupt, plotting sinners are gaining on me. They’re all around me, and their
power is mounting. they're
bent my
total destruction!”
We all have such an enemy; it's the enemy of our souls, the
devil. He always has one purpose in mind: to destroy God’s work and seduce and
discourage his people. Indeed, Satan uses all of his power and craftiness to chop
Christians faraway from
the Lord’s favor and presence. that's exactly
what he’s trying to
try to to immediately
in your life, attempting to wipe out everyone who follows
Jesus. “They have said, ‘Come, and allow us to cut them faraway
from being a nation, that the name of Israel could
also be remembered no more’” (Psalm 83:4, NKJV).
At times, it appears the devil is on
the verge of victory.
Satan won't
be satisfied until he sees the
entire ruin and downfall of each godly
ministry, church and true lover of Jesus. He never stops. he's always
pursuing us with a design out of hell.
Satan stimulated
Paul’s enemies in Antioch who railed against the apostle,
stoning him and dragging him out of the town , thinking he
was dead. God said no to the devil’s plans in Antioch and delivered Paul.
Before Paul’s deliverance, are you able to imagine
the multitudes of demons depending
on from the imaginary place and
laughing gleefully, counting the good preacher’s
last breaths, waiting to attend his funeral? are you able to see
Satan himself boasting, “We have cut him down, razed him to the
bottom , ruined him! Paul and his preaching soon are
going to be just a memory. we've destroyed
the gospel. Paul has been brought down”?
How wrong Satan was. “However, when the disciples gathered around (Paul), he
rose up and went into the town . and
therefore the next day he departed with Barnabas to
Derbe” (Acts 14:20). Paul was raised up immediately, and he marched right back
to the town , his head
held high. He once testified, “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves,
that we
should always not trust in ourselves but in God who
raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).
If you're
keen on Jesus, you're a marked person in
hell, and Satan will attempt to cut you right
down to the bottom . you'll
agree, “I can feel those designing pursuers you’re talking
about closing in on me. Satan has put me during
a lion’s den.” This was David’s condition. He testified,
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us,
then they
might have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled
against us” (Psalm 124:2-3).
Think of the awful temptation and failure of David, a person after
God’s heart. He was sorely tempted, fell into adultery, lied and murdered an
innocent man. I’m sure that when the prophet Nathan exposed him, David may
need been tempted to possess Nathan
executed, worsening his sin. Or Satan may need convinced
David he was down for the count, expecting him to present his
hands and say, “What’s the use? I even have disgraced
God. I’ve sinned against the sunshine ,
committing the very sins I’ve preached against. God can never use me now.”
The Psalmist voices the hope of these who repent of
horrible sins. “The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me
over to death” (Psalm 118:18). The Psalmist said in essence, “I was tempted and
tried, but God wouldn't
turn me over to Satan’s power or to the death I deserved.
He delivered me!”
The temptations and trials sent upon us from hell aren't unusual.
Peter writes, “Beloved, don't think it strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to undertake you, as
if some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
Paul adds, “No temptation has overtaken you except like is
common to man; but God is faithful, who won't allow
you to be tempted beyond what you're able, but with the
temptation also
will make the way of escape, that you
simply could also be ready
to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
There is nothing strange in
the least about what's happening to you. you'll
be discouraged because the enemy has come against you
wish a flood. The attack might
be through lust, covetousness, a financial crisis or
health scare, and you
think that , “Here i'm trying to
serve the Lord, doing my best to like him and be faithful
to him, but things keep getting worse. Is there something wrong with me? Why do
my problems keep piling up?”
I urge you to
seem around at others on your right, on your left, ahead
of you, behind you; most
are browsing
something. Behind the grins of
your dear brothers and sisters in Christ are many tears. they're hurting
with trials you
recognize nothing about. No, you're not
alone in your suffering, and your trial isn't some
strange, unusual circumstance. What you're browsing
is common to multitudes.
Now, let me offer
you some glorious news.
The devil isn't as wanting
to destroy you as God is to deliver you.
God is more prepared to
stay his promises to you than the devil is to ruin you.
Indeed, the nearer the enemy involves you, the Lord is
all the nearer.
“When designing pursuers approached me, who are faraway
from thy law; then Thou, O Jehovah, wast near, with all
thy faithful commandments” (Psalm 119:150-151, Spurrell). The Psalmist said, in
short, “Lord, if my enemies are approaching to destroy me, you're almost
me in my time of need.”
God says he's
especially almost
the downcast and brokenhearted so as to
defend them. “The Lord is almost
those that have
a broken heart, and saves like have a contrite
spirit” (Psalm 34:18, NKJV).
Are you a
toddler of God? Does the Lord Jesus sleep in you?
God says he's
almost
you in your anguish. Here is his promise to you.
“Fear not, for I
even have redeemed you; I even have called
you by your name; you're
mine. once you undergo
the waters, i will be able to be
with you; and
thru the rivers, they shall not overflow you. once
you rehearse the
hearth , you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame
scorch you. For i'm
the Lord your God, the Holy one
among Israel, your Savior… Since you were precious in my
sight, you've
got been honored, and that i have
loved you; therefore i will be able to give
men for you, and
other people for your life. Fear not, for i'm with
you” (Isaiah 43:1-5).
The Psalmist Asaph testified of the Lord, “You hold me by my right hand” (Psalm
73:23). He was saying, “God not only is near me but is walking with me, hand in
hand, through this whole mess. Let all my enemies come after me. I’ve got my
hand within
the Father’s.” Moreover, Asaph said that God gave him
counsel and direction. “You will guide me together
with your counsel” (Psalm 73:24).
Many dear Christians tell me of their incredible hardships, problems that keep
piling up, discouragements that continue coming at them. Humanly speaking,
these all seem to be impossible situations. My heart goes bent
every believer who experiences such trials.
However, every Christian has got to be
convinced that they're
precious and loved, which God is
near. In fact, the nearer the enemy comes, the more faithful God is to reveal
his nearness, and
therefore the more tightly he holds his precious child’s
hand.
If you'll believe
that God is almost
you, you want to believe
he will act for you.
God’s honor is at stake once we pray to him,
and he won’t be mocked for not answering. The Bible says of him, “He won't allow
your foot to be moved; he who keeps you'll not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3-4).
Our God is aware
of our needs in
the least times, and he's aware
of every pain and hurt.
Here is what God promises you, if you'll practice approaching
to him all day long. “Let God arise, let his enemies be
scattered; let those also who hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven
away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the hearth ,
so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad;
allow
them to rejoice before God; yes, allow them to rejoice
exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; extol him who rides on the
clouds, by his name Yah, and rejoice before him” (Psalm 68:1-4).
Talk to the Lord, search
for his nearness, and he will do of these things
for you. He will scatter your enemies and chase
away all demonic pursuers. you'll know
the blessed grip of his hand in
the least times. Hallelujah!