Keeping trials in life in perspective is one of the great secrets of life... and learning to lay hold of God until you have received the victory is another. In our quick fix age, we are not good at truly being insistent when it comes to seeing the promises of God being revealed in our lives.
When the psalmist says in verse 12.. 'You are the King from long ago, You bring salvation to the earth'... well this is a powerful turning point in the text. To remember the past miracles of grace that we have experienced again and again, you begin to realise that our all powerful Lord WILL continue to deliver us from evil, no matter how overwhelming it seems at the time. It is the Lord who has done it all....and the word refers to vast evils as various dragons confronting us from the pit of hell, but read the word... the Lord has delivered us from them all.
The psalmist starts reminding God about His former victories over the many elements faced in life... Arise O God... He is reminded of the congregation, all of the individuals who are at risk.... And continues with great stories of Jehovah's miraculous power. Even the lands and the seas receive their boundaries from Him... and as we are experiencing at the moment.... it may have been winter, but spring is on the way!!
The last stanza of the psalm asks for the oppressed to be able to return to their land with their heads held high. As you know, the Lord has always honoured the poor, the broken and the oppressed... and will ever tend to them with absolute grace and the greatest dignity, the psalmist is so passionate about the cause of these people, and we should always take our cue from this heart decision. On your way to victory, never forget those who were broken in the battle......
And finally, the longing is clear here, that the Lord Himself would take centre stage on the battle field, ultimately triumphing over all, putting the dragon to death once and for all...That when the righteous are persecuted and innocent blood is yet again spilled, that we realise that ultimate judgment will be executed, and that the Lord will have the final say.
Well, we never said this journey was for the faint hearted....be brave, full of faith, full of grace, full of kindness..... and when being ridiculed on the battlefield... learn to lay hold of God until you are confident you have been heard.
The journey of faith... what a ride!!
Love you all so
xxxxx Darls
Darlene Zschech
Christian Today Columnist
Darlene Zschech is a renowned singer and songwriter, also the worship pastor of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Her best known song "Shout to the Lord" is sung by an estimated 25-30 million churchgoers every week. In 2000, Darlene received a Dove Award nomination for 'Songwriter of the year' and has received the 'International Award' from GMA (Gospel Music Association). Darlene Zschech and her husband Mark are currently serving as executive directors of Mercy Ministries.
