God Delivers the Righteous: Gospel Today Devotional - 8th September, 2022

LESSONS FROM PROVERBS (2)

 If at all, we must have to take one important lesson in the study today, let it be that God watches over his people to protect them. He will not leave them helpless in the face of danger. He is ever present to protect his own. Even the Psalmist affirms that though he walks through the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear no evil, why? Because the Lord is with him (Psalm 23:4). God delivers those who are his. You're are his and hence need not be afraid. 

In Psalm 34:19, it was recorded that the afflictions of the righteous are indeed many but the Lord delivers them out of them all, why? The answer is seen in Psalms 34:15. It says that the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are opened to their cry. There's no way he would ignore when they call. He would not allow them to be harmed. Little wonder the Psalmist had such confidence such that he could say, "Even though I walk through the shadow of death's valley, I will fear no evil" (paraphrased) because God's eyes are upon me and his ears open to my cry. He is with me. Praise God.

The Lord has been blessing our hearts ever since this series began, right? You have been blessed, haven't you? In one of our studies, we established the fact that the righteous man is one who has placed faith in Christ Jesus, right? And that faith in Christ Jesus is that which confers on him righteousness, isn't it? And from that study, we came to understand the fact that the Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish, is that true? Do you remember? Today, we shall be looking again at that which the righteous gets to enjoy in Christ Jesus. Shall we consider the text below,

"The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead" (Proverbs 11:8).

Look at what it says? Did you read through? It says that the righteous, and we have established who a righteous person is right? The righteous is delivered out of trouble but it didn't stop there, did it? No. It went further to say that the wicked comes in his stead. This tells to us that no plot against the righteous shall prosper, why? God watches over the righteous and his ears are open to them when they call. Is this true? Are there scriptural references to back this up? Let's see two examples from scripture that explains this truth.

First was the issue between Mordecai and Haman. For no just cause, Haman had determined in his heart to wipe out the Jews. He had spoken with the king and the decree was given. But then, the Lord intervened, Esther was elevated and she became a voice for her people. The decree was reversed but before then, you sure remember that they prayed, right? God heard their cry. Haman didn't know that the ears of God are opened to the prayer of his people. Everything he planned was reversed and the gallows he had prepared to hang Mordecai, he was hung there in Mordecai's stead. (Esther 1--7).

The second example is Daniel. He was a man of prayer. One who lived right before God. And for some reasons, he was framed and thrown into the lion's den. The lions perhaps on recognising that this was a man whom God watched over and heard did nothing to him, they couldn't even roar nor devour, and in the midst of Lions, Daniel experienced peace and comfort. God does deliver the righteous, doesn't he? However when Daniel was released, those who framed him were thrown into the den in his stead, and the lions who were starving already got something to feed on. The death they had wished for Daniel became theirs, not his (Daniel 6).

Believers, you are God's own people and he watches over you to protect you. His ears are open to hear you and just like Isaiah captures it, no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

Thought for the day: The eyes of the Lord are upon you and his ears are opened to your cry. In this, rejoice!

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08161655758 or Email: [email protected].