Our Deliverer

“Surely He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying plague.” (Psalms 91:3)

This verse begins with the word surely, in other words without a doubt and certainly He... He is the Lord and He will without a doubt and certainly deliver us. He will deliver us from the snares set up by the devil to make us flounder and fall. In the wild, snares aren’t particular about what animal it captures. Nor does it capture its prey in a safe manner, but the prey languishes unable to free itself for days suffering from its injuries, from starvation and thirst. It’s not merciful. Snares are so dangerous that prey caught in a snare cannot free itself and will die a torturous death. Likewise, the snares of the devil don’t discriminate on who you are, whether you are a faithful believer or not.  The snares are set to trap anyone. And when we’re caught in a snare, we suffer. We’re injured, physically, emotionally or mentally and even spiritually.  The snare is set up so that the more we try to escape from it, the harder it holds us. Without someone to help us, death is imminent. Our Scripture gives us hope. “He” will deliver us from the trap.  The Lord is able and willing to deliver us.

When the leper came to Jesus, he didn’t doubt that Jesus could heal him. But he wasn’t sure if Jesus was willing to do it. Jesus lets him know. “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I will; be clean!” (Mark 1:41) And just like the leper, we know the Lord can deliver us, help us and save us, but we may not know if He’s willing to do it for us. The Lord is full of compassion for our weaknesses. He is able. And He is willing.  When Moses wanted to see God’s face and God told him that no man can see God and live, but that He would pass by Him and show him His back. At that moment, God revealed Who He was. “And Jehovah passed by before him and proclaimed, Jehovah! Jehovah God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” (Exodus 34:6).

Our Scripture says that He will deliver us from the destroying plague or pestilence. A pestilence is a fatal epidemic disease. Covid in 2020-2022 was such an epidemic disease that was worldwide. Over seven million people died worldwide. The Lord is able and willing to deliver us from such an epidemic. Did Christians die of Covid? Yes, they did. But whether they died or not, God is still willing and able to deliver us from the pestilence. The fact that they died, and others didn’t, doesn’t change the certainty that the Lord is able and willing to deliver us from the pestilence. And that is what we must believe.

Our faith is not based on what we see and hear in the natural, but on what God’s Word states. God’s Word is Truth. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through Your truth. Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17) “Sanctify them.” Make them holy and pure. Consecrate them. Dedicate them to a divine purpose. It is through the Word of God that we are kept holy and pure, set apart for God’s purposes. It was the sacrifice of Jesus that redeemed us to God. He bought us back by His death and shed blood. And it’s the Word of God that keeps us holy and dedicated to God. “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, so that I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:11) It’s the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, transforming us. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Brothers and sisters, reading and studying God’s Word is more than essential. It’s what will keep us holy and in God’s Will and purposes. It’s Truth that delivers us from the doubts and lies of the devil. David in his psalm writes “Surely...” It’s of a certainty. He so believed in the Lord his Deliverer without a doubt and so must we.