Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belongs escapes from death.
--Psalm 68:20 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on April 3, 2013 of Psalm 68:20-35; Romans 4; Deuteronomy 9:7-11:15.
If anyone would know what it's like to narrowly escape death, it would be David. He eluded death's clutches many times throughout his life, while on the run from King Saul and his men and even from his own sons' attempts to kill him. And each time he glorifies God by attributing His divine intervention as the provision of deliverance. David recognized that he should have died many times over, and that it was only the hand of God that continually saved him. David knew and admitted that his salvation came from God, Who helped him escape death.
Of course, we can see another way this passage may be applied, that God can provide a means for someone to escape death who has already died, to be rescued even after they have taken their last breath. Instances of God's children being brought back to life are mostly recorded in our New Testament. Perhaps the most well known is that which happened to Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. He lay critically ill, dying, when the sisters sent word to Jesus pleading that He come and heal their brother. But in order to better glorify God, Jesus waited three days, not arriving at their home until after Lazarus had died and was being prepared for burial. Jesus spoke the words, "Lazarus, come forth." (please see John 11:43), and through the power given our Lord by the Father, Lazarus was revived and arose from his deathbed.
But David's words and Jesus' actions bear yet another and much greater meaning of salvation and escapes from death. Both foresee our salvation from sin by God's redeeming grace, our escape from eternal death through the hand of a forgiving Father. Before Jesus revived Lazarus, he assured Martha and Mary of their brother's return to life by saying, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (Please see John 11:25.) So naturally we and the sisters understand this to mean that Jesus is quite capable of restoring someone back to life. But then He goes on to say, "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (Please see John 11:26.) Now we're getting to the true and full meaning of David's words. It isn't so much that we might be brought back to life in this life, that we might escape death even multiple times in this earthly existence. Our great hope and joy lies in the knowledge and promise that God, our true Salvation, will rescue us from the second death, from eternal death. And this by His grace alone through our belief in Jesus Christ His Son. Just as Paul wrote to the church in Rome as recorded in another of today's Bible readings, God's redemption "shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." (Please see Romans 4:24.) God is our Salvation. His grace will redeem us from our sin, will rescue us from eternal death, and will revive us to everlasting life with Him. Amen.
Gracious Lord, Thank You so much for the hope and promise of salvation and redemption given freely to us by our belief in the One You raised from the dead and installed at Your right hand, Christ Jesus. We know we could never earn or deserve such favor. Your great love for us is unmerited and undeserved, but most greatly cherished. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for allowing us to escape death. In Your beautiful name, sweet Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Of course, we can see another way this passage may be applied, that God can provide a means for someone to escape death who has already died, to be rescued even after they have taken their last breath. Instances of God's children being brought back to life are mostly recorded in our New Testament. Perhaps the most well known is that which happened to Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. He lay critically ill, dying, when the sisters sent word to Jesus pleading that He come and heal their brother. But in order to better glorify God, Jesus waited three days, not arriving at their home until after Lazarus had died and was being prepared for burial. Jesus spoke the words, "Lazarus, come forth." (please see John 11:43), and through the power given our Lord by the Father, Lazarus was revived and arose from his deathbed.
But David's words and Jesus' actions bear yet another and much greater meaning of salvation and escapes from death. Both foresee our salvation from sin by God's redeeming grace, our escape from eternal death through the hand of a forgiving Father. Before Jesus revived Lazarus, he assured Martha and Mary of their brother's return to life by saying, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (Please see John 11:25.) So naturally we and the sisters understand this to mean that Jesus is quite capable of restoring someone back to life. But then He goes on to say, "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (Please see John 11:26.) Now we're getting to the true and full meaning of David's words. It isn't so much that we might be brought back to life in this life, that we might escape death even multiple times in this earthly existence. Our great hope and joy lies in the knowledge and promise that God, our true Salvation, will rescue us from the second death, from eternal death. And this by His grace alone through our belief in Jesus Christ His Son. Just as Paul wrote to the church in Rome as recorded in another of today's Bible readings, God's redemption "shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." (Please see Romans 4:24.) God is our Salvation. His grace will redeem us from our sin, will rescue us from eternal death, and will revive us to everlasting life with Him. Amen.
Gracious Lord, Thank You so much for the hope and promise of salvation and redemption given freely to us by our belief in the One You raised from the dead and installed at Your right hand, Christ Jesus. We know we could never earn or deserve such favor. Your great love for us is unmerited and undeserved, but most greatly cherished. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for allowing us to escape death. In Your beautiful name, sweet Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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