Read Psalm 40-41
John Paton and his wife were missionaries in the New Hebrides Islands. One evening local tribesmen surrounded their house with the intent of taking their lives. The missionaries did the only thing they could think to do... they fell to their knees and prayed to the Lord for deliverance. Daylight came and the attackers left. They were shocked but thankful to God. The chief of the tribe would eventually come to know Christ. After his conversion, Paton asked why he and the men had not killed them. The chief replied that they were afraid of the hundreds of men in shining garments with swords who showed up and circled their place. John and his wife had no knowledge of "men" being present that night.
Most of us have not had something so dramatic happen in our life but we have all been delivered by God at different times in our lives. In fact, when we get to heaven we will realize that God has done so much more than we even realized. A reminder of God's deliverance is the Ark. Now, my guess is that you immediately thought of Noah's ark. And that would make sense. But it's really three arks that are mentioned in the Bible. They remind us that God is a God of deliverance. The first is of course, Noah's ark. God delivered Noah and his family (not to mention animals) as a result of Noah's obedience to Him.
There was a much smaller ark that led to deliverance. And that was the ark that Moses' mom made and put baby Moses in. It delivered him from the genocide that Pharaoh had enacted on the male, Jewish babies. In God's providence it ultimately led to not just Moses' deliverance but God's people, the Israelites, as well. And then there was the Ark of the Covenant with it's "blood-sprinkled mercy seat". The High Priest could come into the "Holy of Holies" through a blood sacrifice. It was a picture of the future blood sacrifice of our Savior, which would give us all access into the "Holy of Holies". Three arks. Three symbols of deliverance.
Psalm 40-41 is a reminder of God as our deliverer. In Psalm 40:9, we see that the deliverance led to unabashed praise of God: "I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD." David not only praised God directly, he also "sang God's praises" to those around him. How about us? Are we so thankful that we have a God that delivers us, even when it's our own actions that got us in trouble, that we sing His praises each day? How often do you brag on God?
David ends Psalm 41 with these words in v. 13: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen." We are going to bless God for all eternity. Why not get some practice in now? We've been so blessed by God, the least we can do is bless His name in return.
What's something going on in you life where you could use God's deliverance? Take some time to leave it in His capable hands.
Brag on God this week. Who's someone this week you will speak to about God's many blessings?
Prayer for the day: "God, I thank you for being my deliverer. Thank you for Jesus who made deliverance possible. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who leads me each day. I am blessed beyond what I deserve. May I bless your name this week. Show me who you want me to share your love with this week. I love you God. Amen."