Psalm 22 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Psalm 22:19-21

But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

Though the attacks may come in different forms, the Psalmist knows two things: only God can deliver him, and they all have one intent- to destroy his life. We, too, have an enemy who presents himself in different ways but with one intent. His intent is to destroy us both in this life and the next. His desire is for you and me to suffer eternal separation from our God. To be bound forever in darkness without the One we were created by and for.

Our enemy will come from different angles and at different times but always with the same desire. He knows our greatest weaknesses both as a people and as individuals; he has studied us for a long time that he may destroy some. But thanks and glory be to God who gives us victory in Jesus Christ! We no longer have to cower in fear from the enemy's attacks but can stand firm in the faith, knowing our God will deliver us. Whether that be today, tomorrow, or when our time here is over, the fact still remains He will never let us go. We can walk out on Him, but He promises He will never walk out on us.

We, too, must be like the Psalmist and identify the threat and take it to the Lord! We can't try to fight these battles on our own; we won't make it. We must first identify our weaknesses, and that will expose the point of attack. After we do that, we must take it to the Lord. Think about it like this: what if, instead of running away from it in fear or towards it in pride, we ran to the Lord of Heaven's Armies instead? He came as the Lamb, but He reigns as the Lion! Throughout the Gospels, people found their deliverance, their freedom, and their answers at the feet of Jesus; do we?

Matthew 15:30- Great crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at His feet; and He healed them.

Isaiah 31:4,5- But this is what the LORD has told me: "When a strong young lion stands growling over a sheep it has killed, it is not frightened by the shouts and noise of a whole crowd of shepherds. In the same way, the LORD of Heaven's Armies will come down and fight on Mount Zion. The LORD of Heaven's Armies will hover over Jerusalem and protect it like a bird protecting its nest. He will defend and save the city; He will pass over it and rescue it."

God bless! I love you all, but His love hovers over us and fills us for all time! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!