Psalm 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Insight on the Word

All salvation is of God, not man. For the Bible teaches us: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:5). Salvation is made available to everyone, not based on what we have done but based on what God has done. The righteous are saved. Many understand that this gives us salvation from a Devil’s Hell and eternal with Christ forever. This in great but there is more. Even in this life with the trouble that it sometimes brings, God also gives us His supernatural strength!

Our strength does not come from our own efforts for God is the provider of our strength (Psalm 43:2). The strength which God provides is not available to the unrighteousness but to the righteous as we walk in the way of the Lord: “The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity” (Proverbs 10:29). No matter what our need, God’s strength is more than enough to overcome in any situation. For God promises He will be “strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall” (Isaiah 25:4). The prophet Joel spoke the children of Israel when they were in some of their deepest troubles saying: “the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:16)

So if trouble should come your way today, continue to walk in righteousness and have faith in the fact that God is your “strength in the time of trouble.”

Speak the Word — God is my strength in the time of trouble! (Psalm 37:39)

Daily Bible Reading — Deuteronomy 13 – 16

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Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Insight on the Word

When a day of trouble comes, we need to be in a place where God is able to respond to our cries for help. This passage gives God’s promise to deliver us when we call upon Him. But, in order to receive help from God there are always conditions. Verse 14 teaches that we are to faithfully offer thanksgiving and pay our vows to “the most High.” It is only after these requirements are met that we can claim the deliverance of verse 15.

When is the last time you have stopped to think about all the blessings God has given you? Have you thanked Him for His goodness in your life? Have you truly worshiped Him telling Him of your love and adoration. If not, why not right now stop and think a bit on God’s goodness and love that He has shown toward you. Then take some time to thank and worship Him. We must be thankful in order to see God’s help in the day of trouble.

Are your vows paid up! Most of us have bills (electricity, telephone, heating, etc.) that must be paid. If our bills for these services are not paid, the services stop! God is much greater than any temporal services we use upon this earth. If we owe God, He should be paid! Have you made a commitment, a promise, or a vow to God that you have not fulfilled? Are you faithfully supporting your church with tithe and offerings? If not you have some vows that must be paid, in order to see God’s help in “the day of trouble.”

Always be thankful, give God praise, and worship each day. Do what you told God you would do. Pay your vows and when the day of trouble comes God says: “I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”

Speak the Word — In the day of trouble God delivers me! (Psalm 50:15)

Daily Bible Reading — Deuteronomy 7 – 9

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Psalm 9:9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Insight on the Word

The word “refuge” used here in this passage is translated from the Hebrew word “misgab” and means “a cliff or inaccessible place.” The idea of refuge was very much in the mind of the Hebrew people. Under the Law if a person killed someone, since there were no police in Israel, it was the duty of the nearest relative of the victim to avenge the life that had been taken. If the death was an accident, then the perpetrator had one opportunity to save his life. He had to seek refuge in one of six cities designated as a “city of refuge.” It was here that his case would be heard before the elders. If the death he caused was proven to be an accident, then his life was spared. He had found his refuge!

In this life we may face times of trouble, and if we remain in the clutches of that trouble, it will soon take us under. God however has provided a “refuge” for His people. God has given the believer a cliff to hid in, a place in Him, that is inaccessible by the trouble that would plague us. It is in God’s presence that we find “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

How do we find this place of “refuge” with God? It is very simple, we place our “trust” in him! We know that our God is a good God. We believe that He is always there for us. We decide rather than running from Him in trouble we run to Him! As we flee our trouble and run unto God we have His promise: “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”

Speak the Word — If trouble comes I have a place of refuge in the Lord! (Psalm 9:9)

Daily Bible Reading — Deuteronomy 4 – 6

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Psalm 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Insight on the Word

If we live any length of time in this world, we will sooner or later face trouble. Even the godly face trouble: “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Timothy 3:12. The apostle Paul himself, who was one the greatest Christians, seemed to face trouble on almost a daily basis. So much so that he despaired of his life (2 Corinthians 1:8). Yet in the midst of trouble we are not to loose hope or allow depression and despair to conquer us: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;” 2 Corinthians 4:8.

What is a person to do when trouble comes? First we should take comfort in God’s promise of deliverance. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalms 34:19). We are to not place our trust in man but in God. “Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man” (Psalm 60:11). Stay in communion with God and pray more than ever. “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses” (Psalm 107:19). If deliverance comes at once, great! But if trouble continues for a time, above all else we should remain faithful to God. “ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

After Jesus returns we will live in a perfect world free from trouble. But today is not that day. Hopefully not, but maybe today we will face trouble. If this is a day of trouble, do not despair or loose hope for God has promised: “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

Speak the Word — In trouble I call upon God and He delivers me! (Psalm 91:15)

Daily Bible Reading — Deuteronomy 1 – 3

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