Faithful on Fridays Blog

Last week I explained that this acrostic Psalm follows the Hebrew alphabet beginning each verse with the sequential letter; three letters, three verses, three focuses. Let’s continue with the next four letters appreciating God’s creativity in literature. Seeking (vs. 4) means that we’re asking for something of the Lord, again and again, as if beating a path through a forest. Our prayer is so important that we won’t let go or give up, and the fervency is obvious. That kind of prayer carries great power and this verse promises deliverance from those fears of the future. 

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b

God may give us a way of escape, a divine rescue, or we continue beating that path like the persistent widow of Luke 18 until He answers out of love, unlike this unjust judge out of frustration,

… yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming. Luke 18:5

The fifth Hebrew letter helps us remember, as a mnuematic device, that when we look to the Lord (vs.5), focusing on Him for our rescue, it’s as if our faces are glowing or radiant; we’ve been in the presence of God and there’s no shame, doubt, or confusion. He’s coming to our rescue. We look to Him for answers and not to ourselves or our own devices.

The sixth verse shows us the value of humbling ourselves; ‘this poor man’ is who Jesus was describing in the Beatitudes,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

Not poor in economic status but having a heart that recognizes we can’t do life alone: we need God. When we do that He promises kingdom living: salvation, freedom, and victory. In consequence to these three actions on our part, seeking, looking, and staying humble, we have a wonderful promise ahead on His part.

God vows in verse 7 to ‘encamp’ around us describing Jesus, The Angel of the LORD, surrounding us like a circle of defense. It’s a military word depicting armies camping out around those who they’re summoned to protect. For those who are awestruck by Him (the fear of the LORD), the Captain of heaven’s armies, promises protection like a force field.

For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. Psalms 91:11-12 

The order of protection has been issued, Jesus has commanded His forces to surround you, but there’s a caveat or qualification; it’s for those who follow the direction of the first six verses. These are excellent reasons to praise God continually, in easy or hard times, and radiate His love and mercy to those around us. When we seek Him, look to Him, and stay repentant He promises us protection and deliverance.