Scripture: “For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.” – Psalm 40:12
Examination of Chapter: David begins this psalm by stating that he is in dire straits, but is awaiting the Lord to intervene. As he waits, he writes of how he has worked to do God’s will and share Him with others. David cries out that he needs God to act quickly, and he affirms that God will deliver those who belong to Him.
Application: The other day I was working at my church with a friend. When we had finished, we hopped in our cars and prepared to head home. As I pulled out of my parking space, I noticed a hornet was in my car. I quickly stopped in the parking lot, jumped out, and opened the doors to allow the hornet an easy exit. It wasn’t interested in taking it. My friend, who was leaving also, noticed I had stopped in the middle of the parking lot and drove over next to me. I explained why I was standing outside of my car, and she proceeded to help me locate the hornet and shoo it out.
Within a minute or so, the hornet flew out, and I thought we were ready to leave until it flew over to her car for a moment, then quickly returned and entered my car AGAIN! With my friend’s assistance, it didn’t take long for us manage to get that hornet to fly out once more. I quickly hopped in my car and rolled up all the windows. She did the same in her car, and finally, we were both on the road heading to our destinations without the fear of a vicious sting!
As I drove, I reflected on this situation, and it struck me that this was exactly how sin can be in our lives. We can be going along fine and then all of a sudden, sin appears and threatens to endanger our relationship with Jesus!
When the hornet was a danger to me, I was desperate for a way to escape its threat! I threw open the car door in my escalating fear and practically fell out of the car in my haste to get away from the hornet! I couldn’t get out of my car fast enough! 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells me that, like my car door, God always provides a way to flee the temptations of sin in my life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” In order for me to escape the hornet, I had to employ the opening my car door provided. It is the same for sin. If I don’t avail myself of the escape route God provides, I will get stung!
Another way the hornet reminded me of sin was that it kept flying back to my car. Like that treacherous insect, sin is relentless. I once heard this statement, “Opportunity knocks once, but temptation leans on the doorbell”! How true! When sin rears its ugly head, that’s when the prayers and counsel of others is critical in helping us fight against its temptation. When my friend hopped out of her car and helped me chase the hornet away, she was interceding on my behalf! I was so terrified of that hornet, that I just stood away from my car hoping it would go away, but my friend when into action. Her selfless efforts resulted in the hornet finally flying away. Likewise, reaching out to others and asking for prayer or godly advice helps protect us from being “stung” by sin! 1 Timothy 2:1 instructs us to intercede for one another. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” My friend’s intervention facilitated my safety from the threat of multiple stings!
God instructs the prayer warriors in our lives to intercede for us in times of need. Ephesians 6:18 states, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Intercessory prayer is an important part of a Christian’s life, and we must remember that God calls each of us to be prayer warriors for one another. James 5:16 explains why, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Those prayers help fortify us against the temptations of sin that surround us daily.
Sin will always be a part of our lives until Jesus comes again, but no matter the magnitude of the temptation, we have the means to fight back and escape the entrapment of sin, and we don’t have to do that alone.
Lastly, 1 Corinthians 15:57 states, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We are promised victory over sin when we avail ourselves of all that Jesus has promised in His Word, for as 1 John 4:4 reminds us, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Memory verse: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7