The Monday after Oculi Sunday
Posted on March 24, 2025 by under
Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:1-7 (NKJV)
22:1 Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he said:
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.
4 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
5 “When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
6 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
7 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears.
Devotion
“In my distress, I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears.”
As we go through this Lenten season, we see the Lord contending with the devil and demons in many of the texts on Sunday. Even the Gospel reading from yesterday discusses Jesus being the stronger man who has come to bind Satan. In the text that we read today, we see David has been delivered from bodily death and his enemies. David sings in recognition of God’s protection. Consider that if David can do this in response to God’s protection from his physical enemies, how much more should Christians praise and extol God for protection against the devil?
The Lord has contended with the enemy and won. Jesus rescues all who believe from death, hell, and the devil. These enemies are much more fierce than mortal enemies, and yet the Lord delivers the victory of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation for all who look to Him in faith. For this great gift of salvation, let us praise the Lord, because He has heard us in our distress and given us victory through Him alone.
Collect: We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to be our defense against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
