Monday after Oculi Sunday
Posted on March 21, 2022 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
This entire “Song of Deliverance” composed by David can be summed up by verse four, where the king declares, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.” This song is one that can be recommended to all sinners for deliverance from their daily battle against the great enemies of their fallen flesh, the sin-darkened world, and the devil. Every believer should feel joy and comfort from every verse of this beautiful prayer-song of praise and thanksgiving to the most merciful and gracious Lord.
David uses the figure of a Rock, which is particularly appropriate to David’s experience. He had taken refuge among the rocks of the desert often, but realized that true security was found only in the Lord. The image of a shield is just as appropriate, for the Lord is our shield against every attack of the devil, self, and the world. Like the author, we should be drawn to the Lord’s house where we can always receive all of His precious Means of Grace to fortify us for the battles of this earthly life.
Prayer: 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 those 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 the 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.
