STRENGTH FROM SURRENDER

Psalms 119:119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

I was teaching a history class on World War 1 and 2 to a group of teenagers. The class led to a discussion on the responsibility of reacting when people are oppressed lest these same oppressing forces one day turn on you.

It is very interesting to see how throughout Bible history, God often thwarts His peoples’ efforts to save themselves, as through their tribulation, they develop the patience (Romans 5:3) to wait on Him to fulfill His promise to “put away” the “wicked”. Tribulation then certainly glorifies God.

What a blessed assurance and peace of mind fills the soul of the man who has conquered his own tendencies to be his own savior, to fight his own enemies, and play ‘God’ in his own life. The man who had given up such foolishness has perfect confidence. He has perfect faith to wait. He is fully convinced that at the right time, God Himself will come for him out of heaven, calling a Moses, a Gideon, or even a Samson to fight, conquer, subdue, and annihilate the oppressor of his soul.

May God bless us with this faith, this peace, and this confidence that we do not have to work it all out; we do not have to gather ‘armies’ and fight evil. God has promised that He himself will put away the wicked from the earth. Who knows how long God may be just waiting for us to cease struggling in our own might so He can help us.

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.


ANECDOTE
A drowning boy was struggling in the water. On the shore stood his mother in an agony of fright and grief. By her side stood a strong man seemingly indifferent to the boy's fate. Again and again did the suffering mother appeal to him to save her boy, but he made no move. By and by the desperate struggles of the boy began to abate. He was losing strength. Presently he arose to the surface weak and helpless. At once the man leaped into the stream and brought the boy in safely to the shore. "Why did you not save my boy sooner?" asked the now grateful mother. "Madam, I could not as long as he struggled. He would have dragged us both to certain death. But when he grew weak and ceased to struggle, then it was easy to save him." It is when we cease from our own works and depend helplessly upon Him that we realize how perfectly able He is to save without any aid from us.