The oppression of man

Posted : 26 Jul, 2013 04:04 AM

Psalm 119 :134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep Your precepts.





"Many are the afflictions of the righteous," from external as

well as from internal enemies-not only from their own iniquity,

but from the oppression of man. Yet "man is only the Lord's

hand and sword," and he can only move under the overruling

guidance of our Father's wisdom and love. Not indeed that the

believer would (except in submission to the will of God) desire

his deliverance from this trouble on account of personal pain

and distress: but he sometimes finds peculiar circumstances of trial an unavoidable hindrance in the service of his God.

And his conviction sends him to the throne of grace: and there

he never makes interest in vain. "He cries unto the Lord

because of the oppressors: and He sends a Savior, and a

great one: and He delivers him."

The power of faith is indeed Omnipotent. Mountains are

removed from their place, or they become "plains before" it; or

the "worm" is enabled to "thresh them, and beat them small,

and make them as chaff." Often is the Christian strengthened

to overcome the most formidable opposition, and to "profess a

good profession before many witnesses," who are "watching

for his halting." The grace of Christ will make the hardest duty

easy; and the love of Christ will make the sharpest trials

sweet: yet, where in the continued exercise of faith the

obstacles to conscientious service remain unmoved (as, for

instance, a child of God restrained in the fetters of a worldly

family from a free and avowed obedience), we may lawfully

pray that the providence of God would

deliver from the oppression of man, that we might keep His

precepts.

A time of deliverance, as well as a time of persecution, has

proved a season of extraordinary prosperity in the church of

God. When "the Churches had rest throughout all Judea and

Galilee and Samaria," they "were edified; and walking in the

fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were

multiplied." And thus in individual experience, whatever be the

benefit of persecution, yet the weariness of a long-protracted

conflict is often more than flesh and blood can bear; and

which He who "knows our frame," will not refuse to look upon,

and remove, in answer to the prayers of His afflicted people.

At the same time, our proneness, self-indulgence, and our

natural inclination to shrink from discipline-as needful as our

food-require this prayer to be presented with exceeding caution and self-jealousy. There is a great danger, lest, in our

eagerness to escape from the difficulties of our path, we

should lose the most important benefit intended by them. We

must therefore accompany the petition for deliverance with a

sincere purpose to keep God's precepts. For how many have

exposed the unsoundness of their own hearts, when the

supplication has been heard, the deliverance granted, and the

promise of obedience been forgotten!

Fellow-Christian! have your circumstances of trial ever

dictated this prayer? How then have you improved your

liberty, when the answer has been given? Has the "way of

escape made" for you been kept in grateful remembrance?

Has the effect of your deliverance been visible in an

increasing love and devotedness to the Lord's service? Oh! let

a special Ebenezer be set up to mark this special

achievement of prayer. Let the mercy be connected with the

sympathy of our "faithful and merciful High-Priest, who being

Himself touched with the feeling of your infirmities," has

pleaded for your support and release. And be encouraged

henceforth to tread the ways of God with more firmness and

sensible stay, "having your feet shod with the preparation of

the Gospel of peace." But remember-the blessing of the cross

is lost, if it does not issue in a song of praise-if we have not

taken it up as a token of fatherly love. At all times the safest

and shortest way to peace, is to let God use His own methods

with us; to live the present moment to Him in the situation He

has placed us; not dreaming of other circumstances more

favorable to our spiritual prosperity; but leaving ourselves, our

difficulties, our discouragements, in His hands, who makes no

mistakes in any of His dispensations-but who orders them all,

that they "may turn to our salvation, through our prayer, and

the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."



by

Charles Bridges

Post Reply