THE LORD IS MY DEFENDER: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 9TH NOVEMBER 2018

MEMORISE:
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalm 3:3

READ: Psalm 3:1-8

1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.

3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me;  my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  

4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.

5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O LORD;  save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.

MESSAGE

The sure defender of the oppressed is his Maker. David's personal experience of this truth caused him to pen the words of today's Bible reading. 

Is the Lord your defender? Your answer may be "yes", but your actions may say "no", in the sense that the fellow you run to determines who your defender truly is. 

Here is David's testimony in Psalm 3:4:
“I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.”

Is this also your testimony? Who do you cry to when faced with challenges in life - your biological father, mother, friend or worst of all, a witchdoctor? The story was told of a man who went to consult a witchdoctor for help. 

The witchdoctor promised to help this man and told him to return in seven days for a charm that would subdue his enemies. When he arrived on the seventh day, he met a lot of people in mourning, and he thought that one of the witchdoctor's in-patients must have died. 

To his shock however, when he asked to see the witchdoctor, he was told that the one who promised him victory over his enemies had just given up the ghost. This is the reason why Jeremiah 17:5 says:

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”

The Psalmist was able to put his trust in the Lord because he refused to be afraid of men, in spite of their fiery looks and large number. In Psalm 3:6, he wrote:
“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”

Anyone who declares such words must have had access to God's wisdom in Proverbs 29:25, which says:
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

The Psalmist also did something that I would like you to do today: he cried to the Lord. He did not pretend that all was well, like some people do. 

In Psalm 3:7, He prayed that God should arise to save him. This prayer worked for David, and it will work for you also if you if you will not have any other god beside the Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

After crying to God, David affirmed that salvation belonged to Him and that His blessing was upon His people (Psalm 3:8). I pray that the Lord of host will defend you and your cause as you cry to Him today in Jesus' Name.

ACTION POINT:
Devote quality time to cry to the Lord, asking Him to arise and defend you today. As you cry out to Him, He will arise in Jesus' Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 51, Luke 19:1-27

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST

1. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

2. Under the shadow of Thy throne,
Still may we dwell secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure

3. Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same

4. A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away:
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

6. O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.