David Prays for Deliverance, 1860 woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
Psalm 50:15.
Today’s text from the psalms shows how these three subjects are closely related. The “day of trouble” can denote external danger, but it can also signify the need of someone who anxiously recognizes that His soul is not right with God. In such need he can call upon God. He will discover that God is “not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27), but comes to the aid of such sincere seekers.
Years ago an American with whom I was staying told me his life’s story. He had been a fighter pilot in the World War II. In an air battle over Austria his plane was shot down.
“When I noticed the fire, I sensed indescribable terror,” he said. “At any moment I might plunge down. And I knew that I had no standing before God in the state I was in at the time. In my anguish I asked God to help me and promised to serve Him, if I escaped alive. God heard my cry for help. I succeeded in making a safe parachute landing. I was taken prisoner and returned home after the end of the war. But I totally forgot my promise and continued living as before. Then one day I was given an invitation to a gospel meeting, and I was reminded of my ingratitude. That was what led to my conversion.” That man has been a happy Christian for some years since. Let us turn to God to be saved, not just from temporal troubles but from eternal separation from God – in hell!
Image: By Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld – Die Bibel in Bildern, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5490765