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In my Bible, a footnote describes Psalm 124 as a prayer of "thanksgiving for a national deliverance." Reading the Psalm, it certainly is clear that the people of Israel expected to be defeated in some great catastrophe, and recognized that only with God's help had they been delivered from their enemies. Obviously, this was a big deliverance. In this Advent season, we are getting ready to celebrate an even bigger deliverance, God's gift of Jesus to deliver us from "sin, death, and the power of the devil," as Luther says in his Small Catechism explanation of the Apostles' Creed.
Big deliverances are apparent to us, but if we pay attention, we will see that God grants us small deliverances all the time! Maybe it's being guided by the Holy Spirit to find the right things to say in a difficult conversation, or finding in a sermon words of inspiration that address a personal challenge, or even just finding a close-in parking space when you
'
re late for a meeting. As for me, the Holy Spirit just gave me deliverance from uncertainty about how to apply today's Psalm to the Advent season!
It's important to be aware of God's presence in all the activities of daily life, perhaps by reflecting each evening on the many small deliverances you may have received that day, and saying along with the psalmist that "
our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth
." How amazing it is that the Lord who made heaven and earth is with us and guides us all day, every day!
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