A second chance
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The 1984 Marty Nystrom song, “As the deer panteth for the water”, was an immediate hit, and a Scripture Union favorite! The first stanza was most popular and goes like:
“As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee.”
I remember very well how the aura of the entire fellowship changed whenever this song was raised; people would be crying, people would raise all their hands, some would be kneeling in sobriety; even the most hardened person in the fellowship got touched by the song. People gave their lives to Christ!
The song was based on Psalm 42.
READ Psalm 42:1-4
As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. (Psalm 42:1-4 NKJV)
This Psalm, titled “Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses” was composed by the sons of Korah the Levite; who were spared when their father and his associates were swallowed by the earth and destroyed, for rebellion (Numbers 16)!
Charlse H. Spurgeon wrote this about the sons of Korah, in his “Treasury of David” commentary on Psalm 42:
“They were the spared ones of sovereign grace. Preserved, we know not why, by the distinguishing favour of God, it may be surmised that after their remarkable election to mercy, they became so filled with gratitude that they addicted themselves to sacred music in order that their spared lives might be consecrated to the glory of God. At any rate, we who have been rescued as they were from going down into the pit, out of the mere good pleasure of Jehovah, can heartily join in this Psalm, and indeed in all the songs which show forth the praises of our God and the pantings of our hearts after him.”
The sons of Korah realized God gave them another chance, by sparing them. I look at my life too, and realize I have been spared many times, very many times! I remember my turbulent childhood; I remember my uncertain teens; I remember how my friend Leonora and her sister both perished the same day, on the same road I travelled regularly for five years! I remember how I came face to face with a bus which was overtaking a convoy of cars one night, after the van I also was following in convoy suddenly veered off the road; I remember the many times I dozed off behind the steering wheel; I remember the terrifying scourge of ebola; I remember some of the turbulent flights and hard landings I have experienced; I remember the time I thought I was paralyzed and would never be able to walk again!
And today, I remember how I have been spared this deadly coronavirus too! All these, not because I am better or more righteous than those who perished; Leonora was a woman of faith; a believer far better than I am, even today! She was a good person. But God spared me, and took her away! It is a mystery, that I am alive! “Through the Lord’s mercies I am not consumed, because His compassions fail not!
Has God spared anyone today? Can you rise up and sing with me,
“As A deer panteth for the waters so my soul longest after thee…” (https://youtu.be/tdY4Nx0EprI)
MEMORY VERSE
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22)
QUESTIONS
1. How has the Lord spared you?
2. Have you thanked Him enough for His manifold grace and mercy?
PRAYER TIP
God Almighty, I know I cannot thank you enough for the many ways in which you have spared me. But I say, “Thank you.”
URGENT CALL
If you don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior, you need to do that now! Please visit”
for guidance.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page. God bless you.
Written by:
BENNY MALM
For:
TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL
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