Furever families

Furever families

David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: I love you, LORD; you are my strength. – Psalms 18:1

Psalms 18:2-6

 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

 3 I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.

 5 The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.

 6 But in my distress, I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

Abandoned, neglected, or mistreated dogs often become strays. They wind up lost and bewildered. Tragically, many of them suffer and perish. However, there is hope for these animals through organizations like Rescue Me, RescueShelter.com, and the Animal Rescue Network.

In 2003, Jeff Gold, a resident of Watkinsville, Georgia, established Boxertown to assist in finding homes for boxer dogs in need. Following the success of Boxertown, Gold created Rescue Me, a network that aids in placing all types of dogs, cats, and other animals into loving homes.

One of the free services provided by Rescue Me is RescueShelter.com, a free resource that offers the most comprehensive directory of animal rescue organizations worldwide. The guide includes information on wildlife rehabilitators in more than 150 countries.

These organizations serve as a beacon of hope, a lifeline, for strays or abandoned dogs and pets whose owners can no longer provide for them. These animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and their pictures and stories are shared online. People from near and far respond and become foster families providing critical assistance to these needy canines.

Through these organizations and the kindness and compassion of ordinary people, many abandoned, neglected, or mistreated dogs are adopted into new furever families. There they are welcomed and loved. Their lives are transformed from a destiny of dismal darkness to a brighter future in a loving home.

David found himself in a very dire and difficult place. He was like an abandoned stray surrounded by enemies who were out to get him. He was being chased and hunted by those seeking his death. He was frightened and cried out for help.

“Death had had him in its grip as rope binds a prisoner. The forces of ungodliness terrified David as when one finds himself in a wadi (dry stream bed) during a spring thunderstorm and discovers a wall of water coming at him. He pictured himself trying to pick his steps through a field full of traps that hunters had set to snare animals.”

“David cried out in terror, and in His heavenly temple, God heard his call for help. He came rushing to [David’s] defense. His deliverance was like a thunderstorm in that it was the supernatural invading nature. The figures of speech in verses Psalms 8 team:7-15 picture a violent storm with lightning, thunder, high winds, torrential rains, black skies, and flooding” (Constable).

In response to David’s pleas, the Father spectacularly intervened in the time-space continuum and rescued David.

REFLECT & PRAY

In this life, confrontation is inevitable. When things go bad, finger-pointing, blaming, and confrontation often begin. Even in those dark days, we can count on the Father for His support. He has bound Himself to us forever (Stanley).

Fatherthank You for hearing and responding to my prayers and intervening on my behalf. Thank You for adopting me into Your Forever Family.

INSIGHT

But there’s more. Psalms 18 is a messianic Psalm and contains prophecy concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, David prophesied about the Coming One, the Messiah. Throughout the Psalms and other parts of the Old Testament, the Father has cleverly weaved together future prophecies about His Son with the real-life experiences and histories of those who participated or wrote about them in the Old Testament.

Psalms 18:20-31

 20 The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.

 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

 22 I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.

 23 I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

 24 The LORD rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.

 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity, you show integrity.

 26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked, you show yourself hostile.

 27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

 28 You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.

 29 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God, I can scale any wall.

 30 God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

 31 For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Psalms 18:20-30 reveals “the rationale or mystique of the Resurrection” (BBC). The Lord Jesus Christ was totally innocent and lived a sinless life. All that He said and did reveals the integrity and righteousness of His character, words, and actions. His righteous life qualified Him to be the Savior of the world.

Isaiah 53:10 But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

The Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless and spotless life. He demonstrated an undeviating devotion to the will of the Father and His commitment to His crucifixion and death on the cross. This was necessary for him to die for the sins of the world and become eligible to be resurrected.

Romans 6:4 Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

The Lord Jesus Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father. The Father’s glory refers to His magnificent splendor and power. It connotes His grandeur, majesty, and unlimited authority. Glory is a power word; it describes the power of God gloriously exercised. The phrase “through the glory of God” indicates the Father using power to raise Jesus (Toews).

Paul’s statement regarding the glory of the Father summarizes the dramatic work of the Father using His unlimited power and authority to raise Jesus (Toews).

The relationship between resurrection power and glory is referenced in the story of Lazarus.

John 11:40 Jesus responded, Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?

Resurrection from the dead reveals the unlimited power and glory of the invisible God.

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© Dr. H 2023