The Christian Online Magazine -
As much as we would like to avoid them, troubles of some sort will come our way this year. What do we do? Panic? Worry? Give way to fear? Throw in the towel? Or simply be prepared.
There are three prayers that we can pray each day for the grace to see us through any trial unto victory. They are found in Psalm 69.
In Psalm 69:15, David prayed - "Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me."
Here we see David - God's servant - "a man after God's own heart" praying such prayers. Why? Was he experiencing severe testings and trials because he lacked Faith as some would attest? No, on the contrary, it was because he was God's Anointed Choice for King that made him the target for the devil and all his demonic forces.
The same will be true for us. As we seek to grow stronger and stronger in the Lord - going from one level of glory to the next - we can expect great opposition from the enemy of righteousness - Satan himself.
What do we do? Draw back and quit the Fight of Faith? Become lukewarm and complacent like so many have done? Lighten up on our study of the Scriptures or our prayer time? Absolutely Not! It's time like never before to grow more zealous in the things of God.
What we should do is pray preparatory prayers such as these mentioned in Psalm 69 so that when the attacks come(and they will surely come), we are ready - not destroyed - but made better through them.
Let's examine each prayer of David's and see how they apply to our lives -
1. "Let Not The Waterflood Overflow Me"
What is a "waterflood"? It generally refers to a volume of water, a flood, or a stream that threatens drowning. Throughout the Scriptures, it typifies impossible situations with seemingly no way of escape.
2 Samuel 22:5 - "When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid."
Job 27:20 - "Terrors take hold on him as waters..."
Job 30:14 - "They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me."
Psalm 42:7 - "...all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me."
Psalm 88:7 - "...and Thou hast afflicted me with all Thy waves."
Psalm 124:4-5 - "Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul. Then the proud waters had gone over our soul."
Psalm 144:7 - "Send Thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children."
Jonah 2:5 - "The waters compassed me about, even to the soul..."
Revelation 12:15 - "And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood."
"Waves of death" typify the cords and snares that seem to grip us when we are faced with life-threatening situations.
"Floods of ungodly men" refer to violent, wicked men who are instruments of Satan, intent on our destruction and downfall.
How many can testify of the times in the past when "terrors" or fears came suddenly and violently against their soul like angry, irresistible floods?
During a fierce battle with the enemy, it seemed, at times, as though a dam, holding back the forces of evil, broke loose, and all hell poured out against us and our families like rushing waters - "a wide breaking in of waters."
Overwhelming, rushing, heaving, and restless waters swept over our souls - leaving anguish, grief, and deep sorrow behind.
Such distress surrounded us to the extent of leaving us destitute of life and seemingly with no hope.
Satan also uses "strange children" - treacherous individuals - like "great waters" in an attempt to steal away our trust and confidence in another. Likewise, he sends error and heresy like flood waters to wash away our confidence and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. "Neither Let The Deep Swallow Me Up"
The "deep" mentioned here refers to very deep waters.
Psalm 42:7 - "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts..."
Psalm 69:1 - "Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul."
Psalm 69:14 - "Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters."
Jonah 2:3 - "For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all Thy billows and Thy waves passed over me."
Jonah 2:5 - "...the depth closed me round about..."
"Deep calleth unto deep" - How many can relate to those times when it appeared as though one affliction followed another like one wave calling to another? The "waterspouts," cataracts, or gutters seemed to echo out the most horrible sounds of despair, loneliness, and emptiness. The deep, raging, and overwhelming calamities, distresses, troubles, and dangers - like bitter and angry waters - swept over our spirits, leaving the impression of near endangerment. We saw no way out. We were sinking in our own grief. We were trapped in the gulf of despair with no apparent way out.
3. "And Let Not The Pit Shut Her Mouth Upon Me"
The "pit" refers to a well or a cavern. It is a prison, dungeon, or grave of some sort - a lake of misery. It is a deep, dark abyss where despondencies, doubts, and fears roar all day long.
Job 33:18 - "He keepeth back his soul from the pit..."
Job 33:28 - "He will deliver his soul from going into the pit..."
Psalm 28:1 - "Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit."
Psalm 40:2 - "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit..."
Psalm 88:4 - "I am counted with them that go down into the pit..."
Psalm 88:6 - "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps."
The "pit" can certainly refer to Hell - a place designed for the lawless and rebellious.
But it can also refer to -
...a figurative place in one's life of ruin and destruction for past acts of disobedience
...a pitfall where traps are laid as for wild animals
...a place of mental torment and darkness
...a place of the last extremity
...a place of hopelessness and despair
...and a place of disease and near death
David experienced it all.
He encountered the "waterflood."
He faced the swallowing "deep."
And he found himself in some "horrible" pits.
But hear his earnest plea to the Almighty -
Psalm 69:15 - "Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me."
It would behoove us to pray the same.
Like Job or David, we may find ourselves facing the "waterflood," in the "deep," or in a "horrible pit," and we may have done nothing wrong to cause such adverse circumstances. On the other hand, we may be like Jonah - running from God- and find ourselves in such terrible places.
Psalm 69:16-18 - Whatever the cause may be, we can cry out to God as David did.
And He will surely be Faithful to "hear" us "speedily," "turn" unto us "according to the multitude" of His "tender mercies," "draw nigh" unto our souls, "redeem" us, and "deliver" us because of our enemies.
The "waterflood" does not have to "overflow" us.
The "deep" does not have to "swallow" us up.
And the "pit" does not have to "shut her mouth" upon us.
We have a God in Heaven Who hears and answers prayer.
No matter what we face in the New Year, God will see us through as long as we remain Faithful to Him.
Psalm 69:15 - "Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me."
God recorded David's prayer for us to use.
Let's be sure and pray it accordingly.
Copyright 2003 by Connie Giordano
