47b — Deliver Us From Evil
Lions and Evil —
Deliver means to rescue or save. It is the same word that King Darius used when he called out to Daniel in the dark pit below and asked if his God had been able to deliver him from the lions (Daniel 6).
We, of course, know the answer to that question. Yes, God sent his angels to keep the hungry lion’s mouths shut all throughout the night. In so doing, God delivered Daniel from a great evil.
This is the picture of what we are asking when we pray “deliver us from evil” in the Lord’s Prayer. There are dangers all around — many in our own heart — that seek to turn us away from faith and obedience.
In fact, I Peter 5:8 states that our enemy the devil is like a hungry, roaring lion seeking for someone to devour — eager to destroy faith and obedience wherever he finds an opening.
We by ourselves are no match to fight off this enemy of our faith or the various temptations we constantly encounter in life. That is why Jesus encouraged his followers to sincerely pray for God’s help and deliverance with the words: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Watch this nature video of roaring lions on the prowl. It is mixed with music based on I Peter 5:8 and is a sobering reminder that evil is nothing to play around with or ignore. Rather we must be alert and ever dependent on the God who watches over our souls for good.
(Warning: The footage in this video of lions hunting their prey is real and graphic.)
My Prayer
Dearest Lord, Thank you that sin and evil are nothing to joke about. They are real enemies of my soul. Please give me the strength I need to resist temptation and deliver me from the evil that I am often not even aware of. Thank you for being such a strong and powerful Savior. I rest my soul in your care. Amen.
