"Hedged about with Mercy"
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
August 1, 2011
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ZADOK PUBLICATIONS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
August 1, 2011 "Hedged about with Mercy"
Ps 32:10-11
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Introduction: A luncheon, with a devoted and very spiritual man, was the occasion God used to engender this study entitled, "Hedged about with Mercy." As conversation progressed, the brother began relating how he had lived his life up to that point. In brief, he unfolded a scheme of living which will bear fruit in the life of anyone who will adopt its premises. He began by saying he learned by prayer and intense times with the Lord to make a wall or hedge about the things given him by God as his inheritance: his family, his belongings, his personal experiences. This was his field or vineyard. At first, it was a small vineyard. He asked the angels to help him close off any venue that would allow satan into his plot. He asked the Holy Spirit to assist him in ferreting out anything growing in the soil of his heart (or the heart of his loved ones) that might be a vein to bring about evil or destruction. Turning with a sober expression, He declared that such activity took time and patience--but yielded great results. Before long, sickness disappeared in the lives of his two sons. His wife and he began to experience a harmony that was not describable. He reiterated that he was always quick to respond to the Spirit's promptings and sought the Spirit's daily (almost minute by minute) input in his life. Harmony and blessings at home fostered his ability to have a peaceful work environ. Staying on this course, he expanded his vineyard to include others of his family (relatives) and even friends or persons the Lord would bring into his life (which thankfully included me). God would show him things about the others, and with a gentle spirit, he would pray until they were confessed or corrected and the soil of those hearts was good ground like his own. Slowly, he shared how, with prayer and staying close to God's word, his inheritance grew to a huge portion. Yes, he grew spiritually along with the added responsibilities, but always kept the basic premise of planting only in good soil. His sons are now grown and haven't experienced a sick day in their lives. Aging, with its threats of pain and dysfunction, found him utilizing his tried and true principles of bringing symptoms under authority. He doesn't receive them, won't tolerate their incursion, and stymies them at the offset. Tears came to his eyes as he recounted having to stand strong many times in the confidence of the Lord to overcome the vicissitudes of life. He stood when others were crumbling in their resolve, often being criticized as being unrealistic and practicing avoidance behavior. As he told his life experiences, I too entered his estate and looked about at the vastness of his vineyard. I thought of the correlative Scriptures that support his life style. I found myself reaching back to the time when I worked so diligently on Solomon's Secret and to the garden scene as well as the "wall" passages in Song 8. The Garden of the Heart: Hedged About with Mercy:King Jesus speaks:Importance of enclosure: In the opening Scripture one finds, "He who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him." Is this not a promise most appreciated? In light of my friend's methodologies--being surrounded by mercy is a protection most impenetrable. What can be introduced that would take away this hedge of mercy? The moment it arrives---Mercy blocks it. Mercy is the judgment of final resort. No argument can be made so great that mercy cannot field it. The ultimate sentence from the Ultimate Judge has declared MERCY and it shall not be reversed! They sang of His mercy in early Israel, "The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever." It is the song of any soul set free from the awesome tasks of monitoring life by one's self. To be surrounded on all sides with His mercy is enough protection. David knew this in the 23rd Psalm, "goodness and mercy follow me." Paul put it another way,Paul lived the impenetrable life. His spiritual wall gave him solace against a world of hurt. Even the thorn in his flesh was trumped by his sphere of authority and placed in his realm of discipline. So strong was the wall around his life that he could view his past through it and describe it in the Romans 8 passage.Rom 8:37-39 Those who run to Psalms 91 find within its gates the wondrous wall of His secret place. This passage is like the wall of fire that goes before and aft for the believer in Jesus. Nothing will succeed against that which God has separated to Himself. "No weapon formed against him will prosper," is Isaiah's comment.Ps 91:9-16 More than comment: It is the principle premise for living. Without the hedge, there is chaos. Isaiah, the great comforter of the saints, becomes the realist in judgment. He prophesied that the hedge would be removed and Judah will suffer the consequence of being "open to the aggressors." Sadly, any nation where God removes the hedge-the hell that found Job is unleashed in a moment. Every demon knows and scurries toward that country whose hedge is removed. (Start the countdown to the end of September, when the cataclysmic events begin…with irretrievable consequences.)Isaiah 5:5-8 Job's indictment by satan served to show that God can and does hedge about His loved ones. Faithful Job did not curse Him. Satan's prophecy failed. He acted toward God as though the hedge remained. Suspended for a season, its force returned and the blessings of Job were greater than his losses. As believers, we must allow the Lord to build the hedge in our lives and keep the soil inside clean and workable.. One man bore for us the horrible experiences of a hedge less human when God "forsook" Him. Triumphing over this ordeal, He rose up into God's inheritance for Him and He is the one who builds the enclosure around His Bride!Job 1:10-11 David's treatise is a masterpiece of prose about the great power of the Lord to place around us His loving mercy, grace and hedge of blessings. Yes, Paul knew that it was and still is the will of God for all His children to tend the vineyard of their heart for He has hedged them about with His mercy.Ps 139:5-16 Jesus taught His Disciples and us to possess our souls with patience---knowing we are hedged about.Rom 9:23-24 Be edified, comforted and filled with joy, for we are hedged about with His mercy!Luke 21:10-19 Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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