Pastor's Corner: Our Deliverer

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” PS 18:2

This week is pretty special in that we celebrated Palm Sunday, Purim, and this Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. When we speak of Jesus as our deliverer, we are not talking about pizza delivery, a baby due or special mail delivery.

The Hebrew word for “deliverer” comes from the root “yasha’” meaning to save, help, deliver, defend, or rescue. As a side note the word “Savior” is “Yashua,” meaning “God saves,” and is Jesus’ Hebrew name (Matthew 1:21).

In the book of Judges we see the Israelites in the Promised Land repeatedly turning to other gods, being ransacked by foreign enemies, their crying out to God to save them and God sending a judge to deliver them through His power. When the judge died, the cycle repeats itself once again. Is this similar to our own age where we only seek God when we need a deliverer to rescue us, and then return to our own self destructive ways?

In the book of Esther, wicked Haman was determined to kill all of the Jews in Babylon. It was only through the prayers of the threatened Jews that Queen Esther pleads for her life and the lives of her people that the killing is stopped. Esther 4:14 reflects on God’s provision in placing her in the position of queen for such a time as this. Therefore the celebration of Purim recognizes God as their deliverer.

But the greatest portrayal of Jesus as deliverer is seen in Matthew 21:9 when He rode to Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey and the crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Hosanna means “save now” (yasha being the same root). The people wanted a Savior/Deliverer from their circumstances living under the Roman government. Possibly even here in Luke 19:41-44 when Jesus weeps over the people because they would not recognize that He came to deliver us from the sin within our hearts, we also have the tendency to pray for freedom from tyranny around us and ignore the corruption from within.

Let’s ponder upon the Deliverer that was sent from God who came to change this world one life at a time. Peace in the world has to begin with our heart at peace with God through the Prince of Peace, Yashua Jesus.

Pastor John Chapman

First Baptist Church, Havre

GHAMA