DELIVER US FROM EVIL
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13
Although there are many wonderful people, there is much evil in the world. So much is changing quickly. Perhaps the world has not reached the depth of depravity foretold, but it is to be expected: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power…” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
We must be careful not to be deceived by those who call themselves Christian – “having a form of godliness but denying its power”.
Wickedness is becoming so common that we are not shocked when it occurs: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” Matthew 24:12 We must not accept this wickedness and stop praying and acting against evil. We can easily think things are out of control and be fearful or complacent. However, God is always in control.
How should we react to this evil? First, we should ask for God’s protection: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:13 Jesus told us to ask – we can know that He will answer.
The writer of Psalm 71, probably David, asked God to deliver him from evil. David had spent several years fleeing from Saul, and God had always been faithful. At this time, probably the time of Absalom’s rebellion, since it was written by an older man, David knew God well enough to expect His deliverance: “Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.” Psalm 71:4 If we are one of His “faithful ones” we can know that He will deliver us from evil: “Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10 If we love the Lord, we will hate evil.
His wisdom will protect us from perverse men: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,” Proverbs 2:6-12 God is pleased to give us wisdom when we ask.
“And lead us not into temptation” is in the same sentence as “deliver us from evil”. Keeping us from being led into temptation is something we can expect God as our Father to do for us if we ask.
David acknowledged this was something God did for him: “You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.” 2 Samuel 22:37 Psalm 18:36 If we don’t fall into temptation, we are much more apt to not fall into evil.
If we fear the Lord, we avoid evil: “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.” Proverbs 16:6 If we fear God we love and obey Him – sin is purged from our hearts and we avoid evil.
If our ways are pleasing to the Lord, He causes our enemies to make peace with us: “When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.” Proverbs 16:7 Sometimes we have enemies through no fault of our own, and God can supernaturally cause them to be at peace with us. Even lf we arouse anger through our own foolishness, God will forgive us if we repent and lesson the consequences.
If we are upright and guard our ways (be careful to obey God) we avoid evil and preserve our lives: “The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.” Proverbs 16:17 If we fear God we will obey Him. That is wisdom. If we have understanding we will “shun evil”: “And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” Job 28:28 For example, we are much less likely to be the victim of a crime involving alcohol if we don’t drink.
God will comfort us in “the darkest valley”. Our “cup overflows” and God’s “goodness and love” are with us forever: “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23 A large portion of the Bible contain words that tell us how God will care for us if we are His children.
God doesn’t protect us from all trouble. Jesus said: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” John 15:18 Many children of God have to go through tremendous persecution, even martyrdom. Jesus told us that there is purpose in our suffering: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12 If we are persecuted for obeying Jesus, we are to rejoice because great is our reward in heaven.
Jesus expects us to face conflict: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 19:37-39 We must stand up for Jesus even if it means losing those closest to us.
Knowing that God is taking care of us even to the point of having everything that happens to us work out for good, makes it possible to always be joyful: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 It is challenging to continually remember that in all things good is being achieved, but that is what is promised so in faith we can always claim that promise.
Sometimes, especially when we look back, we can see good in the results of our troubles: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” Philippians 1:12 Knowing that our loved ones are aware of our suffering can be difficult. Paul encouraged those in Philippi, by telling them the good that had been achieved because of his imprisonment.
We don’t have to worry about anything if we are a child of God: “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:28-34 We just have to put His kingdom first, obey Him, and He will take care of everything.
If we do worry, it shows our lack of faith – our strength is small. “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!” Proverbs 24:10
The following verse came alive to me some time ago. We were living in Nova Scotia and I had a morning paper route. I was nervous because sometimes dogs I didn’t know would come out when I delivered papers. At one time I thought, “Maybe it’s not worth doing the paper route, when this verse came to mind: “A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” Proverbs 26:13 A sluggard is afraid of a lion, and I’m afraid of a possible mean dog! I prayed for a dog to go with me. One of the first houses I went to had a big golden lab. She would go with me on my paper route and then return home. She was afraid, also, and would come close to me if any dog came near, but because she was big, other dogs avoided her.
Fear is a spirit. We need to let ourselves be controlled by the Spirit of God who gives us “power, love and self-discipline”: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 2:7 Paul had to remind his spiritual son Timothy, who was the pastor of a church, to be bold. We need to remind each other.
Kay Arthur, well known Bible teacher, has said, nothing can happen to us that is not filtered through fingers of love. A man speaking in our church is wanted dead by an evil government. He said, “I’m bullet proof till God wants me dead.” There is no evil that can come upon us that will not be used for our good and God’s glory.
Before his long and successful responsibility of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land God gave this commandment to Joshua several times: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7 Obviously he needed to hear this advice over and over, as many of us do. God said this to the prophet Jeremiah, who faced much more persecution than most of us: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5 Jeremiah was rewarded when, his prophecies were proven right and his country had to go into exile. While the rulers of Israel were either killed or imprisoned by their captors, he was set free by the invading army.
The Apostle Paul told us the attitude we should have: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 We have more faith and courage to “rejoice always” if we “pray continually”.
Paul lived what he preached. He could even rejoice while in prison: “The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” Acts 16:22-26 The letters Paul wrote from prison express joy (especial Philippians) because he knew he was in prison for the sake of Christ (Ephesians 3:1 Philippians 1:12-14 Colossians 4:18 Philemon 1:9).
The following passage tells several things about Paul and his situation: he knew why he was in prison “I am an ambassador in chains”, he knew what Jesus wanted him to do “fearless make known the mystery of the gospel”, he knew what he was asked to do was dangerous and it required courage “pray that I may declare it fearlessly”, and he was wise enough to ask for prayer for courage “pray also for me”: “‘Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:19-20 Christians have the answer to the world’s problems, but it requires courage to make the gospel known. Satan often makes it dangerous or appear foolish or inconvenient. We all need prayer for wisdom and courage to tell what Jesus has done for us and for the world.
Paul knew what he would be facing, but that didn’t keep him from proclaiming “the name of the Lord Jesus”: “After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” Acts 26:10-14 Paul took the offensive in proclaiming the gospel.
The Apostle Peter tells is to rejoice in our sufferings because of a “new birth into a living hope”. He tells us the reason for sufferings – to prove the “genuineness of your faith”: “…In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9 The truths of this passage are inexhaustible.
The Apostle James also tells us to consider our trials “pure joy”: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:3-4 Our trials are making us “mature and complete”.
We are to set our hearts and minds on things above: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 If we have already died, why should we be afraid?
No matter what we are going through, we can set our hope on the grace we receive at Jesus’ coming: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” 1 Peter 1:13