“RESCUED FROM POWERFUL ENEMIES”
OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
READ: 2 Samuel 22:17–20
MEMORY VERSE
“[God] rescued me from my powerful enemy.” 2 Samuel 22:18
BACKGROUND
In 2010, at the age of ninety-four, George Vujnovich was awarded the bronze star for organizing what the New York Times called “one of the greatest rescue efforts of World War II.”
Vujnovich, son of Serbian immigrants to the US, had joined the US Army. When word arrived that downed American airmen were being protected by rebels in Yugoslavia, Vujnovich returned to his family’s homeland, parachuting into the forest to locate the pilots.
Dividing the soldiers into small groups, he taught them how to blend in with the Serbs (wearing Serbian clothes and eating Serbian food). Then, over months, he walked each small group out one at a time to C-47 transport planes waiting at a landing strip they’d cut out of the woods.
Vujnovich rescued 512 elated, joyful men.
David described the elation of being rescued by God from enemies who’d hemmed him in with no escape. God “reached down from on high and took hold of me,” David said, “he drew me out of deep waters” (2 Samuel 22:17).
King Saul, enraged with jealousy, hounded David, ruthlessly seeking blood. But God had other plans. “He rescued me from my powerful enemy,” David recounted, “from my foes, who were too strong for me” (v. 18).
God rescued David from Saul. He rescued Israel from Egypt. And in Jesus, God came to rescue all of us. Jesus rescues us from sin, evil, and death. He’s greater than every powerful enemy.
By: Winn Collier
INSIGHT
Second Samuel 23:8–39 describes King David’s special forces of heroic soldiers who fought his battles and risked their lives for him. In addition, he had more than a million able-bodied men he could have drafted for battle (24:9).
But as expressed by his song in chapter 22, it was God who deserved the credit for David’s rescues and reputation. Even as his nation’s most celebrated son, he was far from perfect. Although his last words make no mention of his mistakes (23:1–7), the biblical account does.
In addition to his affair with Bathsheba (chs. 11–12), he insisted, in another thoughtless moment, on a census to assess his nation’s military strength (see 24:10). Even a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) could forget that his strength was always in his merciful God—never in the numbers.
By: Mart DeHaan
APPLICATION
Where do you feel hemmed in, with no escape from lies you believe or sin that binds you? How do you see Jesus coming to rescue you?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“When the devil comes knocking on your door simply say: “Jesus, it’s for You” Robin Gunn
“The LORD will cause the enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way, but flee before you seven ways.” Deuteronomy 28:7 (Amplified Bible)
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (My Re-Emphasis from Post)
“…in Jesus, God came to rescue all of us. Jesus rescues us from sin, evil, and death. He’s greater than every powerful enemy.”
*YOUR TAKE? 
PRAYER
All-powerful God, I need to be rescued. If You don’t help me, I’m finished. I have no escape. So I’m turning to You. Please help me.
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME” Fred Hammond
No weapon formed against me
Shall prosper
It won’t work
No weapon formed against me
Shall prosper
It won’t work
Say no weapon formed…
It won’t work
Say no weapon formed…
It won’t work
Say, God will do what He said
He will do
He will stand by his word
And He will come through
God will do what He said He will do
He will stand by his word,
He will come through
No weapon formed
Against me shall prosper
It won’t work…
He’s not a man that he should lie
Stand by His word
He will come through
Say, God will do what He said
He will do
He will stand by his word,
He will come through
Oh, I won’t be afraid of the arrow by day
From the hand of my enemy
I can stand my ground
With the Lord on my side
For the snares they have set
Will not succeed
No weapon formed against me
Shall prosper (No way)
It won’t work (And it won’t work)
No weapon formed against me…
For I know God would do
What He says He’s gonna do
He would stand by His word
Stand by His word
He will come through, yeah
God would do what He says
He’s gonna do
Stand by His word…
No weapon formed against me…
No weapon…
No weapon..
It won’t work..
Don’t be afraid of the evils
Or the snares of our enemies..,
There just ain’t just one weapon
There just ain’t one…
Although they’ve sent a snare to trap you
I want you to know it won’t work
It won’t work…
It won’t work…
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (THIS WEEK)
THE BOOK OF JUDGES (REVIEW)
THE BOOK OF II CORINTHIANS (REVIEW)