“Deliver” is one of those terms in the English language that can mean many things. My Bible software reveals this is true in both Hebrew and Greek, the original languages of Scripture. It can mean surrender someone to another authority, rescue, give, give over, bring into another state, rescue, deliver, betray, free, and possibly more as I gave up looking after finding several thousand verses that use of deliver.
Most of them apply it to God in some way. While He does deliver people over to their enemies and is generous to give (more than 2000x use this meaning) the terms “to rescue” and “to set free” appeal to me today, probably because of the above-mentioned problem.
The Greek word meaning “to free” is used in three interesting ways:
1) Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he (Jesus) himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14–15)
In these days of pandemic lockdown, fear seems to govern many decisions. People fear the discomfort of being sick and many are afraid of dying. Jesus came to destroy the devil who has the power of death so that we can be assured of eternal life and be set free from that fear.
2) And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. (Acts 19:11–12)
As for the fear of illness, Jesus illustrated His power in healing. He did not use medicine although He can, but merely let mere pieces of cloth do it. Sometimes deliverance comes in odd and unusual ways!
3) As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. (Luke 12:58)
This verse hits home in that we are threatened by an accusation. God says to work for some sort of an agreement with the accuser rather than let this thing go any farther. The idea here is being free, not passively waiting for a gift or a rescue from God but doing whatever is needed to settle the issue. The previous verse says, “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?” Good advice.
That said, there are many examples of God rescuing or delivering His people without us doing anything. For instance, In Acts 12 and 26, Peter was set free from jail and Paul was rescued from a mob because the Lord made both deliverances possible. He told Paul He would be “delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:17–18) That same promise is to all people:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3–5)
Another Greek word has a similar meaning of being rescued, either from the darkness of sin, or the wrath to come. It is also used to describe the truth God reveals to us about His deliverance and His power to deliver:
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13–14)
. . . . and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. These thoughts are reassurance. Since God delivered me from sin and the power of death, the other problems in this life are trivial in comparison. I need not be anxious about anything. He is Lord of all and my Stronghold, my Deliverer. He will guide us through whatever happens and I can rest in Him to do whatever is right. He sets His people free, not necessarily from trouble but certainly from irrational fear.
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