Why Salvation IS deliverance!

 

Sun Jun 29^th 2025

Why salvation is the experience of deliverance!

In our traditions, salvation has become a concept, a status of being, a frame of mind, and many other notions. In the Bible it is very simple and down to earth. It is God intervening in your life in the here and now and making the essential needed difference. This is what Jesus is about.

True, there is forgiveness of sin, and a new beginning. But this is not a cyclical up and down thing. In Jesus, it is linear and incremental according to how much you put into it, and will take you from strength to strength as your relationship with Jesus grows!.

1.First, a community perspective: Israel is in Egypt, in the time of Rameses II; look at The Book of Exodus: What happened?

a.2.23ff. Israel is in distress; Cause of distress – they are oppressed by the Egyptians, forced into slavery, and living in depression, sorrow and fear. Israel cries out to God for help.

b.3:7-8ff. God promises deliverance i.e. salvation! Remember, the word salvation means deliverance from…salvation is not an ongoing state of being…it is to be set free from that which threatens harm to us.

c.14:13ff the promised deliverance occurs!  Moses leads the people out!

d. 15:1ff the result: the people are in great joy because they have been saved!

The former situation is no more; they are free from it.

 

2. A 2^nd scene - the combination of both group and individual perspectives on deliverance as salvation/salvation as deliverance: synonymous, really.  The Book of Judges: many years later after Exodus – the story of Gideon, an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, versus the Midianites.

We fast forward in Old Testament history; Israel has crossed the Jordan, and leadership has passed from Moses to Joshua, ( see Joshua Ch 1 );  but while the people have voiced their commitment to God’s invitation to be a blessing to all human beings, they have consistently done the reverse! (remember Exodus 32:7ff on Aaron & the golden calf, even while Moses was being given the 10 commandments.) Instead of seeking to be a blessing to others, much of Israel goes around sharing in the ‘blessing’ of others, worshiping their Gods, and participating in various temple activities. Temples in those days fostered a great deal of hedonistic activity. Even today, worship is not so much about God as it is about affirming human living and expressing the hope of God’s intervention in our lives. This is not spiritual growth by any means. Worship does not get us beyond the creative artistry of human social activity to the real ‘dabar’ or Word of God – the experiencing of the living Word. Worship just tries to encourage us (if done right) through academic knowledge (sounds good) and emotional affirmation (feels good). Not what Jesus intended. Jesus is about much more.

So, the Israelites have yet to be a blessing to anyone. And God’s protection ceases because it cannot exist in a one-sided Covenant. The Israelites soon fall prey to the Midianites and oppression falls upon Israel. And the Israelites cry to God for help, once again. While Egyptian oppression was intentional, Midianite oppression now results from Israel’s failure to keep Covenant with God, resulting in the loss of spiritual protection. Israel is now vulnerable.

6:11 And then…an Angel appears to Gideon, (not in a dream) and addresses him as a mighty warrior, commissioned to deliver Israel.  Gideon is a small man, in stature and his ‘who, me?’ is a classic demo of how God works. This is love and mercy on God’s part, in order that God’s will may be fulfilled for our sakes. And God is using the weakest of the weak to make a point about God’s spiritual power.  Remember the ‘not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit’ verse? An important distinction in the reality of walking with God. Much of the world has not gotten this point. Nor has the Christian church been able to point to it effectively. You are as strong as your weakest link; and here, the weakest link proves the strongest of them all. Not by military power, not by the stuff $ can buy, nor by anything of our own, but only by the will of the Lord God.

6:17ff Gideon asks for a sign; it is given. Realizing the nearness of God’s presence, Gideon is afraid and fears death, but is assured he will live, and will fulfill his mission. He is to build an altar at Oprah and cut down the Altar to Ba’al which the Israelites, following local custom, have built.  He does so under concealment of night. But he is seen, and the people come after him the next day! He took down our altar! How shall we appease these powers that are greater than us? But the One God seeks neither an altar nor placative offerings through prayer and worship. God seeks only the spiritual growth of every individual and its outcome.

6:36 Gideon asks for a 2^nd sign – the fleece of wool. It is done; then he asks for a third sign – and it is also given.

7:2 Many support Gideon. Gideon ‘feels’ that there might be no glory to God in this, because of the obvious superior numbers of the Midianites. He has already forgotten about God’s power, so the lesson is retaught -  22 thousand are sent home, and 10 thousand remain. These ten thousand are drastically reduced, as in 7:4ff. Total number remaining: 300! And God says, it is enough. And it is. Israel finds deliverance-salvation in the spiritual power of God, once again. Midian is defeated. Not in the strength of military might, but in the spiritual strength of God Almighty. Another lesson of the power of the Spirit still yet to be learned. There is much joy, but little reflection on how this strange resolution has come about.

3. 1 Samuel 17: David vs Goliath of the Philistines

Context: In a time when David is armor bearer for Israel’s 1^st king, Saul (see 1 Sam 8:4ff…. where the people of Israel have decided that they want to be like the nations and have a physical human King, not some invisible Being, although this meant that they were rejecting God as their King, as the Lord said to Samuel. But now the Philistines have come against Israel. The Philistines choose single representative combat to decide the issue of military superiority, and send out their champion, Goliath. This is happening because Israel has ignored the opportunity to be a blessing. Israel wants to be like the nations, with worldly goods and riches, which is not what its purpose is all about. But Israel was not listening then, and is not listening now.

1 Sam 17:10ff Goliath challenges Israel

1 Sam 17: 20ff David is sent with food for his brothers, who were with the Israelite forces at the time, and he learns of the Goliath challenge situation.

1 Sam 17:31f David volunteers to fight Goliath. King Saul, in good humor, puts armor on David, but it is too heavy. David can hardly move in it! David ends up taking his shepherd’s sling and a couple of stones from the wadi. The champions meet, words are exchanged, Goliath charges and David brings him down with a stone to the forehead. Goliath falls, dead. Israel is delivered. Once again, you note how salvation = deliverance.

 

What we have looked at are incidents in which Israel repeatedly forgets God and goes after the temptations of earthly pleasure. When this happens, God’s protective care no longer applies. That protective care exists to protect God given mission to be a blessing. But when Israel cries out to God, God supports Israel so that God’s will that people be a blessing to each other might yet be fulfilled. This is what Isreal is supposed to kick-start! More than covenant or mission, this is simply the Creator’s love for all of creation. Israel is a random sample, reflective of all mankind, chosen to demonstrate this love. This is why God gives Israel much more than a second chance. Their struggle and failure is representative of all of us. Nothing special about them.

Now we come to the work of protective covenant in the life of the individual.

4. Psalm Six

Context: Like the previous three, this is a cry of distress to God. But this is about an individual, suffering a personal incident, hence an individual psalm of lament. What is the Psalmist saying? Something is wrong…. I don’t know what to do …please help…I am suffering in so many ways…and I am waiting for your help; how long am I to wait…? This is the cry, as seen in verses 1 – 6. A personal cry for deliverance.  And then? Deliverance happens! This is the deliverance of salvation. This is the meaning of it. But a relationship that happens to you that makes a change in your life situation! And goes on from there!

Covenant began with an individual dimension in the life of Abraham. If a people are to be a blessing, how exactly will they be this blessing? Well, each one, in their own way, in their own lives, must seek to serve – to be a blessing in relation to the well-being of those around them, as opportunity provides! It’s not rocket science, as the saying goes. We’ve just changed it into a ‘going to church will do it!’ No, it won’t. It’s how we behave in our lives towards everyone around us. At home, at work, and elsewhere. That’s what it is. God shows us how. This is why deliverance-salvation is meant to be a reality for all.

6:1-7 I am languishing; my bones are shaking with terror;  I am weary with moaning; I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping; my eyes waste away…the psalmist is in very bad shape – physically, emotionally, mentally, and it all comes down to the state of his spiritual being….

6:8ff and then – deliverance-salvation occurs! No description is shared. We are not told how or what happens. Except that it does. And the Psalmist rejoices! He is delivered! This is salvation. He is saved. Beyond, faith, beyond belief, and into experience. Now.

6:8 The lord has heard my weeping…..my supplication…..accepts my prayer….my enemies shall be struck…they shall turn back….struck with terror, ashamed.

 Review the pattern of deliverance-salvation: oppressed, Israel cries out to God; God hears and responds. This is demonstrated mercy – Heb. khesedh - the loving kindness of God. God is never obliged to do anything. And no one understands the will of God. Here, we have a Covenant that is unlimited as long as God wishes it. From national chaos to individual suffering – nothing is impossible to God. It all lies in God’s will, And God’s will is not only dependent on faith or belief, but much more on one other thing – relationship!

Build your relationship with Jesus, through everything you say and do to those around you, so that Jesus is always with you and in you. Stay close to him. Abide. And then watch for yourself how your ability to move, to influence, to make things change for the better, improves accordingly. This is the adventure of Christians walking into the Kingdom of God in the here and now. And it is doable. Go thou, and do this, rejoicing in the blessing of the God who loves you, and seeks only to bless you with his energy and his love. Grace and peace in Jesus, G.

The Blog history of posts is at dreliatjacobsladder.blogspot.com, and there is no agenda with me. No fund raising, no mission etc except for each one to grow in Christ. Your call.