Texts:
Psalm 142:1-7, Genesis 39:20-23
Key
Scripture: “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the
righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me”-
Psalm 142:7
Introduction
In life we go through different phases. God has
ordained that His children live a life of perpetual victory and dominion on
earth. However, we may find ourselves in one form of prison or the other
(either in dungeon or a state of limitation or oppression). The truth is that
we can always be full of praise and refuse to stay in the pit.
Prison
and Praise
The word prison as seen in Genesis 39 is an Hebrew
word “ beith sohar” which literally means the round house. Joseph was put in confinement.
In Psalm 142 , David was in a desperate situation. He was in the cave at
Adullam( 1 Samuel 22) running from King Saul. He prayed that his soul be
brought out of the cave. He was troubled. Prison is a place where an individual
is bound. It is to be in a state of bondage. It is a place where one is forced
to do what is against his will. A prison is a place where people are fed with
bread of affliction and water of affliction ( 1 kings 22:27, 2 Kings 25:29). A
prison is a place where the inmates where common garment. To be in prison is to
be in a pit instead of being in a palace. A prison is a place where destinies
are cut off and dreams are aborted. In prison people are kept under watch. An
individual is in prison if he’s under perpetual limitation, obstruction and
hindrances against the expression of his freedom, rights and priviledges.
The word Praise in Psalm 142:7 is “yadah” (yaw-daw)
in Hebrew which means to revere or to worship with extended hands. Praise is from
an Hebrew primary root word “halal”( haw-lal) which means to shine, sing or
worthy of praise, to celebrate, glory, to give light. Praise means to give
thanks to God and show respect to Him. To have a joyful heart and to sing from
a thankful heart. To be lost in God’s presence giving glory to Him.
Prison
to Praise
·
Poverty- Prosperity Eccl4:14, Psalm 22:26, Joel 2:26,
2 Cor 8:9
·
Bareness to Fruitfulness 1 Samuel 2:5-8, Gen 29:35, Psalm 67:3-7
·
Confusion to Direction Psalm 42:11
·
Ill health to divine health Psalm 103:1-3, Matt 8:14-15, John 5:
1-9
·
Possession/Oppression to
Deliverance Jeremiah 20:13, Psalm 146:7
·
Loneliness to been sought for Psalm 68:6
·
God’s visitation Act 16:25-27, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 107:
8,15,21,31
The following people went to prison at one time or
the other in their lives; John the Baptist, Joseph, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul,
Silas, other Apostles, Barrabas. While Jesus took the place of Barrabas and
John was beheaded others came out of prison to praise.
Transition
from Prison to Praise:- Psalm 142:1-7, Psalm 69:33, Eccl
4:14,Acts 5:18-19, Acts 16:25-26,Gen 41:14-16,38-44, Gen 39:21- 23
God is interested in changing your location. He
wants to bring you out of the miry clay and set you above your enemies. He
wants your mouth to be full of praises and he wants you to shine and be an
example of his goodness. Below are three things that will deliver you from any
form of prison.
Ø Prayers
Ø God’s
mercy
Ø Be
full of praises in the pit, be grateful
in the midst of your trouble ( Gal 4:27, Phil3:1, Phil 3:3, 1Thess 5:16, James 1:9).
You don’t have excuse to be sad and sorrowful. Fan
to flame the joy in you. Live in context of the word of God. Focus on God and
not your problem.
Conclusion
You are not alone. God is with you. Be grateful for
what you have, be grateful for who you are. When there is life there’s hope.
You have a future. When you are grateful to God, you will be thankful, when you
are thankful, you will be joyful, when you are joyful you will be song-full,
when you are song-full you will be God-full and when you are God-full mountains
skip, chains are broken, difficult situations are turned around for good.
Praise God day and night.( Isaiah 12:3)
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