Ps 119:134

Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.

KJV

During a very dark and oppressive time in my life a few years back I strived to draw near God. He used that time to show me some pretty ugly stuff in my life. Yes I had been hurt to the very core by someone I love very much. Then hurt again by the very same person and someone I thought was a friend. This betrayal was too much, I alone could not bear it.

1 Cor 10:13 says;

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Some translate this verse to tell others that God will not put more on you then you can bear. This verse talks about temptations, not trials, the verses before and after speak of temptation, not trials. I believe that there are times when God allows things to happen that are more than we can bear, to draw us closer to him.

There are also times when God allows us to make choices and the natural consequences of those choices cause us great pain. Some of the choices I made led to my being in a deep dark pit. Yes, those closest to me chose to do what they did, but still my choices added to my pain. As I said it was more than I could bear.

See Psalm 119:134 talks of the oppression of man, sometimes our oppression comes from others, sometimes it is self inflicted, sometimes it is both. My choices added to my oppression. Those of us who need rules, and boundaries, tend to think everyone needs those same rules and boundaries, and that can be dangerous. We become judgmental and legalistic. Pointing out each and every single piece of dust in our brother’s eye, while all the time walking around blind due to the fence we have built in our eyes.

I was living in the middle of a self oppression, and imposing that on those around me. I had decorated my pit, and was looking for a few room mates. A minister who visits prisons one time asked an inmate why he did not have pictures up and nick naks all around. This inmate informed the minister that this was NOT his home and he was not only not going to be staying here, he was not going to be coming back, ever.

This world is not our home, we are only passing through, and when I leave, I do not plan to come back.

Rules are good, boundaries are good, but when they become oppression, they are no longer good, they become a self imposed prison, and you are no longer free, you are in bondage. Bondage and oppression become comfortable, why do you think the Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt, we know what to expect, we get comfortable. Jesus came to set the captives free, even those who have oppressed themselves. Jesus can and will break those chains. See when those 3 young men went through the fire, the only thing on them that was touched, were the ropes that had them bound. Sometimes those fires we go through are to set us free from something. We are in bondage or are living in oppression, or in danger of becoming so, and the fiery trials of life are just one way that God can set us free. So “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; James 1:2”. Jesus has come, and will come again.

My praise is playing in the play list. I love all kinds of hymns and praises. This is just one of them. Sometimes we just have to stand up and “Tell ‘Ol Pharaoh, LET MY PEOPLE GO”. Even if it is yourself in a self imposed bondage, Jesus is waiting to take those chains off of you, you need only let Him.