The Untouchables

The Untouchables

“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.” (Psa_91:5-7).

The devil has always sought the darkness. Indeed, he dare not come to the light lest he be exposed. It is one of the reasons why those who love evil prefer the night over the day. But while they may “party on” with mindless indifference to the great peril that looms over their heads – nevertheless, the dark prince will most certainly strike them at a time they suspect not. And “the terror by night” shall seize them with great fear.

Speaking of the “terror by night” Adam Clarke writes in his commentary on the Psalms, “Night is a time of terrors, because it is a time of treasons, plunder, robbery, and murder. The godly man lies down in peace, and sleeps quietly, for he trusts his body, soul, and substance, in the hand of God; and he knows that he who keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.”

Faith in God is the true remedy against the tormenting fear that is unleashed against our souls by the powers of darkness in times of crisis. Notice that the verse does not say that we will not be caught in the midst of the crisis, rather it says “we will not be afraid.”

This is the majesty of faith – it keeps us steady and firm in the midst of upheaval and uncertainty. Furthermore, we know that “all things work together for good, for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose”(Rom_8:28).

Yes, even in the darkness, God is moving in the Light. The Bible tells us that while the Egyptians were buried in the dreadful darkness of a terrifying plague, the children of Israel “had light in their dwellings.” (see Exo_10:23). So shall it be for us who have placed our trust in the Lord.

Whatever ill may befall those whose stubborn hearts incite them to open defiance of God, “it shall not come near you.” For the Lord has made you a part of the company of The Untouchables! 

Touch and Be Touched

The ruler of a synagogue came to Jesus and said, "My daughter has just died.   But come and put your hand
on her, and she will live" Matthew 9:18.
Again someone came to Jesus with faith, but of a different kind from either the leper or centurion.  The leper
came with tentative faith:  "If you are willing, you can make me clean"  Matthew 8:2.
The centurion said, "But just say the word, and my servant will be healed" (8:8).   This man says, "But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."  Jesus got up and went with him'  (9:18-19)

Jesus always responds to the precise nature of the faith with which He is given to work with.
The centurion said, 'Just say the word and my servant will be healed' ;  so Jesus responds to his faith and goes with the man to his house.

A large crowd followed Him as He went.  It is not difficult to imagine people flocking to Him not only to hear His teaching but also because they knew that this was the man who met needs.
IF I TOUCH!  One of the women in this crowd had faith of a different quality again.  ' She said to herself,
"If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed" (9:21).  'She had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.
She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse' (Mark 5:25-26).   She had tried the natural means of healing, and none of them had worked.   Now she needed God to do something supernaturally;  she needed a miracle.  She was obviously
a fearful, self-conscious person like so many of us, and didn't want to make herself conspicuous.   Yet in her
desperation to be healed after so many years of sickness she was determined to touch  Jesus.
Immediately she did so, her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed.   At the same
time Jesus knew power had gone out of Him for He had been touched not only by a woman's hand, but by faith, "Who touched my clothes?'  He asked.    The disciples were utterly  perplexed.   Fancy asking such a question with so many people thronging around.   'But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it'
[Mark 5:30-32]. We can imagine this dear woman cringing with fear.   She falls trembling at His feet.
Her fear is unfounded:  Jesus only wants to commend her.  'Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering'  [v34].  Again Jesus emphasizes the importance of faith when needing to receive from Him.   We certainly see the centrality of faith in what Jesus teaches about prayer and healing, both by His words and actions.  'Your faith has healed you.'  This does not mean that faith itself does the healing; faith in Jesus has enabled God to release His healing power and activity into her life.