Focus: Divine Token

Text: Ps.86:17

"Shew me a TOKEN FOR GOOD; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me."

David is praying; let's join him. He's going through stuff. Things are not going his way. He is surrounded by haters and those who want to see him damned or dead. He has nowhere else to run to, except God. He turns to his God in prayer and says, "Show me a token for good…" The Message Bible says, "Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed…"

I see myself praying same way as David. O Lord, put Your mark of goodness upon me! You put a mark on Cain, so that no one would see him to kill him. In a similar way, put Your mark on me for men not to hurt me! Let evil men avoid me by all means!

O Lord, mark me out for good! Put Your seal of grace on me! Let people look at me and see Your divine mark on me! My God, put a mark on me for evil men not to prevail over me! Let Your banner of love be all over me!

Lord, bring me to Your banqueting house, and let Your banner of love be all over me! Show me Your sign of approval!

Judas gave the Jewish authorities a token of how to identify Jesus Christ. Mark reports, "And he that betrayed him had given them a TOKEN, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely" (Mk.14:44). That was a token of betrayal. 

I need a token of Your benevolence. O Lord, give men a token of Your approval of me! Let people know that I truly belong to You!

Lord, as Rahab demanded for a true token from the Israeli spies, I ask of You for a beautiful token of Your mercy and salvation, a token of Your presence and power, a token of the blood of Christ and of His exalted name, a token of Your word and of Your Spirit. Grant me a token of Your anointing!

I join the psalmist to say, "They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at THY TOKENS: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice" (Ps.65:8).

Lord, You have many tokens - tokens of Your love. Let me experience Your joy and peace as tokens! Make me rejoice in Your goodness and beauty!

Like the psalmist, I make bold to declare that You "sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants" (Ps.135:9). Yes, all the troubles that came upon Egypt and Pharaoh were tokens of Your ownership of Israel! You preserved Israel in Egypt and delivered him from the bondage of Pharaoh. You brought him through the Red Sea and Jordan and guided him safely into the promise land. You provided all that he needed along the way. You led him and fought his battles. You proved indeed to be his God. You stood by and took care of him. Those were Your tokens.

Lord, brandish Your tokens for me! Going forward from today, let all men know of a truth that I am Yours, and You are mine. Protect me in this evil world and let Your good hand be upon me. Make me fulfill your will on earth. Expose me to Your awesome presence, great power, abundant provisions and ably protective arms, in Jesus' name. Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter