From Prison to Praise

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.

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)