Salt & Light Blog

2 Kings 6:8-23 Elisha lived by Faith not Sight

1/25/2016

as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

2 Kings 6:8-23
Your faith or your fear depend on your perspective and in turn your perspective depends on your faith or your fear. This story of Elisha and the King of Syria is an illustration of that point. Verses 8-10 read,
“Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.”
Elisha’s perspective was one in which God was El Shaddai, All-Sufficient Mighty Lord. He had a close relationship to God and his ears and heart were always open ready to receive a word or command. Because Elisha’s perception of the world was through faith, the King of Israel was blessed along with Israel herself. Elisha’s natural vision did not dictate what he knew to be true, his supernatural vision buoyed him. Like Moses before him, Elisha kept his eyes on the Lord, who is unseen to the world (Hebrews 11:27).
The king of Syria was becoming paranoid. It was clear to him that someone was telling Israel’s army their secret plans. He was sure he had a mole. Verses 11-14 read,
“And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.”
It was the king’s servant who explained that Israel had The LORD who knows what is said in secret (Matthew 6:4), and it was Elisha, the man of God who was telling the king their plans. The Syrian king could only see the world in terms of his power and pride. So he devised a secret plan to capture Elisha and to do so with great intimidation. He sent a great army to capture God’s prophet.
Of course The Lord told Elisha and of course Elisha didn’t give in to fear. What is a great army against The Lord of angel armies? Romans 8:31-35 reminds us,
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
So the Syrian army headed to capture Elisha. Verses 15-16 read,
“When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Elisha’s servant walked out in the morning and his natural eyes showed him a fearsome sight. He reacted to those terrifying circumstances. He turned to Elisha and said, “What should we do?” But Elisha assured his servant that those who were with them were greater than those who were against them. I wonder if the servant looked around and thought Elisha had lost it. He could only see the two of them. Elisha though had The Spirit of God on him just like Timothy, the eventual successor to his title (1 Timothy 6:11). He knew there was nothing to fear. He remained calm because he saw his circumstances through the Spirit’s eyes and not his own. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 reads,
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Not everyone is at the same place as you are in there walk with Christ. Some are less mature, others are more mature. Some have no problem looking at the world through the Spirit’s eyes, others need help. Paul laid his hands on Timothy to impart the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Elisha prayed for his servant to see through God’s eyes. Verses 17-19 read,
“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.”
Elisha never gave in to fear because he chose to see, hear, and think in the Spirit. He calmly and logically ask the Lord to fight for him. If his deeper vision had saved him, the army that wanted to capture him would lose because they were made blind. God made the army ignorant of where they were and who they sought. Elisha then only had to lead them to the king of Israel. Verses 20-23 read,
“As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.”
Imagine the army’s shock when their eyes were opened and realized where they were. The king of Israel was ready to slaughter them. But once again Elisha’s Spirit perspective pointed out the wiser choice. Rather than kill them and have more troops sent to avenge them and try and capture Elisha and the king, they opened their eyes showed them the greatness of God and even fed them. They saw that Israel had nothing to fear because The Lord is Great. They went home and reported that to their king and he did not dare send more troops against The LORD. They certainly were not going to go again. They could have been killed or held captive, but instead they were shown mercy, given a great feast, and sent home. Elisha showed the men the nature of God.
Elisha revealed God to his servant, to the king of Israel, to the Syrian army, and through them to the Syrian king. We have the onus of revealing The Lord God, Jesus Christ to everyone we can as well. We see The Truth, but they are blind to it. We can ask the Lord to open their eyes. We can demonstrate God’s love and nature to the world, so they can see Jesus.
We see the world through eyes of faith. Hebrews 11:1-3 defines faith this way,
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
Faith, seeing through God’s eyes moves us to act. It is a way of living. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 in The Message says,
“That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.”
Verses 11-14 of that same chapter read,
“That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It’s no light thing to know that we’ll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.”
Believer, you see the world through supernatural Godly eyes, do not keep that vision to yourself. Pray that God opens the eyes of the people you meet. Live in such a way that they will see Jesus when they look at you.

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Revelation 19:11-21 Jesus on the White Horse: A Description of God

1/6/2016

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Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. Revelation 19:11

Revelation 19:11-21
As John watched Heaven celebrate, He saw the Bridegroom Jesus appear in all His splendor to complete His vengeance for His bride. Verses 11-16 describe Him.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
The time for justice has come. The white horse represents the Lord’s justice, righteousness, and power in action. Jesus is called Faithful and True. God’s names are His attributes and aspects of who He is. He is the source of every one of His attributes. God is Love and Love comes from God (1John 4:7-8). God is Faithful and True and faith comes from Him (Romans 10:17). Jesus is Faithful and True because He has remained steadfastly committed to us, His bride. He has never wavered in His deep and perfect love for us. In John’s vision, the moment we wait for has happened and Jesus goes out on His horse to complete it. He does not leave things half done, ever. Who better to judge the earth than Faithful and True? He has always been our Warrior King, Faithful and True. In Exodus 15:1-3 Moses sings a song of praise to the LORD for delivering Israel from Pharaoh and Egypt and his prophetic words speak of Jesus our Deliverer and Lord of Hosts.
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
    the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a man of war;
    the LORD is his name.”
Look at Jesus’ awesome description. “His eyes are like a flame of fire.” He is passionate. He is the Truth, The Way, and The Life (John 14:6). He zealously and vehemently seeks justice and sees into the darkness to know the truth of a person’s heart (Luke 16:15). The description continues, “on his head are many diadems” Diadems are crowns, royal headbands that only a king or queen may wear. Jesus wears many of them because He is King of kings, King over the entire earth, the heavens, and everything in them. We will be given crowns when we come home to Him in the harvest. We will give them right back to Him in praise and worship, just as the twenty four elders did (Revelation 4:10). He wears them. He gives us power, authority, and honor by making us royalty and we give it all back to Him through life lived in worship and service to Him. “He has a name written that no one knows but himself.” The Lord has many names, He is Messiah, Emmanuel, Shephard, Faithful, Love, King of kings, Lord of lords, and Redeemer. He is Holy and Righteousness. We know Him by His names, but one name is unknown to us. It is known only to Him. Will that name be revealed to us one day? When we are united with the Bridegroom for eternity and are with Him completely in His presence, will He reveal it to us? I think yes. I think we will wait until the time of New Jerusalem and we will know Him perfectly.
“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.” The Word of God is one of Jesus’ names and it means that He is God’s will manifested or brought to fruition. As Jesus is the Lord of hosts leading the vast angel armies in His wrath, He is fulfilling the warnings God has issued to His people over the eons and eras of history. His robes are dipped in blood, the blood of the people He judges in God’s wrath, the river of blood that reaches the horse’s bridle and flows 183 miles long (Revelation 14:8). The armies that follow Him are not touched by the evil and sin of the blood payment of the doomed. They are described in the garments of the bride, fine linen, white and pure. We will be there with him judging the nations and the angels who chose Satan. In 1 Corinthians 6:1-4 Paul explains to the church why they need to exercise the discernment and wisdom given to them by God.
“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?”
We are riding with Jesus in His heavenly army. The wedding feast is not pheasant under glass with pomegranates and figs it is the flesh of the kings, captains, and powerful men judged by God’s wrath. Verses 17-18 describe it.
“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”
When all the people have paid the price the time for the final battle will arrive. Verses 19-21 read,
“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.”
Are you standing and singing halleluiah? Are you on your knees and face crying praise the Lord? I am praising God because He is Faithful and True. He keeps His word and though this event lies in our future, it is already done. It is finished.

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Joel 2 The Day of the LORD

11/14/2015

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How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:14-15

Joel 2
The Day of the LORD is coming. Most believers know it, but the lost don’t really understand. They have a skewed understanding of “The End.” They deserve to know the truth, but how can they know it if no one cares enough to tell them. The Day of The LORD is terrible for the lost. Terrible as in immense, terrifying intense, and causing great alarm. Verses 1-11 describe the army of The LORD on that Day.
“Blow a trumpet in Zion;
    sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
2 a day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
    a great and powerful people;
their like has never been before,
    nor will be again after them
    through the years of all generations.
3 Fire devours before them,
    and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
    but behind them a desolate wilderness,
    and nothing escapes them.
4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,
    and like war horses they run.
5 As with the rumbling of chariots,
    they leap on the tops of the mountains,
like the crackling of a flame of fire
    devouring the stubble,
like a powerful army
    drawn up for battle.
6 Before them peoples are in anguish;
    all faces grow pale.
7 Like warriors they charge;
    like soldiers they scale the wall.
They march each on his way;
    they do not swerve from their paths.
8 They do not jostle one another;
    each marches in his path;
they burst through the weapons
    and are not halted.
9 They leap upon the city,
    they run upon the walls,
they climb up into the houses,
    they enter through the windows like a thief.
10 The earth quakes before them;
    the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
    and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 The Lord utters his voice
    before his army,
for his camp is exceedingly great;
    he who executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;
    who can endure it?”
The army will be bigger than we can even imagine, so big and powerful that its movement will be enough to destroy. No weapons will be useful against them. They will move to Jesus’ command and nothing can stop them. Even the earth itself will react.
When that trumpet, that shofar sounds it will be a call to repent. But the call has been out there for so long. The people have had so many chances that by the time that trumpet sounds, they won’t, and there will be no more opportunities. But there are chances now. It is not too late. Today is the day to call on God and be saved. The Lord is waiting for you to come to Him, but He will not wait forever. (2 Peter 3:9). He’s calling to the lost and He’s calling to believers to obey His great commission. (Matthew 28:16-20). Verses 12-14 read,
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13     and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?”
Our obedience to Him, our proper worship of Him, and our praise and thanksgiving to Him are a living sacrifice and a testimony to the lost. (Romans 12:1-2). Philippians 1:27-30 reads,
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”
But we also have to tell them! In Mark 5:19 Jesus said, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
We need to take The Day of The LORD seriously. Jesus is coming. That is terrible for the lost and wonderful for us. But we love the lost. We can’t just party like it’s 1999 and not care that they are dying. Let’s earnestly pray, let’s seriously obey and minister to The Lord. Verses 15-17 read,
“Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16     gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
    assemble the elders;
gather the children,
    even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar
    let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
    and make not your heritage a reproach,
    a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”
Do you realize how much God loves us? Do you know that He has compassion for us and so He gives us what we need to be in this temporary home, called Earth? He has given us the tools to obey Him. He protects us from the thieving lying enemy. Verses 18-23 say,
“Then the Lord became jealous for his land
    and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
    grain, wine, and oil,
    and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
    a reproach among the nations.
20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
    and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard into the eastern sea,
    and his rear guard into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
    for he has done great things.
21 “Fear not, O land;
    be glad and rejoice,
    for the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, you beasts of the field,
    for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
    the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
23 “Be glad, O children of Zion,
    and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
    he has poured down for you abundant rain,
    the early and the latter rain, as before.”
All that was taken by the enemy, will be restored to us. All that we sacrificed and lost for Jesus’ sake will be ours again. New Jerusalem, God’s own city on New Earth will be perfect and we will never want or cry or need. Verses 24-27 read,
“The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
    the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years
    that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
    my great army, which I sent among you.
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
    and praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
    and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.”
And now in the meantime, we have still have God with us. Jesus, our Redeemer came. He gave us the Holy Spirit. God is with us! That is a big deal. Consider that magnitude of The LORD God Almighty being with you, in you, and around you. Reflect on the implications of the Creator of the entire universe working through you to accomplish His purposes! Verses 28-32 read,
“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.”
God speaks though us. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through signs and wonders. Everyone who calls on Jesus’ name will be saved, but how can they call on Him if they’ve never heard? God uses all of us who let Him.

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1 Kings 19 God Disciplines His Children, He Doesn’t Punish Us.

10/11/2015

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1 Kings 19
Elijah’s job was difficult. He was a prophet of The Lord to Israel, a nation who had gone astray under Jeroboam and kept getting worse under each successive king. But he did it and he did it faithfully. He had just proved the futility of following Baal to all of Israel, killed the idol’s 450 prophets and ended a three year drought. I imagine he was on a spiritual high, feeling good, living in power and with authority of The Lord. As often happens when we are having a “mountain top” experience, the enemy attacked. Ahab told Jezebel everything that had transpired between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Jezebel didn’t take the news well. She was a vicious woman who had completely supported the 450 prophets. It was because of her that the religion prospered in The Northern Kingdom. (1 Kings 18:19).
In verse 2 Jezebel made an oath to Elijah which she delivered by messenger. She said, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Verses 3-4 read,
“Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
He was frightened. He knew who Jezebel was and what she was capable of. His fear drove him into the wilderness. His despair led him to lay down, give up and die. His fear and his despair vanquished his faith. But God was not finished with Elijah yet. God remained faithful. Verses 5-8 say,
“And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”
He walked in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. Israel had wandered in the wilderness forty years while The Lord taught them who they were as His people. Later, Jesus would go to the wilderness and fast for forty days before beginning His ministry. Elijah was fasting during this forty day journey but he was miraculously kept strong, the Lord’s provision had been all he needed during the trek. But Elijah was running away from his problems. He might have changed his mind about wanting to die, but he was finished dealing with people. He ran from his problems and straight to God, even if he didn’t realize it. He arrived to Horeb, where Moses had received the Law from The Lord. He found a cave and made himself at home. The Lord asked him “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah, the great prophet of The Lord answered like a whiny little boy. Verse 10 reads,
“He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
A month and half before, Elijah had been on a spiritual high but now he thought everything he had done for God had been for nothing. God said, “Go outside before The Lord.” Just like a dad saying, “Elijah, come here.” I think Elijah was ready for his punishment. I imagine him taking a deep breath and like a little boy submitting to whatever punishment his Father had for him, ready to go outside, trembling wondering what would happen. Verses 11-13 read,
“And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper, 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Imagine that roaring wind, like a tornado breaking rocks into pieces. But God wasn’t in that unforgiving destructive wind. Then an earthquake. It must have been terrifying to be in the cave opening with the earth shaking under him. But The Lord wasn’t in the devastating earthquake. And then came a fire. And God wasn’t in that dreadful fire either. He did not yell at Elijah, He did not spank, beat, or even chastise him. God came in a low whisper, a quiet voice. I hear it as a gentle soft voice, a loving Father to his scared son, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” I wonder if Elijah cried. I wonder if his relief that God loved him too much to punish him with harsh cruelty made him cry. But he stilled whined his answer to The Lord. Verses 14-18 read,
“He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
God said, I’m not finished with you yet, I still have work for you. He didn’t say, “Don’t worry about Jezebel.” He simply instructed him about all the things He wanted the prophet to do for him still. If The Lord tells you to do a job for Him, it is a pretty sure thing, He will let you live to do the job, provide the way and give you what you need to do it. Furthermore, The Lord told Elijah not to worry about whether the evil people would be punished, they would be. Hazael was going to slaughter Israel. (2 Kings 9:7-15). But He also encouraged him by letting him know that not everyone in Israel was an idol worshipper, 7,000 people would remain loyal to The Lord, and it was likely that Elijah’s ministry was the reason.
Elijah was expecting at least a reprimand, but The Lord, although He is a God of Justice who punishes the wicked is a God of Love who builds up His children and has great purposes for us. He disciplines us with love. He doesn’t send fire and brimstone down on His sons and daughters. Proverbs 3:12 reads,
“for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.”
And Romans 8:1-4 says,
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Believer, God does discipline us, but discipline and punishment are not the same thing. Jesus took our punishment. We do not have to face God with fear as if He’s holding a belt and ready to beat us. We don’t have to walk in fear that He will strike us with lightening. He is our Awesome and Fearsome God of angel armies, He is Almighty. We need to remember He is Holy All-powerful God. But He forgave us. He is not holding punishment over our heads anymore. He delights in us. Believer, He delights in you!

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JEHOVAH-SABAOTH The Lord of Hosts, our Protector

10/4/2015

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Jehovah-Sabaoth is interpreted as "The Lord of Hosts, our Protector."
What does it mean? Have you ever considered it? Hosts include every created being, animal, human and angelic. The Heavenly Hosts are the army of angels. They are led by Jesus, Our Lord of Hosts, God. Think about the beauty of that. God is The Lord of Hosts. He has an entire army of angels ready to act on our behalf. Ready to fight, protect and do whatever The LORD commands.
This name for God emphasizes His complete and perfect power over everything, His sovereignty. Everything on earth and in Heaven and under the earth is subject to God. Colossians 1:15-20 reads,
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
God is referred to as The Lord of Hosts over two hundred times in the Old Testament
Psalm 46:7 says,
“The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
He is our Lord of Hosts, our fortress. A fortress is a permanent stronghold, a place to go to for protection from the enemy. A place to fight the enemy from safety. The enemy cannot get into the fortress. It is stocked full of weapons and provision for the fight.
Isaiah 9:6-7 reads,
“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Our Lord of hosts loves us passionately. He made a way for us. Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Do you get that? Jesus, the Son of God is our Everlasting Father. And He brings us peace. Peace with God and victorious peace over the enemy. The Lord of Angel Armies upholds the peace and the throne of Jesus from now until forever.
Psalm 84:1-4 reads,
“How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
    ever singing your praise!”
The God of angel armies protects us, He doesn’t only surround us. He shields us like a dwelling place, a home. He is our home and since we dwell or abide, stay, and live in Him we are safe. His ultimate expression as Jehovah-Sabaoth, Our Lord of Hosts is this found in Revelation 19:11-16
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

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Psalm 68 The Lord of Angel Armies Brings Us Victory

7/28/2015

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Psalm 68

We praise the Lord because he defeats the enemy and He saves His people. This Psalm is a song of military victory for Israel as she sang The Lord’s acclaim and glorified Him. But more so this Psalm is a song of spiritual victory, a messianic prophecy of Jesus’ victory over Satan, sin, and death. Verses 1-6 read,

“God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
    exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”

God is our Almighty Lord of Hosts, He is pictured here marching out in lead Israel to defeat the enemy. As Israel left Mt. Sinai and trekked through the wilderness toward The Promised Land they sent the Ark of the Covenant three days ahead of them to secure their safety in the dangerous terrain. And each time they set off Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” And when they camped for the Ark rested and so did they behind it he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.” (Numbers 10:33-35).

He is extolled as the triumphant military champion. In Judges Chapter 5 Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise for the victory over the Hazinite army who were swept away by a river, and Sisera their commander who fled in terror and was killed by Jael, a woman. Many verses in their song are echoed in this song.

The Lord is praised as our Justice and Avenger. He is the Father to fatherless, Defender of the widow. He lifts up the humble and humbles the prideful. He fights for the ones who depend on Him. He is our strength. He gives the sojourner a home in Him. And He frees the prisoners and leads them to the Promised Land while all those who oppress and fight His children shall thirst and suffer without Him. Verses 7-10 recall the great things God has done for His people.

“O God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.”

God doesn’t have to help those who help themselves. He wouldn’t force His assistance on anyone. He helps those of us who need Him. Those who call on Him for righteousness, for justice, and redemption. God, our Deliverer rescues those who are humble enough to need His deliverance. Even the weakest among the Lord’s people are victorious conquerors. The strong man of the enemy cannot defeat the frailest woman or smallest child of God. In Judges Chapter 4 Deborah, a woman led the Israelite army, and Jael, a woman killed the commander of the enemy’s army. They relied on the Lord for their strength and He brought them victory. Verses 11-14 read,

“The Lord gives the word;
    the women who announce the news are a great host:
12     “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil--
13     though you men lie among the sheepfolds--
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
    its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
    let snow fall on Zalmon.”

Zalmon means dark, it is a forested hill near Shechem. (Judges 9:46-49). To have a snow fall on a black forested hill gives us the picture of God’s pure holiness overcoming the evil dark of the enemy, Jesus’ blood washing us white as snow.

Verses 15-18 further give us a picture of Jesus’ salvation.

“O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
    O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
    at the mount that God desired for his abode,
    yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
    thousands upon thousands;
    the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
    leading a host of captives in your train
    and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.”

Mount Sinai is the mountain where God visited Moses and gave him the Law. It is the place that represents Zion our eternal home with God where He dwells with us face to face. The enemy cannot hope to go there. God’s enemies can only seek home and shelter in lesser places which will one day be burned up. (Hebrews 12:18-24). This Psalm as it describes our Lord of Hosts describes Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer, our Deliverer, and The Rider on the white horse. (Revelation 19:11-16). Jesus came down to earth before and He will come again. He saves those who call on Him and makes us victorious with Him. But until he comes again, He has given us gifts. He gave us The Holy Spirit. He gives us abilities such as prophecy, teaching, evangelism, healing, and mercy to edify the church, glorify Him by making us like Him, and bring the lost to Him. Paul described it in Ephesians 4:1-16, he even quoted verse 18 of this Psalm in Ephesians 4:8. Verses 10-13 of Ephesian 4 read,

“He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”

It is not by our own strength we are saved. It is not by our own gifts, skills, and abilities we walk in Jesus. It is by The Lord. Our Father chose and anointed us. (Ephesians 1:3-5). Jesus is the propitiation the appeasement and payment of our sin so we can be saved. (1 John 2:1-2). The Holy Spirit transforms us to be holy, He teaches and guides us. (Romans 8:29-30). It’s not us who makes us conquerors, it is The Almighty God, Lord of Hosts who conquers for us. That is why we praise Him. That is how the whole world hears. Verses 19-27 read,

“Blessed be the Lord,
    who daily bears us up;
    God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
    and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
    the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said,
    “I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
    that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

24 Your procession is seen, O God,
    the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
    between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
    the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
    the princes of Judah in their throng,
    the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.”

We can trust the Lord to defeat the enemy because when Jesus gave up His life on the cross, it was done. When Jesus rose from the dead the enemy was crushed. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, His people were equipped for the war. And When Jesus returns the enemy will know he is defeated and will be chained up and powerless. The enemy has no power over Believers. (1 John 5:18-19). He tries to chain us and oppress us. But we are free in Christ. We cannot be chained against our will. We are more than conquerors. The enemy cannot touch us without our approval. But he still fights us. He still tries. He doesn’t want us releasing any of his prisoners and bringing them into their new royal status as citizens of Heaven.

One day we will all sing our praises to Jesus forever. One day we will celebrate victory eternally. One day we, the true kings will be with our Sovereign, the King of kings for all time. Verses 32-35 read,

“O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!”

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Psalm 60 The Lord is Our Banner

7/20/2015

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Psalm 60

This Psalm a miktam of David was written when David was in the north fighting the Armenians while there he found out that Edom had invaded Israel. He sent Joab to defend Israel and Edom was defeated. (1 Chronicles 18). This Psalm was likely written just after he received the news that Edom has invaded Israel.

When I read this Psalm it spoke about God’s salvation and how He brings us to the point where we realize we need Jesus. David prayed to The Lord for Israel. Verses 1-3 read,

“O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
    you have been angry; oh, restore us.
2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
    repair its breaches, for it totters.
3 You have made your people see hard things;
    you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.”

In order for God to make us whole, to complete us and bind our broken hearts, we have to be broken. We have to see our brokenness and understand that we need Him. He rejected us because we were sinners. Isaiah 59:1-3 says,

“Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
    or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
2 but your iniquities have made a separation
    between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
    so that he does not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood
    and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies;
    your tongue mutters wickedness.”

God allows circumstances to show us our imperfection, our damaged selves, and our crushed souls. Why would anyone call out to Jesus for deliverance if there were nothing for them to be delivered from? When the Lord shows us our inability to keep His laws without Him, when we grasp that we need Jesus, it is devastating. It is difficult to look at ourselves and say, “Wow, I am not a good person.” It breaks our hearts. At that moment when we see ourselves as sinful, we are bewildered, we are dejected and we feel like a sad drunk, lost, disoriented and confounded. But God doesn’t leave us there. If we call out to Him He hears us and saves us. He loves us so much that He gave us Jesus to save us. Verses 4-5 read,

“You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
   that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
5 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer us!”

The Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus our Banner. A banner is a large flag or signal which shows us where to go for safety. In a war, the banner or flag is flown and the soldiers under the allegiance to the banner go to it for refuge and are safe under its protection. But the enemy either flees from it or tries to fight those under it. Jesus is our banner. We go to Him and He becomes our Deliverer, our God of Angel Armies, our Lord and King.

God fights for us. He is the Lord of Hosts, not so He can be a decorated 5 star general, but so He our Warrior King can defend us, fight and conquer the enemy, and lift us up in security under His banner of protection. Verses 6-8 read,

“God has spoken in his holiness:
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet;
    Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

It is God who was with David and Israel as He defeated Israel’s enemies, Shechem, Vale of Succoth, Moab, Edom, and Philistia. It was God who kept Gilead and Manasseh safe, made Ephraim strong, and Judah the tribe who would produce our ultimate King and Lord of Angel Armies, Jesus. Our Lord used Ephraim, He worked through David, and He acted through Joab to defeat Israel’s enemies. He works through us too. Verses 9-12 say,

“Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the salvation of man!
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.”

Once we were separated from God, but now we are unified with Him. We are joined with Jesus as He fights for us and conquers the enemy. Knowing Who fights for us and with us strengthens us. We can be courageous because we know Who God is and what He has done. The enemy is already defeated, he just hasn’t realized it yet. Satan will try to hurt us but it is all in vain. The Lord is our Banner.

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Psalm 24 The King of Glory is Passionate for You

6/14/2015

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Psalm 24

The earth in its entirety belongs to the Lord. It is His as His creation and He is sovereign over it. Verses 1-2 say it this way,

“The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers.”

The righteous know we belong to Him, but the lost are ignorant of it. Those who know and follow Jesus remember they are His, but the lost are oblivious to Him. How do we acknowledge His greatness and His dominion? Verses 3-6 read,

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah”

Those who seek God and His righteousness are those with clean hands and a pure heart. Our hands are clean because there is no guilt on them. Our hearts are pure because there is no malice there. Not because we have never sinned, never hurt someone, or had an evil thought, but because Jesus laid down His life and rose again for us. Because He credits us with His clean hands and pure heart. And because He, the Holy Spirit gives us clean hands and a pure heart.

We seek God and His righteousness. We worship Him. He adores us. He gives us blessings and righteousness. He delivered us and makes us new. We seek Him and he reveals Himself to us. Jesus said it in Matthew 7:7-11.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

He is our splendid King. He came once to save us and give us His virtue, and He will come again to judge His world. Verses 7-8 read,

“Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.

What a description of our marvelous King of glory, The Lord of Hosts, Jesus our Deliverer. He knocks on the gates and on the doors to gain entry. He calls on the people of the earth to let Him in. Just as we seek Him, He seeks us. In Matthew Jesus described our knocking, our looking for Him. In Revelation 3:20-21 Jesus tells us that He actively pursues us.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Can you imagine that? Our awesome mighty God wants us to know Him and be blessed by Him. He enjoys spending time with us. He wants to give us the gift of Righteousness, the joy of a full life, and the hope of salvation. When we open the door for Him we become conquerors with Him. Who is He, that He loves us so much that He wants to sit down at the kitchen table and spend time with us? Verse 10 tells us,

“Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! Selah”

The Lord of Hosts. The Lord of Hosts can be translated as The Lord of angel armies. Jesus is the leader of the armies of angels. He is the Conqueror. He delivers us from sin. He waged and won the war on sin and death. He overcame it. One day He will lead the angel armies in the final battle and throw Satan into the pit of Hell. (Revelation 3:20). Who is the King of glory, our Lord of Hosts? It is Jesus, God the Son. He is described this way in Isaiah 9:6-7.

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Jesus came and will come again because of the zeal, the passion and vehemence of The Lord of hosts. His zeal is for us. His power and strength are epitomized in this title. He conquered Satan on the cross and Satan will find out about it when Jesus returns leading the angel armies against him. The Lord will show him, his followers and the lost that this earth and everything in it belongs to Him.

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Psalm 3 Remember Who God is. Remember Who The Enemy is. Let Your Actions Display Your Faith.

5/24/2015

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Psalm 3

David was God’s anointed king. He had many enemies. Even his own son Absalom wanted to kill him. You can find the history in 2 Samuel. Absalom was the second born of all David’s sons. His older brother Ammon had raped his sister Tamar and Absalom got his revenge by inviting all his brothers to a feast then killing Ammon once he was drunk. After a three year exile to his mother’s family, he returned to Jerusalem but as unable to see his father. After repeated attempts though Absalom regained access to David the king, whom he now bitterly hated. Absalom decided he was going to be king, regardless of the fact that Solomon had been prophesied and chosen to be the next king. Absalom’s revolt was successful, the people turned to him, even though David was still alive. And David and his entire household, his servants and those still devoted to him fled, in grief and mourning to save their lives. This Psalm was written about that time. Verses 1-4 read,

“O Lord, how many are my foes!
    Many are rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
    there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4 I cried aloud to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy hill.”

David, the rightful king of Israel had about 500 men with him, but Absalom had the rest of the army, about 12,000 men and many people who had been duped into believing him and following him. But David didn’t need a vast army, he had God, The Lord of Hosts. David called out to The Lord and knew without doubt that his Lord The Almighty heard him.

We too have many enemies in this world. Some hate us for no real reason, others hate us because they blame us for all the perceived wrongs of the church and Christendom. Some hate us because we wronged them. But most have been duped by the prince of the power of the air, Satan. They follow him as king and lord instead of The King of kings, The LORD.

But we have nothing to fear. We don’t have to fight them. They are not our enemy. The Lord our God has us in His protection. He is a shield surrounding us. He is our triumph. All we ever have to do is ask Him and in our faith, He is our Succor, our Strong Tower, our Rock, and our Peace. We do’t even have to ask, just trust that He is I Am.

David fled from Absalom rather than fight him. He trusted God. He knew God’s promises regarding himself and Solomon. He trusted His Lord so much that he could lay down and sleep in a cave while an army led by his vengeful acrimonious son sought to murder him. Verses 5-7 describe it.

“I lay down and slept;
    I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
    who have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O Lord!
    Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
    you break the teeth of the wicked.”

We have nothing to fear from the enemy or any of his subjects. The children of wrath may hate us and may strike out to harm us. The minions of the devil may try to ensnare us, but they can’t touch us. We’ve already won the war. We are still in the battle. The battle is not for ourselves but to free the prisoners of war who are ignorantly in bondage to our enemy. We are invulnerable to him and his attacks. 1 John 5:1-19 reminds us,

“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

David knew this. He exhibited the humility of the Lord in his submission to The Lord’s authority, while his son consistently showed his pride in himself, his charm and his good looks. Eventually Absalom’s huge army and David’s small one came to battle in the forest at Ephraim. Although it should have been an easy win for Absalom’s men, he fled in terror on a donkey. His long hair, the symbol of his arrogance got caught up in the branches of a tree. He remained stuck in the tree until Joab, the leader of David’s army had him executed. The battle ended and soon after David was restored to his throne.

David mourned his son, prayed for his soul and forgave the armies and Amasa their leader for their treason. He even gave Amasa, Joab’s position. It was David’s faith in God, his heart for God that allowed him to forgive so completely. Even his once enemies now swore their allegiance to him. He could have been vindictive. He could have put Amasa to death and not punished Joab. If he had done that, none of the once devoted to Absalom would have sworn allegiance to David. Because of David’s mercy they devoted themselves to him. But Joab knew his king’s heart and killed Absalom anyway. He followed his will rather than the king’s. He had to be disciplined for his wrongdoing. Amasa on the other hand didn’t know the king’s heart and in his ignorance followed his leader faithfully. The king forgave him and gave him an honored place in his army.

Remember The Lord’s heart for His creation. He doesn’t want us to avenge Him. He wants them to come to Him. He wants them to know Him and be with Him. God longs for them to know His salvation. How can they know it if we don’t tell them? How can they experience the love of God if we don’t show them? We can live out the joy and love of grace and make disciples for our Father. Verse 8 reads,

“Salvation belongs to the Lord;
    your blessing be on your people!”

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Donna Campbell

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