Let Us Be Strong for Our People and the Cities of Our God…

 

Chapter 20 of Deuteronomy begins with Moses reviewing the principles that were to govern the people’s warfare. The first we read about here is that when Israel was on the verge of a battle that was in accordance with the will of God, the priest was exhort the men to take courage and not be afraid. I liked that. 

"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'—Deuteronomy 20:1-4

In Verses 5-7 the officers were then to encourage those whose hearts might be divided because they had other issues on their mind to leave and return home.  

"Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying: 'What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. Also what man is there who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man eat of it. And what man is there who is betrothed to a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.'—Deuteronomy 20:5-7

The first exemptions granted showed compassion for what time of life a soldier might be in. Verses 8-9 speak to another kind of exemption. It was granted to a faint-hearted soldier for reasons of army morale. 

"The officers shall speak further to the people, and say, What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.' And so it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.—Deuteronomy 20:8-9

This one not only made a lot of sense to me practically but also helped my heart spiritually because it reminded me that fear is contagious and that all my hope and all my confidence should be in my ever present and all powerful God. The strongest army would be the one committed wholeheartedly to the Lord their God. Those who might affect another’s faith and confidence were also to be allowed to leave and return home.  Cowardice here, one commentator said was “reckoned” as a spiritual problem.  These men were to be removed before they could defect in battle or cause those around them to become fearful and disheartened. God wanted only those with willing and faith-filled hearts to fight 

Your people shall be volunteers

In the day of Your power;—Psalm 110:3

"When leaders lead in Israel,

When the people willingly offer themselves,

Bless the LORD!—Judges 5:2

And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.—Nehemiah 11:2

Beloved…May our own hearts take courage. May we put aside fear and walk in faith.  May the words we speak encourage those around us to confidence in God and not fear. 

Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight."—2 Samuel 10:12

For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:

"Do not say, 'A conspiracy,'

Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,

Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.

The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow;

Let Him be your fear,

And let Him be your dread.—Isaiah 8:12-13

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.—2 Timothy 6:7

On Diminishing the Song of the Terrible Ones…

 

From Chapter 2 of Ruth:

Then Boaz said to Ruth, "You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn."—Ruth 2:8-9

Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.—Ruth 2:14

And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."—Ruth 2:15-16

As I was reading through Chapter 2 of the book of Ruth, the kindness of Ruth’s future husband and kinsman-redeemer, Boaz, brought these verses from Isaiah to mind.  

For You have been a strength to the poor,

A strength to the needy in his distress,

A refuge from the storm,

A shade from the heat;

For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

You will reduce the noise of aliens,

As heat in a dry place;

As heat in the shadow of a cloud,

The song of the terrible ones will be diminished.—Isaiah 25:4-5

My Jesus is my strength, my song and has become my salvation.  He is my refuge…my ever present help in times of trouble. He is a shade for me in the heat of my trials. He silences the noise of my enemies and brings me peace.

I so want to be as He is and live out these verses from Isaiah for the people God has placed in my life. I want to be their soft place to fall in a world of hard places and sharp edges who always points their hearts to Him. 

Boaz does this for Ruth by showing her…a poor, widowed foreigner…the covenant lovingkindness of his God.  In doing so, He becomes a shining light during a very dark time in the history of Israel when everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Boaz obeys God and is kind. He notices Ruth, welcomes her to his fields and calls her daughter. He surrounds her with his protection.  He makes sure she has water to drink and food to eat. He provides for her continued sustenance by telling his workers to drop extra grain for her and not rebuke her. Philippians 2:3-4 says this. I think it describes Boaz well. 

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.—(Philippians 2:3–4) NKJV

The NLT says it this way:

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.(Philippians 2:3–4)NLT

Father…May each of us imitate Boaz. May we be kind and tender-hearted toward  each other.  May we fulfill the law by putting on love…may we bear one another’s        burdens and in so doing fulfill the law of Christ. 

A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,

And a cover from the tempest,

As rivers of water in a dry place,

As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.—Isaiah 32:2

The Law of God is in His Heart…

 

This morning I read through these verses in Psalm 37. 

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,

And his tongue talks of justice.

The law of his God is in his heart;

None of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watches the righteous,

And seeks to slay him.

The LORD will not leave him in his hand,

Nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the LORD,

And keep His way,

And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;

When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

I have seen the wicked in great power,

And spreading himself like a native green tree.

Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;

Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;

For the future of that man is peace.

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;

The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;

He is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;

He shall deliver them from the wicked,

And save them,

Because they trust in Him.—Psalm 37:30-40

All of them together were very encouraging but the ones my heart focused on were these two:

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,

And his tongue talks of justice.

The law of his God is in his heart;

None of his steps shall slide.—Psalm 37:30-31

There has never been a time in my almost 30 year walk with the Lord that I have not felt overwhelming grateful for His word. The verses above brought to mind two other verses. The first is from the Gospel of Luke.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.—Luke 6:45

Garbage in garbage out…God’s word in God’s word out. When the law of God is in our heart we walk securely and are a blessing to the people around us. 

The other was from the Book of Joshua.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."—Joshua 1:8-9

Joshua was to steep himself continually in the word of God. For then he would make his way prosperous and then he would  have good success. 

Beloved…Those words are just as true for us today as they were for Joshua so many years ago. Our God prepares us for whatever we will face as we diligently study His word daily.  He arms us with His strength, His knowledge and His presence.  It is only in Christ and His strength  that we can "quit like a man"! The presence of the Lord eradicates fear and faint-heartedness. He upholds us and bears us up.   His word renews our mind and reveals to us His will. Truly, time spent with the Lord at His feet and in His Word is eternal.  It will always bear fruit to Jesus Christ and will not be taken from us. Immerse yourself in it. Hold fast to it.  Stay in it continually and like Joshua, stand fast for the people God has placed in our lives. We are in a battle...eternity is at stake. 

Father…I KNOW it is not in me to direct my own steps.   Without You, I walk in darkness and stumble.  I need You to guide both my steps and my life.  I need the lamp of Your word to illuminate my path…I need it to bring Your wisdom and perspective to everything I face. 

Oh Lord, I am a stranger in the earth…do not hide Your commandments from me.  My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times.  Your testimonies are my delight and my counselors.  I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me according to Your word. How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.  Through Your precepts I get understanding. Your testimonies, Father, I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 

Psalm 19 sums up my love of the word well. 

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse me from secret faults.

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Chosen and Designated by Name to Give Thanks to the Lord Regularly…

 

to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening;—1 Chronicles 23:30

and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever;—1 Chronicles  16:41

At Jerusalem, where the ark was, Asaph and his brethren were appointed to attend, to minister before the ark continually, with songs of praise, as every day's work required,(vs 37)

Chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord regularly...the King James says continually before the Lord!  Would that that was my heart!   That His praise would always be in my mouth and on my heart.  Good bye to bad attitudes...goodbye to discontented spirits...goodbye to complaining and self-focus. 

I so NEEDED this reminder this morning!

Father, your lovingkindness is always before my eyes!  Your graces toward me are steadfast and sure and as numerous as the the sand on the seashore.  By Your Spirit who lives within me, help me to see them and offer to You a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for each one.  Looking at me as I go about my day, causes my heart to sink and lose perspective...Help me to instead, look to You and remember your continual gifts of grace.  

Beloved…it is a grace to count graces...to purpose in our hearts to be thankful...but it is also the will of God for each one of us as believers. 

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.—John 1:16

Praise the LORD!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?

Who can declare all His praise?—Psalm 106:1-2

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!——2 Corinthians 9:15

Have Mercy On Me, O Lord, For I Am Weak…

 

God be merciful to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

That Your way may be known on earth,

Your salvation among all nations.—Psalm 67:1-2

I pray for God’s mercy and the light of His countenance upon me and on those I love daily...even hourly.  I NEED mercy.   I need His forgiveness and His strength. One of my favorite prayers to pray from Scripture is this one. 

Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;—Psalm 6:2a

How perfect is that?   

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who was given to me by God.  My glorious, merciful God dwells in me and is ALWAYS with me. Beloved, we have been bought with a price and are to glorify God in our body and in our Spirit. I need God’s favor to do this!  I need His strength and grace to walk in those works He has prepared beforehand for me in order to reveal His glory to a dying world that is in desperate need of His mercy.  

Even now, as I write, I am hurting and in need of His mercy.  I am so thankful that in my weakness, He is strong.  I am thankful that even as I complain, there are tears of gratitude because I know God is at my right hand.  I am NEVER alone. It is He, who works in me both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:6

let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5:16

21 This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.—Lamentations 3:21-23

24 "The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace."'—Numbers 6:24-26

Make Your face shine upon Your servant;

Save me for Your mercies' sake.

17 Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon You;—Psalm 31:16-17

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,

Nor did their own arm save them;

But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,

Because You favored them.—Psalm 44:3

Make Your face shine upon Your servant,

And teach me Your statutes.—Psalm 119:135

But I Give Myself to Prayer…

 

Do not keep silent,

O God of my praise!

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful

Have opened against me;

They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,

And fought against me without a cause.

4 In return for my love they are my accusers,

But I give myself to prayer.

5 Thus they have rewarded me evil for good,

And hatred for my love.—Psalm 109:1-5

30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth;

Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.

31 For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor,

To save him from those who condemn him—Psalm 109:30-31

These words and actions of David have helped my heart often over the years. Most of us, if we are living for our God, have experienced people who fight against us without cause…who surround us with lying words and hatred.  In return for the love we have shown them, they are our accusers.  They reward us evil for good and hatred for our love.  

I love David’s response in verse 4!  Despite God’s silence…despite the verbal assaults and false accusations, David gives himself to prayer. He takes refuge in God.  His faith does not waver.  His heart is steadfast. ❤️  He begins this psalm with praise and ends it the same way. (Vs 30-3)

If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not freely give us all things?  Who can bring a charge against God’s elect.  It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  In Him, despite how it often looks on the outside, we are more than conquerors. 

Beloved…the fear of the Lord is Your treasure. Wait on the Him. He will be your arm every morning. Your salvation in time of trouble. Place the full weight of Your care upon Him.  He cares for you. He will sustain you through.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation,

My stronghold and my refuge;

My Savior, You save me from violence.

4 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

5 "When the waves of death surrounded me,

The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

6 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;

The snares of death confronted me.

7 In my distress I called upon the LORD,

And cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

And my cry entered His ears.

8 "Then the earth shook and trembled;

The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken,

Because He was angry.

9 Smoke went up from His nostrils,

And devouring fire from His mouth;

Coals were kindled by it.

10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down

With darkness under His feet.

11 He rode upon a cherub, and flew;

And He was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness canopies around Him,

Dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

13 From the brightness before Him

Coals of fire were kindled.

14 "The LORD thundered from heaven,

And the Most High uttered His voice.

15 He sent out arrows and scattered them;

Lightning bolts, and He vanquished them.

16 Then the channels of the sea were seen,

The foundations of the world were uncovered,

At the rebuke of the LORD,

At the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

17 "He sent from above, He took me,

He drew me out of many waters.

18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

From those who hated me;

For they were too strong for me.

19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

But the LORD was my support.

20 He also brought me out into a broad place;

He delivered me because He delighted in me.—2nd Samuel 22:2-20

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.—Psalm 34:4-7

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 "Who committed no sin,

Nor was deceit found in His mouth";

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;—1 Peter 2:21-23