167. Because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.

1 Kings 20:26  In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’” And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left.

2 Samuel 10:18     And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there.

2 Chronicles 13:17    Abijah and his people struck them with great force, so there fell slain of Israel 500,000 chosen men.

2 Chronicles 28:6   For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 from Judah in one day, all of them men of valor, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Isaiah 37:36     And the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

In a few passages, we see close to one million people die because they chose not to honor God and had forsaken Him.  They chose to walk paths, live their lives, and give no thought to serving God.  The consequences of their collective decisions were devastating.  Like lemmings running off of a cliff one after another, so is the mind of man easily swayed to take the path of the many.  Matthew 7:13; “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Romans 9:27; “And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” Romans 12: 2; “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

It did not matter if those who were put to slaughter were of Israel or of pagans.  The judgment for them was carried out and purposed by God.  We do well not to become complacent in our walk with God and learn to stand firm in His word each day.  Keep it close to your heart and soul.

120. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms

2 Samuel 10:15   But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

Psalms 18:38    I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.

Psalms 46:11    The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalms 46:1   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Deuteronomy 33:27    The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’

Jeremiah 16:19   O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.

How many times in our life do we limit God as our refuge, our strong tower, our fortress, our strength?  God has not and does not change.  God is and will continue to be God, author, and finisher, alpha, and omega, beginning and end.  All things have been created by Him and He is in control of all things.  At His voice light was created, heaven and earth were created, life was created, and galaxies and universes were formed.  Great deeds and wonders have occurred.  And yet we still limit what God can do in our life.  Take a look at the first 10 minutes of this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J6yeIxKmJ4&feature=youtu.be  You will have a refreshed look and understanding of how limitless God is.

Don’t limit God, but choose to seek and trust God for in Him alone we will find peace, joy, hope, and strength for today and tomorrow.