Vengeance – Praying Pint

53.l. Wilderness – 17.r. “‘See now that I, even I, am He.”

Deu 32:39-41  “‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever, if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me.

Isaiah 41:4    Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

Psalms 50:22    “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!

Isaiah 43:13     Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

Hosea 6:1    “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

Open your eyes and be convinced by your own sad experience what vain and impotent things. As I have no superior, so neither have I any equal. I kill and I make alive — I am the arbiter of life and death, the dispenser of prosperity and adversity, and the author of national changes and revolutions, whether in the way of mercy or judgment. We may observe that it is usual, in Scripture language, to represent extreme calamities under the notion of death, and to express happiness and prosperity by the word life. (Benson)

Whatever judgments are brought upon sinners, it shall go well with the people of God. (Henry)

I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I:heal: Christ is the sovereign disposer of life and death, of sickness and health, in a temporal sense; and in a spiritual sense he wounds and kills, by the law in the hand of his Spirit; and he heals and makes alive by his Gospel, as it is accompanied by his Spirit and grace. (Gill)

We should never become complacent and neglectful of our pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and understating of the Word of God and Things of God, or become consumed by worldly passions and the busyness of life. His Word will grow and mature us in this understanding and will be reflected in our lives to the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise!

47.c. “Wilderness” – 11.i. “He will by no means clear the guilty”

Num 14:13-19  But Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people. For you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say, ‘It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.’ And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.”

Micah 7:18    Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love

Nahum 1:2-3   The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.  The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Exodus 20:5    You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

The Israelites for the last 2 years have seen the 10 plagues against Egypt that set them free, the parting of the Red Sea, the death of the Egyptian army, water from a rock, manna each morning, the leading of God by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, the 10 commandments given, directions for building the tabernacle, and the establishment of the priestly order of worship.

Now they are to head into the promised land at God’s direction, but what do they do? They think it best to send in spies and scope out this promised land to determine the fruit of it and the strength of the people living there. At the conclusion of this “spying out of the land”, 10 of the spies gave a favorable report of the fruit of the land but a fearful report of the people and their strength. Only two gave favorable reports and trust in God, Caleb, and Joshua.

In two years they have witnessed a special calling of God and a powerful display of His strength and love. And yet, they feared what God has promised them in this new land. Their fear is well-placed if they look at it from a human perspective. They did not have their own means, power, or strength to win battles over the people in the promised land. They had never battled. What were they to use for weapons? What plans could they come up with to defeat these people? As they looked at this from all sides with a human perspective it was obvious they could not venture into the land. In fact, they deemed it better to go back to Egypt and become slaves. Let’s choose another leader amongst ourselves and head back. We will not trust God or Moses, His chosen leader.

Now Moses intercedes for the people whom God could easily destroy. It is in this intercession that the people are redeemed from certain death and we will next read of God’s judgment for this fear, rejection, and rebellion.

God is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. He is limitless in wisdom, power, and might. He can do all things. What is there that He has not created? What is there that He can not do? Why do we wallow in fear and anger at situations that God can easily overcome? Trust and rely on Him and all things are possible.

35.r. “What have you done?”

Genesis 4:8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

1 John 3:12-15   We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.  Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

Jude 1:11    Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain

Mat 23:33-35   You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.

Malice in the heart ends in murder by the hands. Cain slew Abel, his own brother, his own mother’s son, whom he ought to have loved; his younger brother, whom he ought to have protected; a good brother, who had never done him any wrong. What fatal effects were these of our first parents’ sin, and how must their hearts have been filled with anguish! Observe the pride, unbelief, and impenitence of Cain. He denies the crime, as if he could conceal it from God. He tries to cover a deliberate murder with a deliberate lie. Murder is a crying sin. Blood calls for blood, the blood of the murdered for the blood of the murderer. Who knows the extent and weight of a Divine curse, how far it reaches, how deep it pierces? Only in Christ are believers saved from it, and inherit the blessing. Cain was cursed from the earth. He found his punishment there where he chose his portion, and set his heart. Every creature is to us what God makes it, a comfort or a cross, a blessing or a curse. The wickedness of the wicked brings a curse upon all they do, and all they have. Cain complains not of his sin, but of his punishment. It shows great hardness of heart to be more concerned about our sufferings than our sins. God has wise and holy ends in prolonging the lives even of very wicked men. It is in vain to inquire what was the mark set upon Cain. It was doubtless known, both as a brand of infamy on Cain, and a token from God that they should not kill him. Abel, being dead, yet speaketh. He tells the heinous guilt of murder, and warns us to stifle the first risings of wrath, and teaches us that persecution must be expected by the righteous. Also, that there is a future state, and an eternal recompence to be enjoyed, through faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice. And he tells us the excellency of faith in the atoning sacrifice and blood of the Lamb of God. Cain slew his brother, because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous, 1Jo 3:12. In consequence of the enmity put between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, the war broke out, which has been waged ever since. In this war we are all concerned, none are neuter; our Captain has declared, He that is not with me is against me. Let us decidedly, yet in meekness, support the cause of truth and righteousness against Satan (Henry)

Cain, therefore, attempts to parry the question, apparently on the vain supposition that no eye, not even that of the All-seeing, was present to witness the deed. “I know not.” In the madness of his confusion he goes further. He disputes the right of the Almighty to make the demand. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Barnes)

Is there anything we do, (good or bad) that is hidden from God? Do we think we can keep our bad hidden from God by casting it from our thoughts? If per chance we hear the whispers for the Holy Spirit convicting us, do we deafen our ears and discard it from our minds? Do we try to argue it away by cunning logic of what our culture or society approves? Oh, that our hearts and minds were as Davids. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way”

35.f. ” Your nakedness shall be uncovered”

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Isaiah 47:3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.

Isaiah 54:4 “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth,

Jeremiah 6:15 Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the LORD.

Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.

Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

This is corroborated by the statement contained in Genesis 2:25. “They were both naked, and were not ashamed.” Of nakedness in our sense of the term they had as yet no conception. On the contrary, they were conscious of being sufficiently clothed in a physical sense by nature’s covering, the skin – and, in a spiritual point of view, they were clad as in a panoply of steel with the consciousness of innocence, or, indeed, the unconsciousness of evil existing anywhere, and the simple ignorance of its nature, except so far as the command of God had awakened in them some speculative conception of it. Hence, they were not ashamed. For shame implies a sense of guilt, which they did not have, and an exposedness to the searching eye of a condemning judge, from which they were equally free. (Barnes)

To wit, of their nakedness, as having no guilt, nor cause of shame, no filthy or evil inclinations in their bodies, no sinful concupiscence or impure motions in their souls, but spotless innocency and perfection, which must needs exclude shame. (Poole)

And they were both naked, the man and his wife,…. Were as they were created, having no clothes on them, and standing in need of none, to shelter them from the heat or cold, being in a temperate climate; or to conceal any parts of their bodies from the sight of others, there being none of the creatures to guard against on that account: and were not ashamed; having nothing in them, or on them, or about them, that caused shame; nothing sinful, defective, scandalous or blameworthy; no sin in their nature, no guilt on their consciences, or wickedness in their hands or actions; and particularly they were not ashamed of their being naked, no more than children are to see each other naked, or we are to behold them: besides, they were not only alone, and none to behold them; but their being naked was no disgrace to them, but was agreeably to their nature; and they were not sensible that there was any necessity or occasion to cover themselves, nor would they have had any, had they continued in their innocent state: moreover, there was not the least reason to be ashamed to appear in such a manner, since they were but one flesh. (Gill)

The sense of shame is the shadow which temptation to sin throws across the pathway of purity. (Cambridge)

Mankind’s original purity and innocence of good and evil was a blessed state. Living in harmony with God and unashamed. How far mankind has fallen from their original state. Knowing good and evil has given mankind a choice to choose one or the other. Many of our choices leave us ashamed in the light of God’s Word and our purpose of Honoring and Glorifying Jesus Christ in all we thing, say, and do; at least it should.

34.d. “Make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!”

Matthew 18:8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Deuteronomy 13:6-8   “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known,  some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other,  you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him.

Ezekiel 18:31    Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die

Romans 13:12   The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9    in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Revelation 20:15    And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8   But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

There are significant problems in taking these words as literal instruction instead of conveying an attitude. The problem is not only from the obvious physical harm that one might bring upon themselves, but more so in the problem that bodily mutilation does not go far enough in controlling sin. We need to be transformed from the inside out. Some people only keep from sin if it is easy or convenient to do it. Jesus warns us that we must be willing to sacrifice in fighting against sin, that nothing is worse than facing the wrath of a righteous God. It really is better to sacrifice in the battle against sin now than to face the punishment of eternity later. If I cut off my right hand, I can still sin with my left. If my left eye is gouged out, my right eye can still sin – and if all such members are gone, I can still sin in my heart and mind. God calls us to a far more radical transformation than any sort of bodily mutilation can address.

The meaning is, it is better to go to heaven without enjoying the things that caused us to sin than to enjoy them here and then be lost. The sense in all these instances is the same. Worldly attachments, friendships, and employments of any kind, that cannot be pursued without leading us into sin, be they ever so dear to us, must be abandoned, (Barnes)

It is more than implied in these scriptures that however strong the temptation(s), we are to abandon them with all urgency for everlasting eternal torment awaits those who do not. How many are lured away by a single look and allow thoughts of lust, hate, anger, or greed penetrate and reside in their hearts and minds, searing them, as it were, with a red-hot iron and forever leaving a scar on their soul, that, left unattended, will continue to fester and ooze more corrupt thoughts and actions into their life?

There is no honor or glory given to Jesus Christ when any temptation is allowed room in our hearts and minds.

32.m. “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God”

Matthew 11:20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Jude 1:11   Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Ezekiel 3:6-7   not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you.  But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart

Hebrews 10:26-31    For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.  Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

“Unresponsiveness to the voice of God is the characteristic of this generation, and will be its downfall.” (France)

It is not only western industrial nations that have had access to the gospel. Technology, computers, internet, websites, translations, radio, TV, etc…. leave no room for excuse. No other society has had access to God’s Word, (Scripture, Gospel of Jesus Christ) at their fingertips, yet they reject and deny it of any value for their soul.

“The people in the cities listed above did not attack Jesus Christ; they did not drive him from their gates; they did not seek to crucify him; they simply disregarded him. In the end, neglect will kill much more than persecution ever did.” (Barclay)

When I read, “But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”, “ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God”, “But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” Here it is implied that there are in fact different degrees of judgment. Some will be punished more severely in the final judgment than others. In fact, those who were living out sin and doing all kinds of fleshly and worldly sinful things will be judged to some lesser degree than those who flat out know the offer of redemption and salvation but not only reject it they deny it any room in their heart for it. God has opened their heart to the Gospel and they neglect, reject, and deny any need for it.

It is not hard for me to understand and believe in heaven and hell. What is hard for me to understand is how a person whose heart and mind have been open to the need of salvation and have heard the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have an understanding of heaven and hell and choose hell. Lost on us is an understanding of eternity. Eternal life or eternal hell. Separated from the love of God forever. The busyness of life needs to be slowed down in most lives. Being too busy for giving thought to eternity just doesn’t make sense now and for sure will not in the future.

32.j. “Go and tell John what you hear and see”

Matthew 11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Psalms 146:8    the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

Isaiah 29:18    In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.

Isaiah 35:4-6    Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;  then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

Isaiah 42:6-7     “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Luke 7:21-22    In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.  And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

To those seeking a revolution and overthrow of the Roman dominance, these acts of service Jesus did would seem small and insignificant. To those who were healed by His humble acts of service would surely conclude these acts much more significant and important than a revolution. Jesus wanted to assure both John and his disciples that He was the Messiah. But He also reminded them that His power would be displayed mostly in humble acts of service, meeting individual needs, and not in spectacular displays of political deliverance. It is truly in these acts of humble service we set our minds on honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ. How many preachers seek after bigger and bigger mega-churches, more and more recognition, more money, more radio stations, more media spotlights, more social media hits, etc….? It is in humble service we face each day and determine with an intentional choice to honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

It is in steadfast firmness we choose to day after day continue to do humble service in where and what God has purposed our life. We do well to stay in line with His plans and purpose and seek not to do more and certainly not do less.

31.r. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you”

Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 6:31    And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Leviticus 19:18  You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Jeremiah 7:5-6   “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,  if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow,

Zechariah 8:16-17   These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;  do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

Ezekiel 18:7-8   does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man,

Micah 6:8     He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Malachi 3:5   “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

Romans 13:8-10  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

1 Timothy 1:5   The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

None but he whose heart is filled with love to God and all mankind can keep this precept, either in its spirit or letter… It seems as if God had written it upon the hearts of all men, for sayings of this kind may be found among all nations, Jewish, Christian, and Heathen.” (Clarke)

“Oh, that all men acted on it, and there would be no slavery, no war, no swearing, no striking, no lying, no robbing; but all would be justice and love! What a kingdom is this which has such a law!” (Spurgeon)

Love of self, (who we are, what we do, how we think, what we say) is wrong when it places self above all others. Jesus has just spoken about loving your enemies, being careful how you judge others and not-self, giving to the needy, not being anxious about things in this life, seeking God in faith, and now finishing it with “do onto others as you wish them to do onto you”. We often judge others by their acts and not their intent, and yet we examine ourselves by our intent. When we repent of doing wrong to someone we want them to forgive and forget it. Yet, we feel justified to do the opposite when we have been wronged. Is Jesus Christ honored and glorified by how we treat others and what we think about them? Am I allowing God’s Word to lead and direct my thoughts, actions, and words toward others? Do I dwell on the negative thoughts about others that first pops into my head or am I able to recognize it as a wrong thought and cast it out and replace it with kindness, brotherly love, gentleness, generosity, and peaceful thoughts? If we would have hearts, minds, and souls that desired in all things to honor and glorify Jesus Christ, it is then we would begin to understand the depth of “do onto others as you wish them to do onto you”.

28.d. ““Be strong; fear not!”

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Deuteronomy 20:3-4    and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them,  for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’

Joshua 1:6-7    Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.  Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

1 Chronicles 28:20   Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

Isaiah 35:3-4   Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 40:31    but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength

1 Corinthians 16:13   Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Philippians 4:13    I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Colossians 1:11    being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;

Be strong, let not your heart faint, be courageous, do not be afraid, fear not, He will come and save you, wait for the Lord, stand firm, Him who strengthens me ….. in what, for what reason, and why does scripture remind and exhort us continually? It is common for every one of us, no matter how mentally and physically strong we are to become weakened by a single event or over time by life’s endless way of burdening us. We are going through life with strength and purpose and then all of a sudden we notice that strength we once had, that faithful hope we once relied upon, and that solid foundation we stood upon, is severely weakened or absent and we no longer find peace, joy, strength, and courage. This happens and I am not sure what is worse, getting blindsided with a punch in the gut or just slowly losing all strength and courage. When blindsided at least there is an event we can put things into perspective but when there is a continually wearing down of our foundational strength it seems this is worse. Life has a way of, abruptly or over time, lessening our resolve, strength, confidence, and courage. Battles we easily overcame now seem to be defeating us. Could it be we are strong in many areas of our life and God is just showing us and leading us and teaching us that there is still more refining in us that needs to be done? Could it be we have become neglectful or complacent? Could it be we have chosen to follow worldly passions over Godly pursuits? Could it be we have hardened our hearts and minds to the things of God? Whatever the reason our eyes need to focus on Jesus and our hope strengthened in Him alone. When our hope is in His strength, power, and love, and we have surrendered all hope and trust in ourselves, it is then we will become strengthened, encouraged, and full of hope. When we are weak He is strong.

27.g. “I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Jeremiah 20:11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.

Isaiah 45:16   All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together.

Jeremiah 1:19   They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”

Jeremiah 15:20     And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the LORD.

Deuteronomy 32:35-36    Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’  For the LORD will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free.

Psalms 65:5    By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;

Isaiah 41:10    fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Jeremiah 1:8   Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

God’s might and awesome power are greater than our pain, humiliation, rejection, fears, loneliness, and worries. When our heart cries out in humble surrender and all self-reliance is thrown by the wayside, God becomes bigger and our misery becomes smaller. Somehow when we do this we are transformed in our heart and become content to leave the matter to God and His awesome power and might and wisdom and strength.

Learning contentment seems easy for some and much harder for others. When I think about this I come to the conclusion it is a matter of the heart. When self-reliance is cast aside and the heart is trusting in God’s perfect loving and awesome strength there is a contentment that passes all human understanding. It is in God’s hands, my Heavenly Father. Not only is He able to handle what I have yielded/placed into His hands, but He will also carry me through all the pain, confusion, rejection, fear, loneliness, and worry. He will deliver me. I am His child. I can fully trust in Him no matter the outcome because He is God.