NOTE: To all my readers…well, the time has come for me to depart the country. I will be leaving this evening late and arrive overseas around 17 hours later. Once on the ground there, I will reestablish connection to the internet and continue to post, although my times are going to be different. Please bear with me and know I intend to continue to write and post every day, even when I’m abroad. Please keep Grace and I in prayer as we endure yet another separation…our final one before I retire. God bless all of you and thanks for your faithful readership and comments. In Christ, Mark
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
You give me your shield of victory; You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.
I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for battle; You made my adversaries bow at my feet.
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them — to the Lord, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
You have delivered me from the attacks of my people; You have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know are subject to me, and foreigners come cringing to me; as soon as they hear me, they obey me. They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.
2 Samuel 22:36-46
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
“At least 10 killed in Alabama shooting spree.”
“Child critical after mall ride fall.”
“Man visiting son in hospital, dies in crash.”
“Two people displaced after fire.”
These recent headlines underscore the kind of danger that exists all around us. We never can know when and how peril might strike us and this truth could leave us paranoid and afraid if it weren’t for one important fact.
God places the gift of His covering over those who trust and obey Him.
David surely knew this as he had been watched over and kept safe by God. In fact, David shares these words of testimony in today’s scripture:
You give me your shield of victory; You stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for battle; You made my adversaries bow at my feet.
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them — to the Lord, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.
You have delivered me from the attacks of my people; You have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know are subject to me, and foreigners come cringing to me; as soon as they hear me, they obey me. They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.
Note that as David reflected on every hazard he had survived, he gave credit where credit was due…to the Lord.
For the Lord gave David his shield of victory, offering him protection from attack and leading him to greatness.
The Lord ensured David traveled safely on a broadened path…symbolizing the safe path we all can walk when we are walking with Him. And while on that path, David found he was on solid ground as he crushed and destroyed his enemies.
It was the Lord who armed David with strength for battle and this was important to hear from David because it showed his humility and understanding that it wasn’t by his own hands that he was victorious but only by God’s hands.
And finally, it was the Lord who delivered David in times of conflict and preserving him as the anointed ruler and king of all Israel.
Question…
What are you up against in life?
Are you in any kind of trouble in life?
Are there others who wish you harm physically, mentally or verbally?
And if you aren’t currently gong through difficulty, maybe you can relate to a time when you were.
Truly, life is uncertain and can be dangerous for us at times. But we need not worry or be fearful or anxious about anything because we have a faithful God who is ready to place His covering over us in accordance with His will. And the good news for us, not just today bur forever, is that we…like David…have an almighty, powerful Protector, Defender and Savior in the Lord who stands ready to help us and save us when the need arises.
Thanks be to God for the gift of His covering! Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
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