A LORD WHO RESCUES

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.

Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. Then Saul said to the men who were with him, "Muster the forces and see who has left us." When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there.

Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God." (At that time it was with the Israelites.) While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. So the Lord rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.

1 Samuel 14:15-23

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

At the start of 1 Samuel, chapter 14, we saw where Saul’s son, Jonathan, and his armor bearer defeated a Philistine outpost. After their victory, we saw where the Philistine army was thrown into disarray, struck by a panic that the scriptures tell us was “sent by God”. We read that as the “ground shook”, the whole Philistine army…“those in the camp and field…in the outposts and raiding parties”…were seen by Saul’s lookouts as “melting away in all directions”.

Receiving this news, we find Israel’s king muster his forces and when he did, he learned that Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing before commanding the priest Ahijah to bring out “the ark of God”.

Meanwhile, the “tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more”…so much more that Saul assembled all his men and went to battle where they “found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords”. The scriptures tell us that Saul and his men were joined by the “Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp” as well as “all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim”. The end result was that the “Philistines were on the run” as the “Lord rescued Israel that day”.

Note the important of those last five words for we’re told that the “Lord rescued Israel”.

Not Saul.

Not Jonathan.

Not any other Israelite.

God and God alone was responsible for the rescuing. He did it then and He still does today, something every believer should keep in mind as they face the difficulties life can bring. Indeed, we serve a loving, mighty Lord who brings us deliverance and so much more. Consider these scripture passages:

1. The Lord provides support and saves us because we are His delight.

He (the Lord) reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me. Psalm 18:16-19

In so many circumstances, we find that we lack the ability to rescue ourselves, desperately in need of someone who can intervene and intercede...someone who can provide encouragement when we’re in distress…someone who can snatch us away from danger and move us to a safer place…someone who loves and cares for us so much that they desire for us to be saved.

We always can count on the Lord providing all this and more. There is never a time when He is not with us as He is only a prayer away from taking action and bringing a sure help we can’t find anywhere else.

2. The Lord avenges us, subdues our enemies, and exalts us over our foes.

He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to Your name. Psalm 18:47-49

In life, we will face adversaries but we need never worry about them because we serve a God who rescues and avenges us, exalting us above our foes. He is the One who exacts perfect judgment and justice so we need not take matters into our hands. All we need to do is commit our concerns to Him and we can be assured He will protect and lift us up.

The Apostle Paul posed this question in his letter to the Romans:

“If God is with us who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Thankfully, the answer will always be “no one” and this truth is what allows all believers today to praise the Lord among the nations and sing praises to His name, just David did.

3. The Lord hears our cries, saves us from distress, and heals us with His word.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Psalm 107:19-21

How many times have you found yourself in need while living this thing called life?

Hopefully, the number matches the number of times we have turned to the Lord for help, the God who is our refuge and ever present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1).

It should be an incredible comfort for every believer to know that God is the only One who is always there for us…every day and every night…24/7...365 days a year. And because of this fact, we know that He is ever ready to hear our cries for help, come to us in our times of trouble, and bring us encouragement, healing, and strength through His holy Word…a Word that commands us to not be afraid because He is with us (Isaiah 41:10).

4. Ultimately, the Lord rescues all of us through His Son.

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

When it comes to talking about our God who rescues, we have to talk about His Son Jesus for salvation and the ultimate rescue from Hell comes from no other place.

God so loved the world, not wanting anyone to perish in their sin and suffer the everlasting torment and suffering of Hell, provided a way to be delivered. All anyone has to do is to simply believe in His Son as Savior and they will be saved, gaining the guarantee of eternal life in Heaven (John 3:16, Romans 10:9). Indeed, God, through Jesus, provided the chance for rescue from darkness and offered redemption in return. He made the way so we could be delivered from our sins and gain the certainty of entering His Kingdom one day to share life forever with Him and His Son.

As you read this, my prayer today is that you already know you’ve been rescued from Hell through your belief in God’s Son, Jesus.

If not, I urge you today to change your eternal destiny, exchanging Hell for Heaven. Come to Jesus and gain eternal life today. It’s a decision you will never regret.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.