Tag: isa54

Taking the Stand!

Weaponizing a judicial system to silence or eliminate someone is nothing new. We see it in Daniel’s day, just like our day. In our reading, we see an eighty-two-year-old Daniel thrown to the lions. Why is he being thrown to the lions? Not because he murdered anyone. Not because of corruption or treason. Not because of stealing. It is because he worships God! Notice what Daniel’s political opponents said of him. Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.” (Daniel 6:4–5, NLT) So the heathen weaponized the judicial system and threw a good man to the lions.

As I thought about Daniel’s life, this kind of drama wasn’t new to him. As someone high up in the political class for most of his life, Daniel survived four different kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus the Great. This was unheard of. Lots of heads usually rolled during regime changes, but not Daniel’s. He stood calm, firm, and secure amid a lot of swirling drama. When the law was passed making it illegal to pray to God, the Bible says, When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (Daniel 6:10, ESV) Wow, talk about taking a stand! Talk about a foundation upon which he stood!

Times haven’t changed! Today’s world is full of evil people creating drama for the righteous (2 Thessalonians 3:1–2). It is not because Christians are dangerous people; it is because the heathen rage and imagine vain things against God (Psalm 2:1–2). And since we as Christians are not above our Master, we too will suffer persecution as Jesus did (John 15:20). However, like Daniel, we too can take a stand calmly, firmly, and securely regardless of the weaponization of the ungodly. No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17, ESV) So let us stand, and if need be, take the stand amid the rage of the ungodly and glorify our Father who is in Heaven! (Ephesians 6:13; Hebrews 12:1–3)

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Daniel 4-6.

A bright spot in a dark time!

Israel is back at it again, doing evil in the sight of God. This time, the Philistines oppressed them for forty years! In the middle of this period, the Bible introduces us to Manoah and his wife, the soon-to-be parents of Sampson. Manoah and his wife stand out in stark contrast to the disobedience of Israel. While Israel has abandoned God for idolatry, Manoah and his wife, who are childless, are refreshingly reverent toward God! In the middle of these challenging times, both nationally and personally for Manoah and his wife, God tells them they will have a son. Notice the powerful response of faith from Manoah!

So Manoah asked him, “When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?” The angel of the Lord replied, “Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her. She must not eat grapes or raisins, drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, or eat any forbidden food.” (Judges 13:12–14, NLT)

Two encouraging thoughts come to the surface. Manoah does not doubt God’s Word regarding the promise of a son. For Manoah, it’s when, not if. What faith in a doubt-filled, faithless time! The second thought relates to their obedience. They are careful to follow the instructions when society around them is disobeying the LORD’s instructions! The results?

When her son was born, she named him Samson. And the Lord blessed him as he grew up. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he lived in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judges 13:24–25, NLT)

Under the societal oppression of Israel’s sin and abandonment of God, here is a family that is blessed! In a faithless and disobedient culture, they love God! What a bright spot in the middle of some dark pages of Israel’s history!

Believers, are we not surrounded by a world of faithlessness and disobedience? Is not societal oppression from sin, evildoers, and the devil rampant around us? Is there not massive delusion today trying to crush any remaining pockets of godliness, sanity, and common sense? Yes! Can we be blessed in the midst of this? Are there others who have not “bowed the knee” to the wholesale idolatry of this present age? Is the Spirit of the Lord still stirring in the hearts of people, young and old alike? Is God still blessing people individually? Yes!

Then, it is time to rejoice that the impact of our light is the greatest when it is the darkest! Though conditions in this world may not be and have never been ideal for righteousness, righteousness, the Word of God and God Himself cannot be stamped out! Oh, how the devil has tried! This is not a time for believers to develop a fear-driven bunker mentality. In times like this, the following verse is all the more precious and powerful!

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18, ESV)

Have the gates of hell prevented the church, and will they? No! Can you and I still be blessed in a world filled with crookedness and perversion? Yes! Rejoice, no weapon formed against us shall prevail over us (Isaiah 54:17)!

Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Judges 13:1-15:20.