The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 7:12,
"Thus far the Lord has helped us."
This is what Samuel said as he erected a stone monument to the Lord for the Israelite's victory over the Philistines.
We are told in verse two of this chapter that "all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord" and that they rid themselves of the "foreign gods and the Ashtoreths". We are told that at this point in Israel's history they "served the Lord only", confessing their sin against the Lord for having abandoned him as a nation, verses 4-5. Unfortunately for the Israelites, this would only be for a short time, but for now, in their devotion to the Lord they experienced his blessings.
It was during this time the Philistines gathered to attack Israel, however we read, "But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar." Verses 10-11.
Israel had turned to the Lord and the Lord gave them victory and relief in saving them from their enemies. The nation had in their possession, at this time, the Lord's blessing, the Lord's help, the Lord's salvation of the nation. It was theirs, given them from the Lord. They "owned" his help as his gift to the nation. It was theirs to celebrate and rejoice in.
This morning my mind is captured by the thought that we too, today, own God's blessing if we have embraced Jesus Christ as our Lord. When we place our faith and trust in him we own, as our very own possession given us, a "breastplate of righteousness", Ephesians 6:14. This breastplate of righteousness is given us when we respond to the gospel of God's grace. God gives us a standing of being right with him in his court. This is a wonderful gift not to be taken lightly. We are told in Psalm 49:7-9, "No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay." However, this is exactly what Jesus Christ has done. He provided redemption for all mankind and each of us can have that credited to our account with God if we place our faith and trust in him. He gives us a standing of righteousness, this "breastplate of righteousness" - our guarantee of eternal life.
"Thus far the Lord has helped us."
This is what Samuel said as he erected a stone monument to the Lord for the Israelite's victory over the Philistines.
We are told in verse two of this chapter that "all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord" and that they rid themselves of the "foreign gods and the Ashtoreths". We are told that at this point in Israel's history they "served the Lord only", confessing their sin against the Lord for having abandoned him as a nation, verses 4-5. Unfortunately for the Israelites, this would only be for a short time, but for now, in their devotion to the Lord they experienced his blessings.
It was during this time the Philistines gathered to attack Israel, however we read, "But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar." Verses 10-11.
Israel had turned to the Lord and the Lord gave them victory and relief in saving them from their enemies. The nation had in their possession, at this time, the Lord's blessing, the Lord's help, the Lord's salvation of the nation. It was theirs, given them from the Lord. They "owned" his help as his gift to the nation. It was theirs to celebrate and rejoice in.
This morning my mind is captured by the thought that we too, today, own God's blessing if we have embraced Jesus Christ as our Lord. When we place our faith and trust in him we own, as our very own possession given us, a "breastplate of righteousness", Ephesians 6:14. This breastplate of righteousness is given us when we respond to the gospel of God's grace. God gives us a standing of being right with him in his court. This is a wonderful gift not to be taken lightly. We are told in Psalm 49:7-9, "No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— so that they should live on forever and not see decay." However, this is exactly what Jesus Christ has done. He provided redemption for all mankind and each of us can have that credited to our account with God if we place our faith and trust in him. He gives us a standing of righteousness, this "breastplate of righteousness" - our guarantee of eternal life.
Just as Israel "owned" God's blessing when they turned to him, so we "own" this breastplate of righteousness given us by God when we turn to him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
This breastplate of righteousness is something to value, something to consider with the greatest appreciation, the greatest gratitude. It is the greatest possession we can possibly own, given us freely by the One who suffered and died a miserable death on that cross to provide it for us!
We must never fail to celebrate this wonderful gift of God bestowed on us in his lavish expression of love toward us as we embrace him in faith.
"Thus far the Lord has helped us!"
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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