SUNDAY March 3, 2019
Dwelling Safely
“Then they cried out to the Lord, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.’ And he Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel,and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety.”
1 Samuel 12:10-11
Samuel continued to remind Israel of their history. Their forefathers were guilty of idolatry. They had trusted in idols: the Baals and Ashtoreths and they constantly forsook their God. When the Lord allowed their enemies to come against them, they cried out to Him for deliverance. If only they would have listened to Him in the first place, they would never have had to cry out to the Lord.
We can read their repetitive history in the Book of Judges; every time a godly leader would die, they would go right back into sin! Now in front of Samuel, Israel, confronted with their past history, acknowledged their sin and pleaded with God. If He would help them against their enemies, then they would serve Him once again. Was this true repentance? No!
However, when Israel cried out to the Lord, in His mercy, He delivered them from their enemies. When God’s people would enter the Promised Land, if they obeyed Him, God would keep His promise to them:
“But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety” (Deuteronomy 12:10 NIV).
When you have problems and situations in your life, understand you could be the problem––not God. If you have become haughty and arrogant against God, you will have a life of strife and not peace. You will be at war with God. When you are at peace with God, then you will have peace.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
~Psalms 4:8~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!