“May they (our destroyers) know that You alone — whose name is Yahweh — are the Most High over all the earth.”
Psalms 83:18
“How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.”
Matthew 12:29
Who or what is stronger in your life? When is your peace most depleted? Is it when your finances are low? Is it when someone rejects you? Is it when you wake up with a huge zit on your face? Who or what most threatens your peace? The stronger man will always win. Whatever is most strong in us will win over our fear.
Good morning spiritual and eternal family!
Last Sunday we talked about what the fear of God is. King Saul feared the people more than he feared God, and that's why he couldn't wait much longer for God's timing and often took matters into his own hands (1 Sam 13:11-12).
“and Samuel asked, “What have you done? ” Saul answered, “When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn’t come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t sought the Lord’s favor.
So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering.”
1 Samuel 13:11-12
He was a self-preserver.
He couldn't wait on God's timing to handle his dire situation, because his fear of losing to the philistines was greater than his fear of God.
Saul's fear of man moved his will to act disobediently to God, because fear always dictates actions. The stronger fear will be your master. If you fear God then your fear will be one of deep awe as you take refuge in Him amidst the craziness and watch God fight all your battles in victory. But if you fear anything else more than God you will be like one trying to grasp oil in their hands...always on the move to survive and never finding rest.
Jonathan however, did not fear people, but asked that God would give him the red or green light when attacking the philistine garrisons with just his armor bearer.
“Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men.
Perhaps the Lord will help us.
Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
1 Samuel 14:6
"Perhaps the Lord will help us!"
What a heart! To not even be sure, but to go anyway with hope! That's the kind of deep awe of God Jonathan had to even think to do such a crazy thing! To put himself at risk!
Two people against a whole garrison is crazy (not to mention they had to climb down and up a steep and rocky cliff!) unless you fear God more than your odds or chances based on what you see. King Saul failed where Jonathan succeeded in the area of having a fear of God.
That same fear of God is why Jonathan could give up his inheritance as the next King to David and become one of David's biggest supporters! Only someone who had a deep and registered awe of God could relinquish so much of what might have been his in the HOPES of doing what God wanted more.
When we consider Saul and Jonathan and their fears (Saul fearing man, Jonathan fearing God) we can see that these two men lived very different kinds of lives. Even though they were father and son, they were nothing alike. The fear they each had made the difference for the way they made decisions. Appearance wise they were the same family, but inwardly they were two completely different kinds of people.
People look at appearances, but God examines the heart. Do a quick heart check today and consider who or what you fear most?
If you don't know then let your emotions, actions and thoughts reveal it to you as you observe them throughout the day. And continually renew and realign your heart to fear God.
Jmegrey
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