BE STILL!

BE STILL!

“In the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah king of Judah, Razon king of Aram advanced on Jerusalem with Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, to attack it; but he was unable to attack it. The House of David was informed: 'Aram has halted in Ephraimite territory.' At this, his heart and his people's hearts shook like forest trees shaking in the wind. Yahweh then said to Isaiah, 'Go out with your son Shear-Jashub, and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the road to the Fuller's Field, and say to him, "Pay attention and keep calm. Do not be FRIGHTENED or DEMORALISED by these two smouldering sticks of firewood, by the fierce anger of Razon, Aram and the son of Remaliah, or because Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah have been plotting against you and saying: Let us mount an attack on Judah, destroy it, force it onto our side and install the son of Tabeel there as king. "Lord Yahweh says this: This will not happen, it will never occur” Isa. 7:1-7 NJB [Emphasis mine]

Often times we get confounded, frightened, faint hearted, disturbed, agitated, be afraid or lose hope when mountainous problems of life stare us in the face. We lose our composure, calmness and lose our focus that we have placed upon God just like Peter who after walking on water for a while had to sink because he was fearful, and like King Ahaz of Judah who seem to look at the military strength, number of soldiers and armory of the King of Syria and the king of Israel rather than looking at the bigness of his God who has all the military strength, power and thousands upon thousands of warring angels.

God had to send Prophet Isaiah and his son when the heart of king Ahaz and his people shook and tremble like a tree shook by tempestuous wind. The word of victory for king Ahaz from God was affirmative of His divine ability to save, deliver and give victory. God said this will not happen, it will never occur nor come to pass that king Ahaz will be defeated by the two goon kings. The Lord God was so sure of His promise to Ahaz through Isaiah that He said "I am the Lord your God. Ask me to give you a miraculous sign. It can be anything in the deepest grave or in the highest heaven". God was so sure of His promise of victory to king Ahaz that He spoke of Syria as already almost extinguished, and incapable of doing extensive injury.

"Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid of them. Don't be terrified because of them. The Lord your God will go with you. He will never leave you. He'll never desert you. Then I sent for Joshua. I spoke to him in front of all of the people of Israel. I said, "Be strong and brave. You must go with these people. They are going into the land the Lord promised with an oath to give to their fathers. You must divide it up among them. They will each receive their share. The Lord himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you. He'll never desert you. So don't be afraid. Don't lose hope" Deut. 31:6-8 NJB

The Word of God should be the anchor of our soul such that we do not lose hope of God’s promises or become weary in battles of life. How can we be defeated, put down or bewildered when the Captain of the Host of God is with us and the very Almighty God promised that He will go before us, will be with us, will never leave us nor ever desert all. The Lord our God is with us what can man do to us! Be brave and strong!

“He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword” 2 Chron. 32:17-21 

When king Sennacherib of Assyria conquered Israel and carried them into captivity, he then threatened king Hezekiah of Judah, it was an all-out verbal abuse and warfare issue intended at frightening Hezekiah and meant to make him doubt the ability of his God to save and deliver him. However Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet turned unto the Lord God with vehement pray and agonizing crying and their faith in God made Him to send an angel to cut off Sennacherib’s mighty men of valor therefore he returned home shame faced and one of his offspring slew him with a sword. When the enemy come against us like a flood, we must turn to the Lord for respite else fear will grip our hearts and the Spirit of God will not be able to lift up a standard against him on our behalf because faith has gone with the wind.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” Phil. 4:8-9

Evil thought pattern will birth forth evil desires ending in evil results!  If our meditations are on things that are just, lovely, good report, virtue, praise and pure, the end result will be release of peace in our hearts and no agitation whatsoever. When you think of the goodness of Jesus, all He has done and all that He is well able to do, your faith will rise above misery and your faith will manifest.

God has promised us … Do not be dismayed … The Lord your God will go before you … The Lord is your helper what can man do against you … Though they come against you one way, they shall flee seven ways … A thousand may fall by your side, ten thousand on your right hand, it shall by no means hurt you … Whatever or whoever is born of God overcome the world … No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper … Be still, for the Lord thy God is with thee