Thursday February 29
Our God Conquers for Us
Psalm 136:17-22
17 To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever;
18 And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever--
19 Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever;
20 And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever--
21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever;
22 A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever.
Again, just a reminder that today, Thursday February 29, I will be leaving for Jordan with a wonderful team to minister to Iraqi, Syrian, and Palestinian refugees. There are over one million refugees in the city of Amman Jordan. We sure would appreciate and covet your prayers for our team during this 10-day trip to a very special area of our world!
This means that my daily pastor chats might not be so daily. I will do my best to post ministry updates, pastor chats, pictures and videos, as our time, schedule, and internet access permits. Once again, thank you for your patience and prayers during these next 10 days. We return on Saturday, March 9 and hope to get back to our daily chats as soon as possible!
Psalm 136 describes creation of the world and the beginning and history of Israel all the way to the book of Judges in verses 23-25. But it also describes our spiritual journey as believers and followers of Jesus Christ. First in verses 1-9, we should never forget to remind ourselves that God is our creator. Next in verses 10-12, we rejoice that God is our Redeemer! He has brought us out of our bondage and set us free through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ! Yesterday we learned in verses 13-16, that God is our Shepherd Who brings us through the “wilderness” of life!
We have a God who not only created us, redeemed us and brought us out, shepherds us and brings us through, but in verses 17-22, we also have a God that conquers for us and brings us in!
As the forty years drew to a close, Moses led the people back to the gateway into the Promised Land, and on the way, Israel defeated great and mighty kings and took their lands. In verses 19-20, two of them are mentioned by name, Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan. (Num. 21). These two kings are mentioned over fifty times in the Old Testament as a testimony of God fighting for and protecting His people!
Several times when I was in Jordan, I have gone to a place located not far outside of Amman to a pile of stones that is called Hesbon, where Sihon had his fortress.
You might remember that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh claimed their inheritance east of the Jordan River (Num. 32; Josh. 18:7), but their men marched with Israel into Canaan and helped to conquer the enemy and claim the land (135:10-12; Josh. 22). The land belonged to the Lord, but He gave it to Israel as their inheritance (vv. 21-22), and they would enjoy its blessings as long as they obeyed the covenant.
Believers today have been delivered from sin through faith in Christ and are now in the "kingdom of the Son of His love" (Col. 1:13). Canaan is not a picture of heaven, for there will be no wars in heaven. It pictures our present inheritance in Jesus Christ, an inheritance that we claim as we walk by faith and defeat Satan and his forces that want to keep us in bondage and spiritual poverty. This is the theme of Hebrews 1-4.
Peter assures us of our inheritance with these words in 1 Peter 1:3-8, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory”.
God bless!