Power In His Presence

A DEVOTED PERFECT LIFESTYLE

Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore (2Ki 20:3) AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION.

Hezekiah reiterated his perfect lifestyle before Jehovah with ease after prophet Isaiah has informed him about his imminent death. Among the Kings of Judah, Hezekiah was one of the distinguished kings whose life pleased Jehovah. We have a number of people who received accolades from God as perfect like Noah and Job. God Himself commended their devoted lifestyle of perfection. We see here Hezekiah seemingly “blowing his own trumpet before Jehovah”. This scenario depicts his audacity to proclaim his perfection before Yahweh. His among the few in the bible who whole heartedly revealed their effrontery in declaring their uprightness before God.

Scarcely will a Christians in this 21^st century have the nerve to boast before God as Hezekiah did. In his prayer he appealed to his perfect walk before the Lord in genuineness and with a thoroughly devoted heart, and to his acting in a manner that was well-pleasing to God, in perfect accordance with the legal standpoint of the Old Testament, which demanded of the godly righteousness of life according to the law. This did not imply by any means a self-righteous trust in his own high merit; for walking before God with a thoroughly devoted heart was impossible without faith. We must rise up to the corridors where we as Christians can openly declare our perfect lifestyles before God without reservations.

The track of Hezekiah’s thought pattern was evidently abreast with the promise which God made to David and his successors on the throne (1Ki_8:25). He had been Fidel to the tenets laid down by God for the kings in Israel; and as he had been all along free from any of those great crimes by which, through the judgment of God, human life was often suddenly cut short, his great misery arose partly from the fact that he had reached the summit of his reign and he pants for a time to celebrate his achievements. He pleaded the fulfillment of the promise.

We can only plead our possessions in Christ as the “SONS OF GOD” if we are cleared from the ills and flaws that stripe us from God’s beatitudes and blessings. We must learn a great deal from the temerity of Hezekiah in declaring his “wholeness” before the God who searches the heart and identifies its hidden motives and reservations.

PROTECTIVE CHARIOTS OF FIRE

And Elisha prayed, and said, Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha 2Ki 6:17 (AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION-ASV).

Indeed our God is a consuming fire. His glorious presence is typified by the fire which serves as a protective hedge around His children, but the other side of this fire devours the adversaries of the children of God. Fire is both dreadful and devouring: that power which was engaged for Elisha could both terrify and consume the opposers of God’s divine will. Elijah gave a specimen of Divine justice, when he called for flames of fire on the heads of his persecutors to consume them. Elisha gives a specimen of Divine mercy, in heaping coals of fire on the heads of his persecutors to melt them.

Elisha’s servant lacked the faith of seeing beyond the seen. Habakkuk 2:4 says, “the just shall live by his faith”. Our perspective regarding Gods protective measures around us predetermines His presence of fire that will be our shield and buckler. We must have the FAITH to see the proximity of God’s presence with us like the three Hebrew guys Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Elisha therefore prays that his servant may be given a vision of the spiritual realm, and behold as if with the bodily eye, the angelic host which he himself believes to be present. Many times Christians lack the discernment to identify the power of God shielding us from the wiles of the enemy and by reason of this inability, we become fearful and intimidated by the arrows that fly by night and the noisome pestilence from the devil. We must not in any way blame God when we don’t experience His protection because God’s Presence is ONLY for those who BELIEVES THAT HE IS AND IS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD TO THOSE WHO DELIGENTLY SEEK HIM.

The fiery horses and chariots were symbols of the protecting powers of Heaven, which surrounded the prophet. The fiery form indicated the super-terrestrial origin of this host. Fire, as the most ethereal of all earthly elements, was the most appropriate substratum for making the spirit-world visible. The sight was based upon Jacob’s vision (Gen_32:2), in which he saw a double army of angels encamped around him, at the time when he was threatened with danger from Esau. The angelic host of heaven surrounds us everywhere we are or will go. As heirs of the Father and Joint-heirs with the Son, we are the apple of God’s eye and He will never leave us unshielded and unprotected.

SUPERNATURAL PROVISION

Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith that is before the Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there 1Ki 17:3, 4 (ASV)

One of the world’s greatest missionary Hudson Taylor made a profound statement confirming the unquestionable providence of God in the life of His people. He said “the work of God done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply”. Christians are serving a God whose riches surpass the fathom of mortal man.

Elijah as a typical replica of God’s graciousness was called by God in a time of apostasy re the life of the Israelites. He was also called during the reign of the most vulnerable king whose reign was indirectly operated by a woman called Jezebel. God who is omniscient knew the heart of Ahab and Jezebel that they will plan to assassinate His servant the Prophet so He commanded Elijah to “hide himself” vrs. 3. This greatly stresses on God’s supernatural love for His servants who stands in the gap for Him to use them for His glory. God sent Elijah to predict the drought and Elijah irrespective of the danger appending this mission call obeyed the voice of God.

Obedience on the part of men attracts divine protection and providence on the part of God

We are called as “sheep in the midst of wolves” and this expresses the encroachment of danger. Risk our lives to satiate God’s will and what He pleases worth more than spending life in blissfulness outside the will of God. At first the king may have spurned the prediction as the utterance of a vain enthusiast; but when he found the drought did last and increase in severity, he sought Elijah, who, as it was necessary that he should be far removed from either the violence or the importunities of the king, was divinely directed to repair to a place of retreat, perhaps a cave on “the brook Cherith, that is, before [east of] Jordan.”

Elijah is the only Prophet who miraculously was fed my ravens and this episode has created a bone of contention among scholars who are famished enough to decry God’s supernatural abilities and they jump to the conclusions that the word “ravens” is figurative and symbolic. The fact remains that, God promised Elijah about the presence of the ravens and it did happen just as God predicted. This is a passage that reveals God’s intervention on behalf of His children who say YES to His call and beckoning.

The God who sends has the ability to provide the necessary logistics that will espouse His missionaries.

If you are called by God and you feel that it’s a tall order you are right, but the God who called or is calling you is ALL ABLE to supernaturally provide you with all that you need, including your safety.

SPRING, A TIME FOR WAR

It was now spring, the time when kings go to war. David sent out the whole Israelite army under the command of Joab and his officers. They destroyed the Ammonite army and surrounded the capital city of Rabbah, but David stayed in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, David got up from a nap and was walking around on the flat roof of his palace. A beautiful young woman was down below in her courtyard, bathing as her religion required and David happened to see her 2Sa 11:1,2 – CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION (CEV).

David as a King had been noted for his military prowess and adepts. God gave him ample rest from all his toils because he lived to please the Lord. This verse in 2 Samuel explicates to us that, David neglected his function as a king in wars and patently, it is identified in scripture that, the kings go for war in spring-that is harvest time. It was a proper season for war and this was the time David rested on his laurels. By virtue that he was surrounded by able hands who were strong to execute his wars for him, he tarried in the house.

According to the Targum, this was the month Adar or February, the spring of the year and it is a fit time to go out to war; when, as the Jewish commentators observe, the rains were over, and there were grass in the fields, and fruit on the trees, and corn ripe, and so food for horse and men.

Please let us try to map out the occasion which spelled David’s doom:

· He deserted his godly responsibility: This was the kiros moment he should have been abroad with his military army in the field, fighting the battles of the Lord for the children of Israel because that was the reason he was chosen and elected by God; as Christians, we are called to break the chains of darkness and set the oppressed free from the devils cohorts. A neglect of business on our part will give the devil a foot stool to maneuver his way through our loopholes and endanger our lives and ministries. We must pray hard for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal as it was in the time of David; we are called to wrestle against principalities and powers and by reason of this we must be ready in season and out of season with prayer and the our studies of the word of God. He devolved the care upon others, and he himself stayed in Jerusalem, 2Sam. 11:1. Had he been now at his post at the head of his forces, he would have been out of the way of this temptation. When we are strayed out of the way of our god given functions, we are in the way of temptation.

· He built monuments around passing ease and comforts and an over indulgence of a slothful attitude: He got up from a nap one afternoon, 2Sa_11:2. He basked in slothfulness and idleness which ultimately he should have spent this precious moment for his own improvement or the good of others via being of a good service to God in his calling. David was a man of prayer, but here, we see him dividing his ranks of identity and putting on the rags of uncertainty and idleness which became a catalyst for his incapacity. He used to pray, not only morning and evening, but at noon, in the day of his trouble: it is to be feared he had, this noon, omitted to do so. Redundancy gives great advantage to the tempter to preempt our responsibilities in causing us to clutch at straw. Still waters untouched gather debris and waste. The corridors of redundancy bespeaks of the arena of lasciviousness.

· A wandering eye: “He happened to see her. The sin of adultery and promiscuity came in at his eye, as Eve’s did. Perhaps he sought to see her naked body after his eyes beheld her naked body, at least he should have practiced according to his own prayer, Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity, and his son’s caution in a like case, Look not thou on the wine it is red. Either he had not, like Job, made a covenant with his eyes, or, at this time, he had forgotten it.

We as Christians must be admonished and exhorted by the negative deeds of David to seek for the right path unto righteousness. We are called into a life of beatitudes if we will be up and doing fulfilling what God pleases. We must stay clear of slothfulness and redeem the time for the days are evil. David couldn’t redeem his precious time by be up to the task but he allowed the adversary to step over the boundaries of his disciplined life and that was the starting point of his misery and melancholy.

(Yahoo Images)

A TRANSFORMED HEART
And it was so, that, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day 1Samuel 10:9 (ASV)

After the unique meeting with the Prophet, Samuel, something unique and conspicuous began to happen in the life of this seemingly susceptible king to be. For my money, the expression “and God gave him another heart” can be A pregnant expression for “God changed him, and gave him another heart”. When God desires to use someone, the only place the change happens first is the heart of hearts of the entity to be used. We see here in this episode that, Saul experienced a great transformation principally in HIS HEART. He had a change of vision and burden. Irrespective the way we see ourselves during God’s call for us to be used by Him, He has the power to transform you into the object He meet or fit for His use. We practically observe this in all the life of the Patriarchs used by God. God made them go through experiences whereby He single handedly develop their inner strengths to endure and pan out in their callings.

God foresaw the physical and emotional frame work with which he had at his disposals and He taught it wise to implant in him the features and qualities which will invariably enable him to be up and doing re His agenda for Israel. He gave him such virtues as were fitting for a king.

God gave him another heart – This transformation in the heart in the case of Saul was not in a moral or spiritual sense, not a new heart, and a new spirit, as in conversion, but in a civil sense, a right heart, a heart fit for government; filled with sagacity and discretion to rule a nation and a separated people; with audacity and high-mindedness to protect and defend them against their enemies, and fight for them; this was a transformed heart not taken up with the affairs of husbandry, with care for his father’s asses, and looking after his herds, but filled with concern for the civil welfare of Israel, and with schemes and contrivances for their good, and with warm resolutions to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies. In our case as Christians, God transform us with the presence of the Holy Spirit to empower us for the propagation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. If Saul is transformed for warfare against the enemies of Israel, then we are transformed also by God for warfare against the machination and orchestration of the enemy to sidetrack the elect from winning souls for God’s Kingdom.

Saul experienced a new fire which was spurred up in his heart, such as he had never before been au fait with: His seeking heart for the asses of his father was striped off out of his mind, and he thinks of nothing but fighting the Philistines, redressing the grievances of Israel, making laws, administering justice, and providing for the public safety; these are the things that now fill his head. He finds himself raised to such a pitch of boldness and bravery as he never thought he should be conscious of. He has no longer the heart of a husbandman, which is low, and mean, and narrow, and concerned only about his corn and cattle; but the heart of a statesman, a general, a prince. Whom God calls to any service he will make fit for it. If he advance to another station, he will give another heart, to those who sincerely desire to serve him with their power.

(From Yahoo images)

THE POWER OF PRAYER

And Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes – Judges 16:28 (ASV)

This is the prayer of Samson when he was used as a laughing stock for the enemies. This verse explicates on the power of prayer; irrespective the predicaments, anxieties and the despair we are wallowing in, we must pray to God and He will here from heaven and heal us from our uncertainties. Though the last phase of Samson’s life was humiliating, and we wish there were a veil partitioning his sins and depravity, yet this account here given of his death may be allowed to lessen, though it does not quite obliterate the reproach of it. Invariably, there was honor in his death. No doubt he greatly repented of his sin, and truly we see this via the power of God when He answered Samson’s prayer.

And Samson called unto the Lord … He voiced out his innermost desires in an impulsive manner; though he might possibly express it aloud by reason of the pains and torture he was going through or possibly he could pray without being heard and observed by the people, amidst their noise and mirth; and if it was heard, it might only furnish out more derision and contempt; and be it as it may, the prayer must have been preserved by the Lord himself, and given by inspiration to the writer of this book; since there were none that heard it that lived to relate it to others, no, not Samson himself.

We are serving a God who hates and despise those who live to gratify the desires their flesh like Samson, but in all our sins, He is ever ready to give us the power to over sin and the devices of the evil one if we will PRAYER. Prayer is the evidence of our s selflessness before God and if we will PRAY, He will come to our aid and keep us strengthened to defeat and overcome our adversary, the devil.

- This prayer was not an act of malice and revenge, but of faith and zeal for God, who was there publicly dishonored by the actions of the Philistines against Samson; and justice, in vindicating the whole common – wealth of Israel, which was his duty, as he was judge.

The devil is now trying to laugh at Christians because he has the world for himself by reason of the sins of many people. Nevertheless, if Christians can pray as Samson pray from the bottom of his heart, we will put the devil where he belongs and he cannot lob it over the chosen, peculiar and the royal people of God.

It was in effect of his faith in God that he should be strengthened to overthrow his enemies and the enemies of his country, that he is mentioned, Heb_11:32, among those who were remarkable for their faith. Our prayers to God in times of difficulties reveal our great faith in God. Prayer is the supernatural evidence of our reliance and faith in God. Lets have a paradigm shift with regards to our understanding of faith so that we can experience the power and blessings of God min our lives.

CLEAVING UNTO GOD

But cleave unto Jehovah your God, as ye have done unto this day (Joshua 23:8) – ASV.

A song writer said “leaning on the everlasting arms”. We have a strong arm to resort to in times of trouble. We are serving a mighty God who has the world in the palm of His hands. His power sustains all things and He outstretched the heights and the width of the universe.

These are the fare well words of Joshua for the children of Israel. The last word of a mighty man carries the potency which has the ability cause a great transformation in lives. Joshua ends his meaningful life on the earth with a will containing the specifications of how we must serve God.

To cleave comes from the Greek etymology dâbaq which means to abide, (holding fast together), follow close (hard, after), be joined (together), keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take. Joshua exhorted them to hold fast unto Jehovah, that is, “delight in him, depend upon him, devote yourselves to his glory, and continue to do so to the end, as you have done unto this day, ever since you came to Canaan;”

In cleaving, we must hold fast on God’s word, worship, and ordinances; extrinsically, by true obedience and devotion to them, and firm examination of them; and intrinsically, by strong warmth to him, hope, trust, and confidence in him, expectation of all good things from him, and constant application to him for help in all times of need, and a fixed dependence on him: that is the only true way for us to experience the presence and power of God forever. A constant trust and confidence in God is the key for exploits. Joshua commanded them to put their faith hard to God and He will inevitably not fail them. The same applies to as follows of Christ. We must bank on His mercies and love so that the blessings annexing these virtues would be ours for the taking.

As ye have done unto this day; that is, since they came into the land of Canaan, and had been under the government of Joshua; for otherwise, while in the wilderness, they frequently revolted from God, and murmured against him; and this is to be understood not of individuals, who doubtless were guilty of various failings and sins, but of the whole body, and with respect to any notorious offence, particularly idolatry, which they had not fallen into since they came into the land of Canaan, and had very lately shown great zeal against it; not only the tribes on this side, but those on the other side Jordan, as the preceding chapter largely relates.

A RENEWED STRENGTH AS THE EAGLE

As yet I am as strong this day as I as in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out and to come in. Joshua 14:11 (ASV)

These are the powerful words of a man who had been packaged with the power of an eagle. The eagle’s power and potency is beheld in its ability to be rejuvenated in strength. As Isaiah said, “and your strength would be renewed as eagle’s” (40:31). CALEB is his name and he is one of the two men who had inevitably enjoyed the providence and presence of God and this is the effect of their devotion and commitment to the will and purpose of God. A renewal of strength is only the reward of Christians who are ready to die for their faith and also a unique stand with regards to our commitment to the will of the Father.

Here Caleb earnestly requests for the land or territory of Hebron and alongside his request was his seemingly reminisce of who he really is vis-à-vis their peregrination from Egypt to where they’ve reached thus far. His unique personality and piety is revealed through his own witness of the justice and propriety of his conduct and that of his family. He was extra bold to explicate on his own unblemished and unquestionable character. Do we have the audacity and the effrontery expressed by Caleb? Can we be recommended by all and sundry re our walk with God and our talk about Him? Well! Caleb did it blatantly and he later on annexed his desire (the land of Hebron). We can glance at God’s providence and power on him via these statements of his:

I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me:

This worthwhile statement proposes that Caleb was possessed with the clarity of mind, precision of thought, sense of direction and a retentive memory, and as hale, he was physically powerful, and robust in his body now, as he had been so long ago; these qualities are only given by God. This is a phenomenal expedition of rejuvenation and renewal which is a wonderful instance of the care of divine providence over him in upholding him in life, and continuing him in vigor, vitality and health at such an age, when the carcasses of so many thousands had pined away and fell in the wilderness. Folks, let us learn a great deal from the attitude and character of Caleb so that we can also flourish in the courts of our God as voiced out by David (Psalm 92:13).

As my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war:

He had the same strength of body and courage of mind to engage in warlike enterprises as he had so many years ago; and this he the rather mentions, to prevent any objection Joshua might make to the giving of Hebron to him, since being inhabited by giants, it required a large share of strength and courage to attempt the conquest of it: but Caleb had strength both to go out, and to come in; to do any civil business, to preside over his tribe, or to govern any city, and its appendages, that should be put into his hands. As instruments of God in a depraved and sinful world, we need God’s unction to function as He gave Caleb to execute what He pleases. Let’s strive to walk with God in order that “He will satisfy our desires with good things, so that our youth would be RENEWED like the eagle.

FEAR NOT FOR GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU

Ye shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you. Deut. 3:22 (ASV)

Deuteronomy had been generalized as the fifth book of Moses which reiterates the law to the hearing of the children of Israel. God enforced His will and purpose to the new generation for tem to be intimated with His power which was revealed unto their fathers and forefathers.

This reminiscence also calls to mind the goodness of God in the appointment of Joshua (Num_27:12.), which took place “at that time,” i.e., after the conquest of the land on the east of the Jordan. God explicates on His marvelous protection and providence for the Israelites and for this reason the new generation was not to be afraid; for Jehovah Himself would fight for them. “He” is emphatic, and adds force to the subject. By virtue of God’s day to day buffering and providence we must equip ourselves to be out of the quagmire of fear so that we can reach the zenith re God’s will and purpose for our lives.

Ye shall not fear them … This is the encouragement which Moses gave to Joshua, who was to succeed him in the government, Deu_3:21, Deu_3:22. He commanded him not to fear. We must remember that those that are aged and experienced in the service of God should do all they can to strengthen the hands of those that are young, and setting out in religion. This is what was incumbent on Moses so that a legacy would be left for the other generation to come.

Moses commanded Joshua to consider these two principles:-

1. What God has done: Joshua had seen what a total defeat God had given by the forces of Israel to the kings, and thence he might easily deduce, so shall the Lord do to all the rest of the kingdoms upon which we are to make war. He must not only infer thence that thus the Lord can do with them all, for his arm is not shortened, but thus he will do, for his purpose is not changed; he that has begun will finish; as for God, his work is perfect. Joshua had seen it with his own eyes. And the more we have seen of the instances of divine wisdom, power, and goodness, the more inexcusable we are if we fear what flesh can do unto us.

God enlightened this generation not to shudder before their enemies on account of their numbers, strength, courage, and gigantic stature of the inhabitants of the lad of Canaan, nor on account of their walled towns, and fortified cities: because He is with them as a mighty terrible one. The enemy only roars LIKE a lion but in the real sense, he is not a lion. Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of the tribe of Judah has already prevailed for us now and the future.

2. What God had promised. The Lord your God he shall fight for you; and that cause cannot but be victorious which the Lord of hosts fights for. If God be for us, who can be against us so as to prevail? We reproach our leader if we follow him trembling and fixated with fright and terror.

He shall fight for you… as he did, particularly at Jericho, the walls of which city fell at the sound of rams’ horns; and at Gibeon, when he cast down hailstones on their enemies, and more were slain by them than with the sword; and in all their battles it was he that gave them success and victory. As we had already experienced the manifold blessings and power of God, we must consequently bank on God’s power to deliver us and safe us from the oppressions of the evil one which is occurring or will occur in our life in our quest for greater heights.

THE POWER OF A WILD OX AND

THE BOLDNESS OF A LION

God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces, and smite them through with his arrows. He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, and cursed be every one that curseth thee. Num 24:8, 9 (ASV).

Figuratively, the church of Jesus Christ has been subjected to diverse kinds of apotheosis which fitly elucidates her strength and power apropos to her bridegroom and Master Jesus Christ. The children of Israel had been likened to an eagle in Isaiah 40:28-31 and to say the least, an ant, unicorn etc. The symbol used in explicating on their strength as revealed in the bible is a perfect apotheosis clarifying their real nature. The completeness of power that resides with the people of Israel was palpable in the power and proficiency with which their God brought them out of Egypt.

Balaam purported to cast aspersion against the children of God and to brand them as anathema so that they will clutch at stroll in all their endeavors. Consequently, he could not help it but to volley out blessings upon them. God brought him forth out of Egypt – They were neither expelled from Egypt, nor came voluntarily away. God alone, with a high hand and uplifted arm, brought them forth. Israel is here labeled as a wild ox tearing down her adversaries like wax. Israel is a nation who has a covenant with God through Abraham and the other Patriarchs. Christians too are having covenant with God through the blood of Christ and now we are heirs of the Father joint heirs with Christ.
The authority for us to outwit and outrun our enemies had been given to us by Christ on the cross. The strength of the wild ox is impacted on us through the fellowship with the Spirit of God. We are made to subdue our enemies and have dominion over them. We must arise in the power and strength as the WILD OX to plunder and eradicate the forces of darkness that hinders us from fulfilling our destinies and the will of our Father in heaven.

As the church of Christ, we are imputed with the Power and victory:

He who brought the Israelites from Egypt will send them into the promise land. We had been delivered with style from the slave market of sin and darkness and our destination is to possess our possessions earmarked for us by Christ and obviously our final residence is in heaven. People of God, stomp yourself in the liberty wherein Christ has set you free and enjoy your liberty by serving the Lord in the Spirit and in Truth.

As the Israelites, we shall not only destroy and devour our enemies as easily and irresistibly as a lion does his prey, but we shall be strengthened, and fattened, and enriched, by their spoils.

As the church of Christ, we are imputed with courage and security:

He lay down as a lion, as a great lion, Num_24:9. Now he does so in the plains of Moab, and asks no leave of the king of Moab, nor is he in fear of him; shortly will he do so in Canaan. When he has torn his prey, he will take his repose, quiet from the fear of evil, and bid defiance to all his neighbors; for who shall stir up a sleeping lion? It is observed of lions that they do not retire into places of shelter to sleep, but lie down any where, knowing that none dares meddle with them: thus secure were Israel in Canaan, chiefly in the days of David and Solomon; and thus is the righteous bold as a lion (Pro_28:1), not to assault others, but to repose themselves, because God makes them to dwell in safety Psa_4:8.

As the church of Christ, we are imputed with the interest and influence upon our neighbors.

The friends of Israel and those in alliance with them were happy: Blessed is he that blesseth thee; those that do them any kindness will certainly fare the better for it. But their enemies, and those in arms against them, were certainly miserable: Cursed is he that curseth thee; those that do them any injury do it at their peril; for God takes what is done to them, whether good or evil, as done to himself. Thus he confirms the blessing of Abraham (Gen_12:3), and speaks as if therefore he did at this time bless Israel, and not curse them, because he desired to share in the blessing of Israel’s friends and dreaded the curse on Israel’s enemies. Everyone who strives with us unlawfully will answer to God and receive the damnation which requires them.