TRUST THE GIVER AND TAKER OF LIFE— NOT MAN
TRUST THE GIVER AND TAKER OF LIFE— NOT MAN
And the angel of the LORD went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. —Isaiah 37:36
Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. —Isaiah 38:4-5
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. —Psalm 118:8-9
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. —Psalm 118:14
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. —Psalm 118:17
God is in control over all— whether an individual or a nation. So, let us take comfort, brother and sister, fellow follower of Jesus, because nothing can happen to us unless our Lord allows it. And… if He allows it, then He has purpose in it— even when so many times we might not understand.
In one night “the angel of the LORD went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians.” Think about that! In one night our Lord judged 185,000 people and they died… in one night! So, if our Lord desires to judge a nation, He will. Besides, what is a nation to Him? “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust” (Isaiah 40:15). Don’t be alarmed, dear brother and sister, at what is happening in the world. Our Lord has plans and purposes that He is carrying out and one day they will be concluded!
Not only does our Lord affect large groups of people, but He also works in the lives of individuals. When King Hezekiah was dying, he prayed and “Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.” God revealed to His servant, Isaiah, that the king would live another 15 years and Isaiah was to bring that message to the king. This was in answer to the king’s prayer.
So, whether a nation or an individual— “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.” Why? Because “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” It is only He who will determine “I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.” And as long as I live may I do just that— “recount the deeds of the Lord.” Yes, Dear Father, may that be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXMPNXXnCls