By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
THURSDAY
THEME: DESTROY! AS GOD THRUSTS OUT THE ENEMY
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 33:27
“The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’”
REFLECTIONS
The Bible is an all-round, inspiring, insightful, and exciting book. Besides carrying important information from Archaeology to Zoology, it is replete with inspiring and refreshing statements. There are statements you come across in the Scriptures that are attention-drawing. One such is what our text for meditation today states: “The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’” As God defends and delivers you, He will authorize destroying the enemy. He would say, “Destroy” – indeed, God will destroy the enemy in your life and his machinations. The destroyer will be destroyed at the command of our Father. Is it not fascinating and heartwarming?
Moses emphatically reminded the people that God is their refuge and, importantly, their eternal refuge. Because He is eternal, their security, safety, protection, and care will be intact. This assurance may have also inspired the sons of Korah to compose the psalm in Psalms 46:1—3: “[1]God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [2]Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [3]Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah,” Reference to God as our refuge was so crucial at the time they were uttered, but much more so today, when we face many uncertainties daily. In your sober moments, rejoice that God is your refuge. Just the thought of it will be a healing balm for you, but acting on it will yield eternal results.
Moses becomes more graphical and visual by saying that while you find refuge in God, His everlasting arms will succor you—what a loving Savior. He paints for us a vivid picture of God’s protective arms. If you are leaning on the everlasting arms of God, beloved, you are safe, saved, and secured. Interestingly, you will not have to be afraid of the enemy, whoever they may be, because God will act by thrusting them out before you. No wonder David may have taken inspiration from this and proclaimed in Psalms 18:29 – “For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall.” In God, there is no insurmountable mountain. Irrespective of the size and height of the enemy, God will deal with them for you – He will say, “Destroy.”
In the name of Jesus, the enemy’s activities will crumble. As God told King Ahaz of Judah when Syria, Ephraim, and Remailia ganged against him in Isaiah 7:7, so He tells you today in the face of your disturbing challenges: “Thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass.” Therefore, hold on – evil plans and actions devised against you will not stand as long as our God lives. Remember that God is your eternal refuge, so your security, provisions, and future are not a problem – they are among the certainties of life in Christ. Today, take a sigh of relief as you meditate on God as your refuge. He will bear you up for greatness and honor. In Deuteronomy 33:26, Moses proclaimed boldly: “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds.” Truly, there is none like the God of Israel or ……..(PUT YOUR NAME HERE). God, your refuge will bear you up.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 469 – “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” – Rendered by Alan Jackson
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for being your refuge; thank God for saving you from the enemy so many times; pray not to go out of His hands but lean on His everlasting arms;
– Pray for family members, friends, and church members who are facing uncertainties in their lives; pray for young people in your sphere influence to make God their refuge;
– Pray for countries that are preparing for elections, cessation of wars to protect lives – Hamas – Israel, Russia-Ukraine, etc, and reduction in poverty across the globe;
– Pray for the peace and unity of the country; pray for a revival among Christians and the spread of the gospel to unentered areas; pray for the sick, the starving, and the mourning.
