Psalm 124:1-3 says:
1IF IT had not been the Lord Who was on our side--now may Israel say--2If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side when men rose up against us,3Then they would have quickly swallowed us up alive when their wrath was kindled against us;
We could ALL say that if the Lord hadn't been on our side, we would not be where we are today! He is ALWAYS on our side! He is ALWAYS for us! Remember that if God is FOR us, it doesn't do anyone, any good to be against us! Is He FOR us? YES! See Romans 8:31:
31What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
So that is settled! We KNOW that God is FOR us! We KNOW that God is on our side! Now the question is: Are we on God's side? If we are on God's side, then we choose to obey the Word, put Him first place in our lives, change our thinking to agree with Him and submit our will to His! That's what Jesus did, so we are in GREAT company!
1 Corinthians 13 is the LOVE chapter! I want to share here
an expanded interpretive translation
of verses 4-8 that I borrowed from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems":“Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed;
Love doesn’t demand others to be like itself; rather, it is so focused on the needs of others that it bends over backwards to become what others need it to be;
Love is not ambitious, self-centered, or so consumed with itself that it never thinks of the needs or desires that others possess;
Love doesn’t go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others;
Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner;
Love is not rude and discourteous–it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others;
Love does not manipulate situations or scheme and devise methods that will twist situations to its own advantage;
Love does not deliberately engage in actions or speak words that are so sharp, they cause an ugly or violent response;
Love does not deliberately keep records of wrongs or past mistakes;
Love does not feel overjoyed when it sees an injustice done to someone else but is elated, thrilled, ecstatic, and overjoyed with the truth;
Love protects, shields, guards, covers, conceals, and safeguards people from exposure;
Love strains forward with all its might to believe the very best in every situation;
Love always expects and anticipates the best in others and the best for others;
Love never quits, never surrenders, and never gives up;
Love never disappoints, never fails, and never lets anyone down.”
That is the best version of these verses that I have ever read! Now remember that walking in this kind of love will cause us to NEVER fail! Let's do it!
In Joshua 21-22 we see that the tribe of Levi was specifically provided for according to God's commandment to Moses. The land had been divided between the tribes and they were all possessing the land. Joshua 22:5 is the key directive that all of the children of Israel were given.
5But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you: to love the Lord your God and to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and to cling to and unite with Him and to serve Him with all your heart and soul [your very life].
IF they had continued to obey this commandment, not one bad thing would have happened to them! But, as we continue in the Old Testament, we will see that it didn't take them long to forget the Lord their God and fall deeply into sin and idolatry. But they ALWAYS found their way back to God and He ALWAYS delivered them! He is definitely watching over them now, and even though the Word says that no nation will stand with Israel in the end, God Himself will never forsake them! Continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem and you will certainly be on God's side! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
