Psalm 35:1-3:
1 CONTEND, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help! 3 Draw out also the spear and javelin and close up the way of those who pursue and persecute me. Say to me, I am your deliverance!
What is David doing here? He is calling on the LORD for help! Is this Scriptural for US to do? Look at Philippians 4:6:
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
This is EXACTLY what we are to do as New Covenant believers in Jesus of Nazareth! We must REFUSE to allow the enemy to trap us into doubt, fear, unbelief, worry or anxiety about ANYTHING! Find what the Word of God promises concerning each situation you face. Then bring it before the LORD in prayer and cast the worry aside! We are also told to do this in 1 Peter 5:7:
7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for he cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
What is He watching for? He is watching for all of the ways that we will allow Him to show Himself strong on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9)! That is what David was counting on, and we should be, too! Thank You, Jesus!
In 2 Thessalonians 2 Paul was letting them know that the Day of the Lord had NOT occurred yet! They were deeply concerned that they had missed it! I really like the Wuest Translation of verse 3:
Do not begin to allow anyone to lead you astray in any way, because that day shall not come except the aforementioned departure [of the Church to heaven] comes first and the man of the lawlessness is disclosed [in his true identity], the son of perdition, he who sets himself in opposition to and exalts himself above everyone and everything that is called a god or that is an object of worship, so that he seats himself in the inner sanctuary of God, proclaiming himself to be deity.
The "aforementioned departure" that Paul was referring to is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. God WILL remove His own people, His own family, BEFORE He pours out His wrath on those in the world who have rejected Him. His wrath is NOT for His own children! Be encouraged in that, and encourage others with that! Soon and very soon! HALLELUJAH!
We read the account of the prophet Jonah again today. He held such a grudge against Ninevah that he wanted to withhold the message of God from them because he KNEW they would repent! I can't wait to hear the rest of the story! I would like to know if he told them to throw him into the sea because he would rather die than preach in Ninevah? Or maybe he wanted to see if God would save him? Or maybe he was just speaking by the Spirit of God and didn't even realize what he was saying? Isn't meditation fun and exciting! I love to have the Holy Spirit give me new incite into things when I ask Him! Try it! You'll be surprised how some of your previous thinking concerning the Word of God will change! I LOVE it! Here are some images of things recovered from the ruins of Ninevah found during excavations. They repented in the account we read today, but they eventually WERE destroyed:
Ruins that can be seen above ground.
One of the fifteen gates that led into the ancient city. Five were recovered and these are on display in the Louvre Museum.
