August 3, 2011
In Isaiah 28:21 it says the LORD will fight as He did at Mount Perazim and that He will be angry as He was in the valley of Gibeon. I looked up the references to those battles.
Mount Perazim: II Samuel 5:20; I Chronicles 14:11; II Samuel 5:25; I Chronicles 14:16
Valley of Gibeon: Joshua 10
I also looked up what I wrote for those references:
II Samuel 5
I Chronicles 14
Joshua 10
The Battle at Mount Perazim—David asks the LORD what he is to do. "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? The Philistines were in full force. David asks, "What am I to do? What are you going to do?" He knew God required his actions to be obedient. He also knew that the battle was the LORD's and the victory was the LORD's. The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you." David went and God delivered. David said, "As water breaks out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." I love the visuals God gives us in his Word. You can't stop water that "breaks out." You can't stop God when He "breaks out" against those who are against Him.
There was a second battle. The Philistines came to attack again. And once again David inquires of the LORD. "Should I go against them?" This time the LORD answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as God commanded him and God gave the victory.
Valley of Gibeon—Adoni-Zedek (who was the king of Jerusalem) heard about the battles that Joshua was winning. He heard that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty with Joshua and were living near them. He became very alarmed. Gibeon was an important city and its men were good fighters. Adoni-Zedek is thinking, "I can't let this happen!!" So he gathers four other kings and says, "Come up and help me attack Gibeon, because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." So the five kings joined forces and moved all their troops into position and began to attack Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua—come quickly—save us and help us. So Joshua and his entire army, including all the best fighting men, marched up to defend Gibeon. The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." Joshua marched all night... and took them by surprise. "The LORD threw them into confusion." Joshua's army defeated them and pursued them as they fled. As they fled, "The LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more died from the hailstones than in battle. Again, Joshua's obedience, but God's battle and God's victory. Joshua had to do his part. He didn't just take along a few people since God was going to defend them. He took this entire army. His best fighting men. He marched all night. THEN God defeated them in the battle. But more than that even, God did not allow the enemy to escape. As they tried to flee, God himself destroyed more of them than Joshua/God did in the battle.
Isaiah used these battles as an example. God is in control. It is His battle. God's will WILL be done. You can be sure of this: The LORD punishes fairly and He gives opportunity for repentance. Isaiah 28 ends by the LORD saying, "Listen closely to what I tell you; listen carefully to what I say." I will show you the way. I will teach you. I will grow you into the person I want you to be. Follow me. Let me guide you. Trust me. Do not be afraid. I AM.
Next Entry: Isaiah 28:1 – 31:9 (Continued)
In Isaiah 28:21 it says the LORD will fight as He did at Mount Perazim and that He will be angry as He was in the valley of Gibeon. I looked up the references to those battles.
Mount Perazim: II Samuel 5:20; I Chronicles 14:11; II Samuel 5:25; I Chronicles 14:16
Valley of Gibeon: Joshua 10
I also looked up what I wrote for those references:
II Samuel 5
I Chronicles 14
Joshua 10
The Battle at Mount Perazim—David asks the LORD what he is to do. "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me? The Philistines were in full force. David asks, "What am I to do? What are you going to do?" He knew God required his actions to be obedient. He also knew that the battle was the LORD's and the victory was the LORD's. The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you." David went and God delivered. David said, "As water breaks out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." I love the visuals God gives us in his Word. You can't stop water that "breaks out." You can't stop God when He "breaks out" against those who are against Him.
There was a second battle. The Philistines came to attack again. And once again David inquires of the LORD. "Should I go against them?" This time the LORD answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as God commanded him and God gave the victory.
Valley of Gibeon—Adoni-Zedek (who was the king of Jerusalem) heard about the battles that Joshua was winning. He heard that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty with Joshua and were living near them. He became very alarmed. Gibeon was an important city and its men were good fighters. Adoni-Zedek is thinking, "I can't let this happen!!" So he gathers four other kings and says, "Come up and help me attack Gibeon, because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." So the five kings joined forces and moved all their troops into position and began to attack Gibeon. The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua—come quickly—save us and help us. So Joshua and his entire army, including all the best fighting men, marched up to defend Gibeon. The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." Joshua marched all night... and took them by surprise. "The LORD threw them into confusion." Joshua's army defeated them and pursued them as they fled. As they fled, "The LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more died from the hailstones than in battle. Again, Joshua's obedience, but God's battle and God's victory. Joshua had to do his part. He didn't just take along a few people since God was going to defend them. He took this entire army. His best fighting men. He marched all night. THEN God defeated them in the battle. But more than that even, God did not allow the enemy to escape. As they tried to flee, God himself destroyed more of them than Joshua/God did in the battle.
Isaiah used these battles as an example. God is in control. It is His battle. God's will WILL be done. You can be sure of this: The LORD punishes fairly and He gives opportunity for repentance. Isaiah 28 ends by the LORD saying, "Listen closely to what I tell you; listen carefully to what I say." I will show you the way. I will teach you. I will grow you into the person I want you to be. Follow me. Let me guide you. Trust me. Do not be afraid. I AM.
Next Entry: Isaiah 28:1 – 31:9 (Continued)
No comments:
Post a Comment