Protection

God’s Protection of Israel

The Lord confronted the nations and the islands in judgment (all the world’s people) (v. 1). Because the Lord controls history, the nations have no control over the future (vv. 2-4). The Lord is the one who brings events to pass (v. 4). The alliances between the nations will not help them …

The Blinded Syrians Captured

Beginning at verse eight Syrian invasions of Israel are noted. The first incident involved marauding bands of Syrians who made border raids against the Jews (vv. 8-9). Ben-haded II, king of Aram, planned to pitch his camp on the border from which he could strike unexpectedly. G …

David Determines to Serve The Lord No Matter What

King Saul became jealous of David and tried to kill him. David finally became weary of running from Saul and at last his faith failed him. He made a very bad decision when he decided to go down to Gath and seek asylum with Achish, one of the Philistine lords (I Sam. 21). David had …

No one Can Kill us Unless God Says O.K.

This chapter comes from the time when Jeremiah sent Baruch down to the temple to read the words he had dictated, as we saw in our previous study (v. 1). Chronologically it should follow Chapter 36. But Jeremiah has placed it right here because it gathers up the feeling of the hea …

Michal helps David escape from Saul

Saul set in motion several steps to kill David (v. 1). First, he asked his servants to kill him. Jonathan went to his father, on David’s behalf, and was able to appease him for a time (vv. 2-7). In fact, Saul made the statement, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be slain” (v.6). Again, David went out to war …

Heads of Families Return With Ezra

This chapter contains a list of those who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (vv. 1-14). This was a much smaller group than the one that had returned with Zerubbabel earlier. Those returning with Ezra totaled 1496 males plus 18 heads of families. It is interesting to see how the nam …

Assurance in God’s Enduring Promises

It is evident that David wrote this Psalm while he was undergoing some type of banishment. It seems that he may have written it soon after Absalom’s rebellion had been crushed by Joab. Absalom was dead and it looked like the way was now clear for David to return to Jerusalem. Ho …

IllustrationTraining Young Braves

The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves. On the night of a boy’s thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until …

IllustrationThe Father’s Protection

The early American Indians had a unique practice of training young braves. On the night of a young tribal boy’s thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone …

IllustrationAre Your Heads Protected For The Spiritual Battle?

When I was a kid, we rode our bikes down the sidewalks and in the streets. We played baseball and football in the street. Summers were especially great because we could play ball until you couldn’t see. We rode in cars with no seat belts or car seats. Riding in the back of …