God is bigger...

"What is man that thou art mindful of him?"  Ps. 8.4

And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man...

2 Kings 6.17 records another extraordinary event in the life of Elisha.  Most commentators would probably focus on the chariots of fire surrounding the enemy.  My heart is pressed another way; ...the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw..."

A profound and foundational biblical truth is given in this passage;
          It is God that opens the blinded heart
          to His glory!
Apart from the Sovereign will of Him who made us, one would never see who He is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Man gets no credit atall in salvation or the miraculous change of a cold, dark heart.  Scripture, as always, says it best;

• He putteth down one and setteth up another.  (Ps. 75.7)
• He removeth kings, and setteth up kings. (Dan. 2.21)
• He hath mercy on whom He will and whom He will, He hardeneth. (Rom 9.18) 
•  ...the Son quickeneth whom He will. (Jn 5.21)
• It is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. (Lam 3.22)

The Lord was not obligated to open the eyes of the faithful servant to the truth Elisha was privy to.  However, in His Sovereign will, mercy and omnipotent way, He did. 
It has been said, the miracle is not that He chose some but that He chose any!
The truth, today, is that God willed this servant, full of good works, to see a deeper meaning of Whom He was serving.  The young man was not serving Elisha but Elisah's God. 
"Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."  (I Cor 10.31)

Amen, Ps. 57.7

"I will not leave thee"

It is in my heart to write what the Lord seems to impress on my spirit this day.  This morning, my devotion continues and I am in 2 Kings 2:1-11. 
Three times, before leaving this world in a whirlwind (v11), the elder prophet had to separate from the younger man to finish the work God had given him.  Three times, before "going home," he comforted the younger man with these words, (v2, 4 & 6) "I will not leave thee."  The reassurance came after being told by "well-meaning 'friends,'" that the old man was gonna be "taken away." (V3 and 5). 

• Were these men watching to see if Elisha would stand the test?  
• Were they hoping to be in his shoes by way of being under the watchful eye of the revered and respected Elijah?

Elisha was fully aware it was near the time of the older mans departure from this earth.  Clearly, the old prophet saw anxiety in the young man and gave him the reassurance necessary to see Elisha through until he "took up the mantle." (V13).
The words used in the title of this post remind me of Another who said the same thing.  Deuteronmy 31.6, when Moses was going to hand for the leadership to Joshua.  Then again in Hebrews 13.5, the writer reminds the reader of this great truth.

It would seem the Holy Spirit is nudging my heart with this great truth today.  Next door a soul is in the balance, maybe two.  Bad news was given yesterday and although I was not called for, I went.  One question came from the tormented soul's mouth, "I've asked forgiveness but feel no peace as others have explained."  My only response was to "let go of whatever was between the heart and God."  It is all of Him and none of our works.
I do not know the outcome of this conversation yet but I can see the mighty hand of God in the circumstances that brought a beloved son from afar to the side of the loved one.
Yes, Lord, like Elisha I will say to any who question the circumstances, "Yea, I know it, hold ye your peace."  (V3).

In a dark place? Wait, on the Lord. He will deliver...

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/kjv/2Sam.22

2 Samuel 22

22 And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

²⁰ ... he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

²⁹ ... and the Lord will lighten my darkness. 




WHEN:    I am down                 THEN:  He "lightens my darkness" by His Pronouncement
               I am discouraged                                                              by His Presence
               I am disheartened                                                             by His Promises(s) 

Mercy and favor

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (Lam 3.22)

There came a day when the Lord, "translated the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel."  (2 Sa 3:10)

The word "kingdom" in Hebrew means, "dominion, royal dignity, subject to a king."  

The word "throne" means lofty, covered with a canopy, seat of honour.

While God gave Israel what they wanted in King Saul, it is clear this was not the Lord's perfect will for His people.  Yet, in mercy, the Lord allowed Saul to reign over a "dominion with royal dignity," for a time.  However, Saul's heart was never completely satisfied with the boundaries God gave him.

David, by contrast, ordained of the Lord (I Sa 16.1), was the chosen one to be a King over the people.  God's mercy is reflected in David as he governs and makes choices for his people. (2 Sam 3. 37-39)  "The people understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner..." (2 Sam 3.37)

So it is, with the child of God in the NT.  "It is of the Lord's mercies" that we are not consumed.  Just as David had every right to slay the man who betrayed him, so the Lord has every right to destroy us.  

Thus, one of our greatest bible lessons, mercy.  Without Him, we would not know just how big our deliverance from wrath is.  Lord, I pray, my heart will be filled with all mercy to my fellow man as Thou wills it.  With the wise writer, moved by the Holy Ghost to pen, we may also praise Him because,  "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not."

Selah,

Ps. 57.8