“More with Us Than With Him”

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him” (2Chronicles 32:7).

Sennacherib, the emperor of Assyria, invaded Judah and laid siege to Jerusalem. King Hezekiah turned to fortifying the city, a very practical consideration (32:3-6) and then gave encouragement to the people: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.” 

Really? Hezekiah’s sad sack militia against the entire Assyrian army? Slippery Rock University vs. USC!

But here’s the kicker, Hezekiah went on to say, “All Sennacherib has is the flesh (human effort), but the Lord our God is with us to fight our battles” (32:7). 

Well, to make a long story short, “The LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria So he returned with shame of face to his own land” (32:21).

Note please: “an angel.” “One angel!” Not a “horde” (32:7). Think of the old Batman comics and movies, “Bif!” “Bang!” “Pow!”  The bad guys go home with egg on their faces. 

I recall a story I heard when we lived in Texas many years ago. It seems a vicious gang of thugs had taken control of a small Texas town, whereupon the people called in the Texas Rangers—not the American League baseball team, but the legendary state militia of that day. They were told the Rangers would arrive by train the following day. 

The people gathered on the platform eagerly awaiting the arrival of the militants, when one gnarly, grizzled old Ranger swung out of the passenger car door. “One Ranger?” The mayor gasped. Well,” the old man growled. “There ain’t but one gang is there?” 

So…what dangers encircle you today? Be brave! “The Angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and He will rescue them” (Psalm 34:7). 

David Roper

8.2.17

A Beautiful Thing

 Read: 2Chronicles 30:18-20

“Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me” (Matthew 14:6).

Hezekiah, as part of his storied revival, issued an invitation to all Israel to gather in Jerusalem for a Passover celebration. His offer was met with scorn by many in the northern kingdom for few in that place cared for spiritual things. But some came to Jerusalem seeking the Lord.

Untutored in the law they came unprepared to fulfill the obligations of the Passover. By the standards of the law they were “unclean.” So Hezekiah prayed for them: “‘May the good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.’ And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people” (30:18-20). 

I’m reminded here of a little country church and a Sunday morning service and a young woman who turned up…to everyone’s astonishment. She was the town trollop. 

The lady was a bit hung over and worse for wear, her hair and clothes in disarray. The church was full and though she tried to find a seat in the rear of the church, she was ushered to the front where she sat through the service, her eyes on the preacher,  transfixed by every word. 

It was communion Sunday and when the elements were served she had no idea what to do. She took the bread quietly, but when the cup was passed, she lifted her glass and offered a toast to Jesus.

Some people gasped, others gaped, a few bowed their heads in quiet worship and thanksgiving. It was indeed a beautiful thing that she did.

God forbid that any of us would turn our face away from one whom God has accepted, for He has made it very clear: Whosoever will may come (Revelation 22:17).

David Roper

8.1.17

The Help God Gives

Sometimes He calms the storm 

With a whispered “peace be still.” 

He can settle any sea, 

But it doesn't mean He will. —Benton Stokes

“You have answered Me.” —Psalm 22:21

In Psalm 22 David anticipates Jesus’ crucifixion and describes it in vivid detail (22:14-18). But most striking is his reference to Jesus’ prayer from the cross: "Save me,” and His confident assertion: "You have answered me” (22:21,22). Yet our Lord languished on the cross and died! 

The same odd juxtaposition occurs in another place: "(Jesus) in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death...was heard because of His godly fear” (Hebrews 5:7,8). Yet Jesus was not delivered from the cross. He was allowed to suffer and die.

God always hears us and He always sends help, but His help does not always come in the form of deliverance from adversity and pain. More often then not, it comes in the form of grace to endure each difficult ordeal as Jesus did and through suffering grow in faith, hope and love. “Jesus was perfected through suffering” (Hebrews 5:9)—perfected in that He learned as a man to submit to His Father’s will. He accepted the suffering as God’s good, acceptable, indeed perfect will and was at peace. 

So it comes to this: Would I rather be “carried to the skies in flowery beds pf ease” or be made like Jesus? The latter of course, for that's where life and peace reside. 

David Roper

7.28.17

Ageless Delight

“That I may finish my course with joy!” (Acts 20:24).

A few fortunate senior citizens go on pretty much as they always have with very few parts out of order, but for most of us, aging exacts a heavy toll. Solomon’s description of the process sums things up pretty well:

In old age, your body no longer serves you so well.

Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen.

The shades are pulled down on the world.

You can’t come and go at will. Things grind to a halt.

The hum of the household fades away.

You are wakened now by bird-song.

Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past.

Even a stroll down the road has its terrors.

Your hair turns apple-blossom white,

Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body.[1]

To think of all the things you used to do and can’t do any more only makes you feel worse. It’s much better to poke fun at oneself rather than grumble and complain. Thomas Aquinas said, “It is against reason to be burdensome to others, showing no amusement and acting as a wet blanket. Those without a sense of fun, who never say anything ridiculous, and are cantankerous with those who do… are called grumpy and rude.” [2]

Arthritic joints, hearing and memory loss, failing eyesight and stumbling gait are no fun, but we can survive them by managing to see them, among other things and despite everything, as desperately funny.

There’s something delightful about old folks who keep their sense of humor. They’re a joy to be around. Like the eighty-year-old gardener who, when asked how old he was, replied, “I’m an octogeranium.” You gotta love it! An old man with a young mind and puckish wit, the kind of person you love to be around.

How can we gain and keep that perspective? Well… it’s a matter of faith—putting one’s trust in our Father’s wise bestowment (what the Bible calls our “lot”), His compassionate, kindhearted care, His unfailing love, and His unbreakable promise that someday He will cure everything that ails us and take us to be with Him forever. These are the truths that satisfy and sustain us, that enable us to rise joyfully (albeit painfully) each morning.

Israel’s prophet, Habakkuk, put it this way:

Though the cherry trees don’t blossom

     and the strawberries don’t ripen,

Though the apples are worm-eaten

     and the wheat fields stunted,

Though the sheep pens are sheepless

     and the cattle barns empty,

I’m singing joyful praise to GOD.

     I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.[3]

David Roper
7.26.17

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[1] Ecclesiastes 12:3–5, The Message.

[2] Thomas Aquinas, Summa of the Summa, (II-II, 148, 4,)

[3] Habakkuk 3:17–18, The Message.

Satisfaction

Arise, O LORD. Deliver me...

from men of the world whose portion is in this life.

You fill their belly with treasure;

they are satisfied with children,

And they leave their abundance to their infants.

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;

when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. —Psalm 17:13-15

I heard a story years ago about a funeral at which a man was being buried in a solid gold Cadillac. “Man!” someone murmured, “that’s living.”

The rich and famous have “the good life,” or so they say. Don’t they know that someday they’ll die and leave everything to others? Chuck Swindoll observes, "I've never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse."

"As for me," David says, (in contrast to those who cannot see beyond this world) “I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake (from the “sleep” of death) I shall be satisfied with your likeness." Then, in contrast to those who are satisfied (17:14) with what they have in this life, he will be satisfied (17:15) with God Himself and His love. This the answer to David’s prayer, “Show us the miracle of steadfast love” (17:7).

Augustine imagines an occasion on which God appears and offers this deal: “l will give you anything and everything you ever wanted in this life—beauty, strength, fame, wealth, power, health, a powerful intellect in a perfect body… But you will never see My face again.”

Would I take up this offer? Would you? Jesus asks, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

Good question.

David Roper

7.21.17