Heralds Digest

““Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.” ’” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭38:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.38.5-6.nkjv The experience of king Hezekiah has always been a great reference to illustrate the power of Jehovah-Rophi ( the God that healeth - Exodus 15:26). It provides the difference between faith in God and facts about life's situations and circumstances. But beyond the privilege of the extension of his life, Hezekiah had the privilege of an intimate fellowship with the Giver of life. Knowing the God that require the believer's religious activities is good enough, but having a personal encounter with God in times of distress and apparent disappointment represents a great privilege to him. Likewise, the knowledge of our current situation of finances,...

“Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled and went out of the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were near the city all around. And they went by way of the plain.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭52:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.52.7.nkjv Review of the fall of Jerusalem at the end of the Book of Jeremiah appears unnecessary until a careful cast is placed on the strategy of the enemy's invasion. The Chaldeans did not attack, possibly for lack of confidence in the state of the military might the Hebrews might have for defense. They simply employed time (about 2 years) to build confidence on what the Hebrews will not have, after stamping out the supply of food through a wall of human shield outside the borders. Many wars in contemporary times have successfully employed the same strategy of blocking the staple stamp of the necessity of life, in order to enslave and defeat the enemies. Likewise...

““Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, And his scent has not changed.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭48:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.48.11.nkjv Material or physical prosperity creates a sense of confidence in everyday commitment in life. Prosperous nations and people are necessarily rewarded with dignity and respect, serving as model of success for the less prosperous community. Comparatively, Moab was acknowledged as a more prosperous nation than Israel. Israel had been a subject of ridicule, captivity, calamities both for personal and collective disobedience to the commandments of the Lord right from inception. Whereas, the older Moab had mostly enjoyed serenity in sin. Most times, it is an effort in futility to query the prosperity of the wicked. This is because, even within the context of legitimacy, permissive prosperity is not an approval for...

“For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, You also shall be taken. And Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, His priests and his princes together. And the plunderer shall come against every city; No one shall escape. The valley also shall perish, And the plain shall be destroyed, As the LORD has spoken.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭48:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.48.7-8.nkjv A measure of self confidence is appropriate for a useful drive into prosperity in life. The only concern is the determination of the safe limit, in order to prevent the replacement of trust in God with self confidence. As long as the biblical axiom stands: ' I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me ', self confidence resides only within the mind, while the heart completely trust in the power of God's grace. But like the nation Moab, who trusted in the combination of his works and treasures, the management of success appears to me the bane of the praise of prosperity, es...

“No more praise of Moab. In Heshbon they have devised evil against her: ‘Come, and let us cut her off as a nation.’ You also shall be cut down, O Madmen! The sword shall pursue you;” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭48:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.48.2.nkjv The corruption of political power includes the influence of the praise of people. Public praise is easily motivated by political and material prosperity. Therefore, reliable praise cannot be ascertained until transition of power is non-negotiable. Sometimes, the plight of national pride is nothing different from the prosperity of personal pride, especially within the context of political praise. For example in the case of Moab, the scriptures say ' No more praise of Moab... ', after God's judgment was pronounced on the settled nation. The people that lifted up the banner of their allegiance to Moab; apparently, had turned around to be the weapon of Moab's destruction. Unfortunately, many actions and inaction in public fellows...

“How can it be quiet, Seeing the LORD has given it a charge Against Ashkelon and against the seashore? There He has appointed it.”” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭47:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.47.7.nkjv Just as the attributes of God comprises of love and holiness at the same time, He is equally just and true. For all the nations that forget Him, the consuming charge awaiting them brings judgment and destruction. With this charge taken up by king Nebuchadnezzar, many nations have suffered captivity without escape, including Judah, Egypt and Philistine. However, believers would be inspired by the source of the uncompromising zeal towards the execution of the Lord's charge, especially when the charge that provokes righteousness and holiness readily lacks a sustainable zeal. Nevertheless, the principle of success in ministry is consistent and motivated by the fact that: the Lord has appointed it! The zeal ceases whenever man attempt to reassign God's appointment as personal initiative fo...

““But do not fear, O My servant Jacob, And do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar, And your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease; No one shall make him afraid.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭46:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/jer.46.27.nkjv Drifting away from the path of light promises fun, but delivers fear. The farther the soul drift away from the Lord, the deeper the heart sink into fear. The only way out of the sting of fear is a covenant relationship with the God of heaven. The scriptures say ' For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind '. No matter how far drifted away the heart of man, covenant relationship with God gives power over the fear of defeat, love over the fear of rejection, and sound mind over the guilt of our past. When the Creator of heaven and earth, who has the power to punish the king of Babylon in the life and affairs of His redeemed serva...