THE CONSEQUENCES OF WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE – Part 3:

THURSDAY, 15TH JUNE, 2023.

TOPIC:  THE CONSEQUENCES OF WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE – Part 3:

I SHOULD SOON HAVE SUBDUED THEIR ENEMIES

MEMORIZE: " if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways." Deuteronomy 28:1, 7.  

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 81:13-16

“13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured forever. 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee."

EXPOSITION:

Victory over the enemy is the utmost desire of every man. It guarantees safety, peace and joy. And because of the strength of the enemy, we must trust God for defence – “Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.” - Psalm 59:9.

What then was the duty that God required from the children of Israel (and the believers) as the condition of all His mercy? He expected no more than that they should hearken to him, as a scholar to his teacher, to receive his instructions--as a servant to his master, to receive his commands; and that they should walk in his ways, those ways of the Lord which are right and pleasant, that they should observe the institutions of his ordinances and attend the intimations of his providence. There was nothing unreasonable in this. 

Observe how the reason of the withholding of the mercy is laid in their neglect of the duty: If they had hearkened to me, I would soon have subdued their enemies. National sin or disobedience is the great and only thing that retards and obstructs national deliverance. When I would have healed Israel, and set everything to-rights among them, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and so a stop was put to the cure, Hosea 7:1. We are appropriate to say, "If we had obeyed God and allowed him to fight for us, we should soon have subdued our enemies:" but we mistake; if we had hearkened to God, and kept to our duty, the thing would have been done, but it is sin that makes our troubles long and salvation slow. And this is that which God himself complains of, and wishes it had been otherwise. Therefore God would have us do our duty to him, trust and obey him, that we may be qualified to receive favour from him. He delights in our serving him, not because he is the better for it, but because we shall be. In obeying Him, we shall be more than conquerors, for “If God be for us, who can be against us? ... we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ” Romans 8:31, 37.

 

PRAYER POINT:  Lord, help me to key into your purpose and to enjoy the victory in your name in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Psalms 73-75.

********************************

ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word. Read, Meditate, Pray and Share this message to others.