[N]o weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 54: 17, NIV
Dear God, our hearts leap for joy at the thought that nothing can touch our lives without Your permission. Amen
A young pastor shared an experience that has somehow helped me to put our text for today in perspective. She and her husband had decided to spend their honeymoon camping at the foot of a mountain. Suddenly it dawned on her that they were in “bear country.” What if a bear should wander into their tent during the night? When she expressed her fears, her husband’s calm and confident reply was: “Don’t you worry dear; they would have to pass your God to get to you.”
Because we are advised to study Scripture “line upon line, precept upon precept,” I present the following for your consideration:
When the three Hebrew young men refused to bow down before the statue set up by the king they were summoned to appear before him. They would be given another opportunity to obey his orders. If they refused, they would be cast into the fiery furnace “heated seven times hotter than usual.” Their two-part response is very interesting. 1) “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand O king.” 2) “But even if He does not…we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
If God was able to save them was never an issue. They knew that He was able. The second part of their answer is a clue in understanding our text for today. “But even if He does not…” It is evident that they understood the way God moves in the experiences of His children. They understood that God may permit things that are undesireable to touch our lives. But it is not because evil has prevailed. He promised that “the gates of hell would not prevail against [His church.]” And He does not lie! We are never at the mercy of anyone or any situation. God is always in control. Therefore God can say, “no weapon that is forged against you shall prevail [unless I permit it].”
The text goes on to say “and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.” You will prove them wrong! When enemies threaten, or falsely accuse us, we need only to wait upon the Lord. King Nebuchadnezzar believed that he would “show these young men who is in charge.” Instead he had a “close up” look at Who was really in charge!
God ends this promise with His seal of authority: “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me, declares the Lord.” As children of our heavenly Parent we have nothing to fear. Part of our inheritance includes God’s justification of His children before the world. God Himself will clear us of any false accusations. He will shut the mouth of our enemies!
We are all in “bear country” as we travel through life, but don’t you worry, all the bears that threaten have to pass your God before they can get to you.