Selected Discourses from
Robert S. Seklemian

After God's Own Heart

“He [God] gave testimony, and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart.”--Acts 13:22

AT THE time of our lesson, the Philistines had invaded Israel. The army of Israel, commanded by Saul, their first king, stopped the advance of the Philistines in the land of Judah. A stalemate developed. The Philistines occupied the hill on one side of a valley and the Israelites occupied the hill on the opposite side. Constantly on the alert, and with only an occasional skirmish, each army waited for the other to make the first move. Then the Philistines attacked with what would today be called a “psychological secret weapon.”

The alert sentinels of Israel were astonished to see a huge man emerge from the Philistine entrenchment on the opposite hill and descend to the valley below. This man was literally a giant. His height was “six cubits and a span,” which is about 11.1 feet. That's about twice the height of an average man today.

“And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass [about 156 pounds]. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed 600 shekels of iron [almost 20 pounds].”--1 Samuel 17:5,7

To make sure the Israelites fully realized his great size, from the distance they were watching, he had a normal-sized armor-bearer with him to provide contrast. It is possible his armor-bearer was shorter than normal to make the giant loom even taller in the eyes of the Israelites.

Goliath Defies Israel

The sentinels of Israel gave the alarm and called Saul to see this thing. Then, with a voice matching his bulk, the giant shouted out his challenge: “I defy the armies of Israel this day!” The record says: “When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” This overgrown monster growled out his defiance of the armies of Israel twice a day, morning and evening, for forty days. We read that each time, “All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were sore afraid.”

Let us consider this remarkable situation in its proper setting. For 450 years the children of Israel had acknowledged no ruler but Jehovah God himself. After the partition of Canaan among the 12 tribes, they had been under the administration of judges, but their supreme ruler was God alone.

Other nations might have misgivings about the justice of the laws decreed and enforced by their kings, but Israel had the absolute assurance that their laws, dictated by God himself, were just and perfect. Other nations led a precarious existence ever on guard to defend themselves lest they be swallowed up by another. But the integrity of Israel was protected by the Lord God Almighty. All the forces of the universe were at their disposal if they but remained in harmony with Him and obeyed Him.

All this was not hearsay. It was demonstrated to them over and over again in ways they could see, feel, and hear. Faith was not necessary.

To bring about their release from bondage, ten horrible plagues were visited upon Egypt. The waters of the Red Sea were divided for their benefit, and brought together again to rid them of their pursuers. The pillars of cloud and light led them unerringly. In the wilderness, when they ran short of bread, manna was provided; when they wanted meat, quails were sent. When they thirsted in the desert, water poured out of a rock. Many such miracles were performed.

The inhabitants of Canaan were dispersed before them and the land “flowing with milk and honey” was given to them. Not one man, woman or child in Israel was ignorant of these things. These events were read, rehearsed and repeated to them continually by their priests.

Wouldn't you think that with such a history of assurance and help from the Almighty, the Israelites would be the boldest and most courageous people on earth? Wouldn't this be especially true of the army, the pick of the men, sometimes referred to as “mighty men of valor”? What do we find? One lone Philistine, a misshapen and bloated monstrosity, stands up and bellows defiance at the combined armies of Israel--and they flee from him, “dismayed and greatly afraid!”

The One Who Did Not Fear

Ah, but there was one refreshing exception. There was one young man who did not fear the giant. Far from being a giant himself, he had seven brothers who were considered physically superior to him. He was just emerging from boyhood and still had the pink cheeks of youth. He is described as “ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.” (1 Samuel 16:12) It was David, the shepherd boy, who had come to visit his three oldest brothers who were in the army of Saul. He had come to bring them some special food, a treat from home.

He had just found his brothers and was giving them the news from their home town, Bethlehem, when the Philistine --giant made one of his pompous appearances. Strutting about, and shaking his spear, he issued his challenge and cursed Israel. David looked and listened in astonishment! But he was not so much astonished by the size and antics of the --giant as he was by the reactions of the men of Israel.

He felt something that had --escaped all the others. He saw and felt that by successfully defying the armies of Israel, this lone, ugly creature was defying Jehovah God himself. A wave of indignation and outrage swept over David as he looked about him at the cowering men of Israel. “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine,” he cried, “that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26) He tried to imbue them with his own spirit of indignation and outrage but they would not respond. Not one in the army would stand up to the giant, not even king Saul who was somewhat of a giant himself.

There is a lesson here for us. We are the Israel of God, spiritual Israel. Like Israel, we have tasted of God's benefits. We have been delivered from bondage. We have been led through the wilderness of sin by the one whose footsteps we follow. We have been abundantly fed with manna from heaven, spiritual food, and have had our thirst quenched by the abundant water of truth from the rock.

But what happens? Sometimes one lone, Satan-inspired experience becomes swollen and inflated in our minds beyond all reality. Momentarily forgetting all the Lord's benefits and leadings, we revert to our old, craven, cowardly, earthly natures, and become “dismayed and greatly afraid.” Ah, but then David appears and, unlike the men of Israel, we respond. A “David experience” is sent by the Lord which restores our true perspective and we realize that “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12) and, “No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17) We lose our terror and are ashamed of our former reaction.

At this point David might have gone back to his sheep herding with a perfectly clear conscience. He was not in the army. He might have said, “This is Saul's responsibility, not mine,” and walked away. But he didn't; he lived too close to God for that. Any insult to God was a personal insult to himself. He couldn't hold his peace. Like Jeremiah, the words were in his heart like a burning fire, shut up in his bones, and he could not keep them back. (Jeremiah 20:9) So he went about voicing his indignation against Israel's inaction. We read that “he turned from one to another, and spake after the same manner [who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God].” (1 Samuel 17:26)

As might be expected the matter was promptly reported to the commanding general, King Saul. They probably said to Saul, “There's a young man here from Bethlehem who is stirring up the people.” That has a familiar ring, an advance echo of things to come.

Years later the same would be said of Jesus.  So David was brought before King Saul. When Saul saw him, he was surprised. Judging from the bold words that had been reported to him, Saul had probably imagined David to be a large and powerful man. Now, a pink-cheeked boy stood before him. Ah but the mind, the intellect, the personality, was not that of a boy! David came right to the point. “Your men are frightened of Goliath,” he said to Saul, “but let no man's heart fail because of him. I, thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:32)

“But you can't,” Saul protested, “thou art but a youth, and he a man of war” (1 Samuel 17:33) Then David told Saul a story which gave the simple secret of his boldness and courage. He related an incident of his life as a shepherd boy. He said, in substance:

“One day, as I kept watch over my father's sheep, a lion and a bear came out of the wilderness. Leaping into the flock, the lion seized a young lamb, and began to make off with it. I went after the lion, and smote him with my rod, and released the lamb from his mouth. Then when the enraged beast turned on me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and slew him. The bear also took a lamb, but I rescued the lamb from his jaws, and I killed him too.”

Then he said to Saul: “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” Now he gave Saul the secret of his courage: “The Lord, that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”

David knew he hadn't conquered the lion and the bear by his own strength. He didn't take any credit for it. A lion can kill a horse or a full-grown steer with one blow of his powerful paw. A bear can do the same. These are not beasts that can ordinarily be killed by one's bare hands. David knew that, but David loved his sheep and when one of the little lambs was threatened, he breathed a prayer for help and without the slightest hesitation, he was willing to lay down his life for the sheep. He attacked the great beasts with what happened to be in his hands at the time--a cudgel; and that was quite enough with God's help.

There's a lesson here that we should --remember: God does his work through the commonplace, the humble, and the meek. God has all the power that is needed. He doesn't look for power in us. When he chooses a man, he looks only at the heart. David was such a man, a man after God's own heart. So with a sincere and simple faith, David told King Saul: “It was God that gave me the victory over the lion and the bear, when they threatened my flock. The same God will give me the victory over this other beast, who is threatening his flock, Israel.”

With this one simple statement, David robbed the giant of all the glamour he had built up--the glamour of being the great undefeated heavyweight champion of the Philistines--and showed him up for what he was, just another contemptible beast that the Lord would deliver into his hands to be slain.

David Confronts Goliah

Later, as David with staff and sling calmly approached the giant, he must have shown his contempt in his face. Goliath sensed that David looked upon him as only an animal. He gave himself away when he angrily asked, “Am I a dog that thou cometh to me with staves?” Just picture the scene! It was like a --gigantic amphitheater with the arena in the valley below and the audience on the hillsides--the Philistines on the one side, and the Israelites on the other. For 40 days the Philistine champion had shouted his defiance to the armies of Israel. Now David lifted his voice so that all who had heard the giant might now hear his reply. David's reply voiced the sublime quality of his faith and the depth of his humility. It must have delighted God to hear it. He said: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth, not with sword, and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands.”--1 Samuel 17:45,47

As a final gesture of contempt and to show his utter fearlessness, David ran to meet the Philistine giant. It was over quickly. The giant, so fully armed, did not even have time to draw his sword before the stone from David's sling sank into his forehead. He fell on his face.

David drew the giant's great sword from its sheath--and used it. David beautifully typifies Christ. His loving care for his father's sheep prefigured Jesus' love and care for the sheep his Father gave him. We are that sheepfold! Jesus saves his lambs from the wiles of the Adversary, from the mouth of the roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. --Jesus lays down his life for his sheep. As Goliath defied and blasphemed the armies of God, morning and evening, Satan has continually defied God by his rebellion against the rule of heaven. He has through the ages blasphemed God by the “doctrines of devils” he has promulgated. He continually assails and brings railing accusations against the Israel of God, spiritual Israel, of which we are members. Christ, the great antitypical David, will in due time be Satan's executioner as David was of Goliath.

The Psalms of David

The psalms of David have been termed the most beautiful poetry ever written. Even worldly scholars with no reverence for the Bible or appreciation of spiritual things have pronounced the psalms to be of the highest order of classic literature. But the psalms mean much more than that to us. The voice of God is there. He speaks to us through the psalms. He instructs us, he encourages us, he inspires us, he comforts us, he strengthens us.

Much of the psalms is sheer praise. As we read the exquisite words of praise to God that filled David's heart, our own hearts also fill and overflow with praise. We feel the same love and closeness to God that David felt when he wrote the words. What a man writes, he must first think. Anyone who could write with such depth of feeling and eloquence must think sublime thoughts indeed!

Although the psalms were written under the inspiration of God, that does not mean that God dictated the exact words. David wrote as he was moved by the holy spirit, but not automatically. He used his own native talent, his own words and expressions, many of them based upon his personal experiences as a shepherd. But the holy spirit of God, acting upon his mind caused him to incorporate in his psalms those elements of prophecy and spiritual sustenance needed by the Lord's people now. As we read in 1 Corinthians 10:11 --[Diaglott]

they, “Were written for our --admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.” David wrote his innermost thoughts, his meditations on the wonders of God, his longings and yearnings, his joys and his lamentations, his angers and sorrows, his love and praises to his God. In the most eloquent language, he poured out his very soul. Through it all ran the thread of prophetic illumination provided by the overruling influence of the holy spirit upon his mind.

David was an out-doors man. He lived in the open. He had seen the glories of --nature in their every mood including the great sea, with its tides, storms and calms, the multitude and variety of its creatures; the seasons of the earth, seedtime and harvest, sunshine and rain; man and his dominion.

“All sheep and oxen; yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air and the fish of the sea; and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.”--Psalms 8:7,8

The leadings of the Lord he had personally experienced. Watching the sheep, he meditated on these things in the quietness of his isolation. When he thought of some men even in his day who ascribed these things to mere chance and not a --personal Creator, he exclaimed: “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” (Psalms 14:1)

At night he lay down wrapped in his cloak to sleep; the ground was his bed and the vast canopy of heaven his tent. He studied the stars of heaven before he went to sleep: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and the stars which thou has ordained; what is man that thou art mindful of him?”--Psalms 8:3,4

What a magnificent conception of the power of God this is! The universe with its millions of stars and their planets--much greater than our sun and earth--are all highly organized and moving at fantastic speeds in orderly orbits. They are tremendous weights, suspended on nothing yet David says they are the work of his fingers!

He does not say they are the work of his mighty arms or the force of his whole being, but his fingers! The universe was but a light task for him, by no means approaching the full potential of his powers!

David wrote this prayer of praise: “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”--Psalms 18:1-3

Consider this prayer. If one has to go into battle, it is natural to pray before going. One knows that many will be killed and it is understandable that one pray to be spared. It is natural for a general of an army to pray for victory before committing his troops. But after one's life has been spared and the battle won, the matter is often forgotten. But this inspiring prayer of praise, was made by David after the battle--it says so in the heading. He had just won a decisive victory over all his enemies. So these words do not contain possible motive for self-preservation, no motive of desired victory. The words show a heart full of thanks and love and praise to God. He did not forget! No wonder David was a man after God's own heart!

There is a lesson here for us. We are told in Philippians 4:6 to make our requests known unto God, and we are quick to do this. But when a request is heard and in due course an answer given and the blessing granted, are we just as quick to thank and praise him for it? We often give a general expression of thanks, such as “We thank thee for all thy blessings,” which is good. But when a specific request has been made and has been graciously granted, how much better to give specific thanks for that particular blessing. An earthly parent loves an appreciative and thankful child; how much more, our heavenly Father!

“I will love thee, O Lord,” David said. Then he pours out his love by ascribing to the Lord certain endearing and meaningful titles: My Rock, My Fortress, My Deliverer, My God, My Strength in whom I will trust, My Buckler, The Horn of My --Salvation, My High Tower, Worthy to be praised

Our “Castle”

There is a maxim of English law to the effect that “A man's home is his castle.” In medieval times the law was comparatively ineffective and each man had to take measures for his own personal safety and defense. The feudal lords and barons built themselves castles, usually upon a rock, with thick walls and strong defenses to withstand siege, surrounded by moats so no one might approach without permission. Here they were safe from molestation. Outside they always had to wear armor and carry a sword, but in the castle they could relax and be at peace. The castle became the symbol of the integrity of a person in English law. David had a similar thought when he wrote: “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort. Thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.”--Psalms 71:3

We can identify with this. We too have a castle, a “strong habitation,” to which we may “continually resort.” Anywhere, anytime, and under any circumstances we can call upon the Lord. One moment we are worried, distressed, and faced with a seemingly hopeless situation. The next moment we feel a “strong habitation” enclosing us, a safe and secure castle around us. Then with David we can sing: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”-- Psalms 27:1

David said, “Thou hast given commandment to save me.” Commandment to whom?  Let me illustrate. It is the duty of the Secret Service to guard the life of the President of the United States. From the moment he is elected, he is no longer a private citizen. His life is not his own; he is under what is known as “maximum security.” He is guarded day and night lest an enemy seek to destroy him. Even before election day, units of the Secret Service are assigned to each likely candidate so that whichever one is successful may have this special protection from the moment of his election.

We consider the presidency of the United States to be an enormously --important office, and it is--probably the most important in the world. But there are 144,000 higher positions out of this world, those who shall live and reign with Christ. Of these Jesus said: “No man can come unto me, except the Father . . . draw him.”--John 6:44

God selects and elects those who shall be the heirs of salvation. As soon as they are so selected, they are in mortal danger from the great enemy Satan. So God assigns a heavenly “Secret Service” to protect his elect. He calls mighty angels into his presence and commands them, charges them, and sends them forth to watch over us. So it is written: “Thou hast given commandment to save me.” Also: “He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” (Psalms 91:11) And: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

Do you fully realize and appreciate the care and attention the Lord is giving you? Earthly secret service men, highly trained and dedicated as they are, sometimes fail in their assignment; presidents have been assassinated. But the angels assigned to our protection never fail. When God has given a commandment to save, it cannot fail. Not one of his purposes ever do. An angel who has been given the commandment to protect a child of God, one of his little ones, is backed up by all the power of God himself.

Jesus said, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10) This is a most extraordinary arrangement. By contrast, in a military organization there is what is called “the chain of command.” A private has no direct access to the Commanding General. He makes his request to his sergeant, the sergeant passes it up through the various ranking officers, and only if it is of extreme importance in the opinion of those officers does it ever finally reach the general. A decision must follow the same course downward and be endorsed by all those through whose hands it passed before, until it finally reaches the sergeant, who then tells the soldier. This process may take weeks or even months.

But an angel assigned to one of the Lord's little ones does not have to follow a “chain of command.” No! God considers us too precious for that. He says, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) We are always before Him! He takes a constant personal interest in our welfare. The angels assigned to us always have a direct and instant access to their Supreme Commander; they always behold the face of the Heavenly Father. It is a direct, face-to-face communication on our behalf.

All Things Are for Our Good

Paul said, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Only God could make such a promise because only God with his almighty power has all things under his control; his almighty power is instantly available in our behalf. Does this mean that those who love God and are called according to his purpose do not have a care in the world? Does this mean that we are miraculously supplied with food, clothing, and all the necessities of life? Are we never tired, never worried, never hurt, never discouraged, never sick? Do we never experience trials and difficulties? Is everything in our lives perfect, peaceful, and serene?

Is that what is meant by “all things working together for our good”? God could grant all this, but it wouldn't be for our good, for our eternal welfare. Instead he uses his almighty power to manipulate “all things” to give us just the right experiences in life, to develop, shape, chasten, fit, and finally change and exalt us to the glorious divine nature.

Sometimes we don't understand the necessity of the experiences to which we are subjected. There is a tendency to cry to the Lord with tears and ask, “Why? Oh why?” Later, sometimes much later, it becomes beautifully apparent why the experience was necessary, and we thank God for it. Here's a story that illustrates this: Once, the only survivor of a shipwreck was thrown upon a desert island. He built a hut of driftwood and put in it everything he had.

He prayed to God for rescue and scanned the horizon daily for ships. A long time passed, while he lived precariously on what he could get from the sea. One evening, upon returning from a hunt for food, he was horrified to find his hut in flames--struck by lightning! All he had was gone. To his limited vision, this was the worst thing that could possibly happen, and he complained bitterly to God. “Why, oh why? Was not my situation bad enough before? At least I had shelter and a few comforts. Now I have nothing!” Utterly discouraged and giving up all hope he flung himself upon the ground and wept all night, cursing the fire that had destroyed his hut. The very next morning, a ship arrived. As he was brought aboard, the captain said: “We saw your signal fire last night!”

Joseph's Example

There is another and better example right from the scriptures. It is the story of Joseph. Here was a boy who was rejected by his brothers. They hated him so much that they considered killing him. He was deprived of his most precious possession, a coat of many colors. He was thrown into a deep pit without water and left to die.

He was sold for twenty pieces of silver to slave traders. They took him into Egypt and sold him as a slave. His Egyptian master's wife bore false witness against him and he was unjustly imprisoned. In prison he did a favor for a fellow-prisoner who promised to help him when he got out, but did not do so. He stayed in that prison for two whole years. The Egyptians were not noted for coddling their prisoners; the record says that he was “bound.” Here is one misfortune after another; here was a seemingly hopeless and impossible situation. But that is the kind of a situation that God handles to demonstrate his power. Jesus said, “The things which are impossible with men, are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) God intervened for Joseph. The record says: “And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed.” (Genesis 41:1) From then on things happened rapidly. Joseph rose to be the ruler of Egypt which at that time was the most powerful nation in the world.

His many painful experiences must have caused Joseph to wonder, “Why are these things happening to me?” But afterward, when it was all over, he saw and freely acknowledged that all things had worked together for good. He said to his brethren: “Now therefore be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now, it was not you that sent me hither, but God; and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.”--Genesis 45:5,7,8

The same principle is expressed in Hebrews: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward, it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby.”--Hebrews 12:11

So with experience and Christian maturity we learn to “trust him, come what may,” knowing it is for our good. It is in this way that we attain the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you.”--John 14:27

The world cannot assure us of peace based upon “all things working together for good.” Satan is the god of this world. He seeks to devour and destroy the Lord's people. But God manipulates even the overt acts of Satan so that they also work together for our good. This is included in the “all things.”

Guardian Angels

David wrote, “The angel of the Lord encampeth around about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” (Psalms 34:7) These angels are alert, ready for action like troops encamped on the field of battle. They are “round about” us. We are ringed about and completely surrounded by this protection.

The scriptures provide an encouraging illustration of this in 2 Kings chapter 6. At one time the king of Syria warred against Israel. He met in secret counsel with his military commanders to map out his campaign. But every time he planned an attack, the Lord revealed his plans to Elisha the prophet who told the king of Israel. The Israelites anticipated every move of the Syrians and checkmated them at every turn. The king of Syria was greatly disturbed over his defeats and said, “Surely we have a spy among us!” Then one of his own spies told the king that it was Elisha the prophet who revealed his secrets. The king of Syria decided that Elisha must be captured at whatever the cost.

Elisha was then staying at Dothan. The king of Syria sent a large part of his army, described as “horses and chariots, and a great host,” to take him. Why such a large force to capture one man? The record says that they “compassed the city about.” The idea was to approach at night and form a tight ring around the city to prevent Elisha's escape. Then, in the morning, they would close in until they had him. It seemed an absolutely foolproof plan. As the Syrian host moved upon the city that night, and silently formed their noose, Although Elisha knew it, he was not troubled. He slept soundly.

Elisha's young servant did not have his master's calm assurance. When he got up early in the morning and saw the terrifying ring of military might, he ran to Elisha and cried: “Alas, my master, What shall we do? What shall we do?” Elisha answered, “Fear not; for they that be with us, are more than they that be with them.” But the servant did not have the insight and the faith of his master. He was filled with terror. The enemy he could see with his physical eyes, thedefense he could not see with the eye of faith. “And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, round about Elisha.”--2 Kings 6:17

The defensive forces of God took the visible form of horses and chariots because these were symbols the young man could understand. They were “round about” Elisha which means they formed an inner ring between him and the enemy. All of us who are running for the prize of the high calling are encompassed about and threatened by Satan's forces: “Principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, wicked spirits in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) They seek to destroy and devour the new creature. They form a ring around us. This would be a terrifying thing if we did not, by the eye of faith, see the inner ring of vastly superior power: the “horses and chariots of fire” which Elisha described as “they that be with us.”

Since we know this, how can we be afraid of anything? As David put it so beautifully in poetic meter: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1) Doesn't that give you a warm feeling of security and peace?

Jesus said, “The very hairs of your head are numbered.” (Matthew 10:30) You who are mothers think you know your children pretty well. But do you know how many hairs there are on your child's head? Here is a beautiful figure of speech showing how thoroughly God knows and understands you. He knows everything about you.

He knows what you should have and what you should not have. He knows what you should experience and what you should not experience. But does this mean that he knows just how much trouble, aggravation and sickness you can stand, and then proceeds to see that you get every bit you can stand? Oh no! You wouldn't do that to your children. We try to be kind, loving and patient with our children. When our children are in difficulty, we feel pity and compassion; love wells up in our hearts. We spare our children all we can, giving them only the needed discipline. So it is with our heavenly Father, only he is ever so much more kind, loving and patient than we are. Of us he has caused to be written: “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare then, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”--Malachi 3:17

God Loves Us

Someone once said to me many years ago: “I'm afraid of God's love. I'm afraid to consecrate. I've had trouble all my life. I've been bludgeoned and beaten down by adverse circumstances, for as long as I can remember. I love God and I want him to love me; but I read in Hebrews 12:6, `Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth; and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.' Now that's very discouraging. I just couldn't take any more chastening and scourging than I've had. I want peace and rest!”

Perhaps others have felt the same way as this person. We have a very wily adversary and we should not be “ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11) He twists and turns and misrepresents God's character. He misquotes and misapplies scripture in the most plausible manner, shifting his tactics to correspond to the weakness of his intended victim. He has convinced millions who take the name of Christ that God is a fiend who inflicts eternal torment and misery upon the vast majority of mankind. Defaming God is Satan's specialty. This is his device for blinding men's minds. Even to one who has come to a knowledge of the truth and has been drawn to the verge of consecration, he subtly suggests: “Don't do it. You have enough trouble already. Why expose yourself to the chastenings and scourgings of the Lord? He is a God of punishment and pain.” This is just a variation of the old torment doctrine.

When Satan tempted Jesus and misapplied scriptures, Jesus answered him with scripture correctly applied. Let us now do the same. In his last talk with his disciples before his betrayal, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) On another occasion he said:

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”-- Matthew 11:28-30

Does this sound like something to be afraid of? A yoke has two sides to permit two to pull side by side. Jesus invites us to share his yoke with him, to walk with him. Think of having the Lord walk with us throughout life, constantly at our side, sharing every burden. When our steps falter, his are strong and carry us along. When our stresses and strains become too great, he invites us to cast our cares upon him. He wants to carry our burdens. It is written, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalms 55:22) Also, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) This is a wonderful arrangement, certainly nothing to be afraid of.

Ah, but what about the chastenings and scourgings? The key to the correct understanding of this scripture is in the two words loveth and  son. “Whom he loveth, he chasteneth; and scourgeth every son.“

God is love and there is no fear in love. So this scripture simply means that he lovingly applies corrective discipline to us as his children. He applies only enough to teach us the right way. He spares us all he can. He does not, as some suppose, keep books on our conduct, exacting the last full measure of punishment indicated. On the contrary he does not give us all the punishment we deserve. David knew this from personal experience. On one occasion he had sinned grievously and was guilty of death, but God did not exact the full penalty. David, overwhelmed with God's mercy and love, sang with exultation:

“The Lord is merciful and gracious; slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust.”-- Psalms 103:8,10-14

David knew what he was talking about. He knew God's loving and merciful ways. His thoughts were as close to God's thoughts as is humanly possible. How God loved him for it! He delighted in David. Years and generations after David had passed from the earthly scene, God favored his descendants even though they were sometimes not entirely worthy. Why did he do that? “For my servant David's sake!”

Just because they belong to David, that's all! When Jesus came, one of his titles was, “The Son of David.” His kingdom authority by which he will bless the world is called, “The throne of David.” Here is a most precious thought: We are the heirs of this intimate relationship between God and David. We are of the spiritual “David” class. All the richness of God's love is ours if we will, by faith, receive it.

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