To face these days without fear we must know that evil will not prevail
There is a plan being played out on the earth in this era in which ‘the wheat and the tares grow together’ (Matt 13:30) – evil and good reside side by side. The evil one works his havoc. But his days are numbered and though he hopes to prevail – he will not. For God sets the parameters for his time here and soon the King of kings will return to restore all things back to Himself.
Isaiah 5:20-24 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 9:2-4 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You have broken the yoke of his burden.
Henry says – everything looked black and melancholy: Behold, trouble, and darkness, and dimness—very bad … In the worst of times … it is matter of comfort to us, when things are at the darkest, that He who forms the light and creates the darkness (Isa. 45:7) has appointed to both their bounds… He can say, “Hitherto the dimness shall go, so long it shall last, and no further, no longer.”
The promises all point at the grace of the gospel
The promises all point ultimately at the grace of the gospel, which the saints then were to comfort themselves with the hopes of – in every cloudy and dark day, as we now are to comfort ourselves in time of trouble with the hopes of Christ’s second coming… The mercy which God has in store for his church in the latter days may be a support to those that are mourning with her for her then present calamities…
The design of the gospel is to break the yoke of sin and Satan
The design of the gospel, and the grace of it, is to break the yoke of sin and Satan, to remove the burden of guilt and corruption, and to free us from the rod of those oppressors, that we might be brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Christ broke the yoke of the ceremonial law (Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1), and delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, that we might serve him without fear, Luke 1:74, 75. (2.) This is done by the Spirit working like fire (Matt. 3:11).
The more we are subject to Christ the more easy and safe we are… the zeal of the Lord of hosts will overcome all opposition.
Adapted from Matthew Henry Commentary
The Battle is the Lord’s All you who are gathered here With spear and with sword Know that the victory is Mine, For the battle belongs to the Lord. Many there are who come in hostility From so many distant lands. But they will all be given into Your precious hands. You who struggle in weakness then In your heart now be assured That the victory has already been won for you For the battle belongs to the Lord. He is always with you; He guides you every hour So you must learn to trust Completely in His power Look only to His Kingdom; Seek no other reward. You own resources are insufficient; The battle belongs to the Lord. On your own you know you will fail. This you have come to understand. Your fears will vanish as you realise The power is in His Hand. You are a new creation Beautifully, wonderfully restored. What of your present difficulties; The battle belongs to the Lord! By the late Andrew Feakin (passed away 16th March 2019)
Prayer: Father God, thank you that no matter what is happening in the world I can have full assurance that You are in control and will not allow evil to prevail. Help me set my eyes on eternity and seek Your Kingdom first above all else. I chose to humble myself fully before You and subject myself to Christ. I thank You that I have Your assurance that I will be safe. In Jesus’ name AMEN.