Good Morning!
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea,
I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).
This verse has been a great pillar of strength for God's people ever since it was written. The occasion was primarily to the exiled Jews during their long and painful captivity in Babylon. They were God's people but they had been rebellious and had to face seventy years in a strange land with their own temple in Jerusalem destroyed by God. Centuries later Peter wrote: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1Peter 4:17).
Fear thou not –"they who had been selected by God to be his special people had nothing to fear. But the promise is one that may be regarded as addressed to all his people in similar circumstances, and it is as true now as it was then, that those whom God has chosen have nothing to fear" (Barnes).
For I am with thee –It is a big step of faith for God's people who have trusted Him with their eternal salvation to actually trust Him for the needs of today. Our first great need is to deal with fear. The Bible repeatedly admonishes His people to "fear not." We lock our doors and arm ourselves but ultimately our real safety is the Lord Himself. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee (Psalm 56:3).
At the beginning of World War II, President Roosevelt told all of America in one of his radio fireside chats, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." It is now a famous quote. Before we can be at peace, we must deal with our fears and God will do just that if we will let Him. 'If God be for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31). What higher consolation can man desire than the assurance that God is with him to protect him?
Be not dismayed - to look about as one does in a state of alarm, or danger. The sense here is, that they should be calm, and under no apprehension from their foes.
For I am thy God – It should be enough to know that He is our God. But we have to know it to the bone. We can say it with our mouth but if our knees are knocking together we have not really believed it to the bone. I know of no greater thought than that the God of heaven is my God; He has all power and that He has pledged His power for my protection. No wonder people of all ages and all nations love Psalm 23.
I will uphold thee - I will enable you to bear all your trials. He does not promise we will have no trials.
With the right hand of my righteousness – It is a Hebrew expression. A faithful hand, reliable hand, a hand of security.
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home. (Isaac Watts-1719)
The Constitution of the United States
Article I
Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
(To read the history and full text go here: http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm)
This article can also be viewed at www.bibleliving.blogspot.com.
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