"Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of my enemies." Isaiah 1:24
God is the Mighty One of Israel. We as Believers are included in the phrase "of Israel". The Hebrew word Abiyr [1], describes God as the Mighty One. Abiyr derives from the Hebrew word Abar[2], which means to soar, fly.
When we are in trouble God literally flies down to where we are to deliver us. We do not have to fear, for His Word states, "Say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, do not fear, your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you." Isaiah 35:4.
"Say to those with fearful hearts"
Not only are we suppose to encourage ourselves when our heart becomes fearful, but we are to encourage others who are fearful. Fear[3] is "an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. " This unpleasant emotion can include healthy fears and unhealthy fears. You are supposed to be fearful if you encounter a wild, dangerous animal such as a roaring lion. In that instance fear will cause you to get out of harm's way. However, this verse speaks on unhealthy fears. Unhealthy fears are a result of not trusting God. In life we will find ourselves in challenging situations and circumstances. However, God promises that "He fulfills the desires of those who fear (reverence) Him; He hears their cry and saves them." Psalm 145:19
"Be strong, do not fear, your God will come"
Here we are encouraged to be strong and do not fear. We must be courageous and know that He will come. There is a big difference between knowing someone will come and just hoping they will come. We have to have it embedded within our hearts that we KNOW God is coming. Know means that we are 110 percent certain of His impending arrival. It is not up to us to try to figure out when He will arrive, but to trust that He will arrive.
"He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you"
Not only is the Lord coming to save you, but He is coming with vengeance. Vengeance describes Him coming with great force[4]. The Lord is not coming in a shy, weak, timid way. He is not going to be tip toeing into your situation either. God is coming in a strong, mighty way. The Lord is coming with great force to overcome your circumstance.
When God comes, He is also coming with divine retribution. This describes the fact that He is coming with a reward. God wants to reward you for patiently waiting on His deliverance. He will reward you for standing in faith instead of fear.
[1] Strong, James. (1990). The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [2] ibid [3] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fear [4] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vengeance
Walking After Emptiness
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