Prayer: Father, may I always run to You in my distress. Amen.
Reading: Hosea 5 key: vs. 13-15 “When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, Ephraim went to Assyria and sent envoys to a warring king. But he cannot heal you nor will he cure your wound. For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away. I will carry off, and nobody will rescue. I will go and return to My place until they admit their guilt. Then they will seek My face. In their distress they will seek Me earnestly:” TLV
Attention: I have been reading a book by Amir Tsarfati titled, “Daniel.” Most of us are familiar with the account of Daniel being cast into the lion’s den. So, with Adonai declaring Himself a “lion to Ephraim” and a “young lion to the house of Judah,” my thoughts reflected on some of the detailed observations Amir makes. “With the rock in place, it would have been completely dark inside the den. Without the ability to use the sense of sight, the other senses would have heightened. This would include the unfortunate sense of smell, as we’ve noted, as well as Daniel’s hearing. Apart from some possible muted cheering coming from the officials above, he heard a low predatorial rumble. Sot, padded footsteps passed by him, and coarse wisps of hair brushed against his arm. His left leg suddenly buckled after what felt like a rod thwacked into his thigh. A second hit helped him to identify it as an agitated tail swishing side to side.”
Was Israel even scared of the approaching danger? Adonai was not coming to them as a pussy cat. A lion is an ultimate predator, a killing machine. God was not coming as the gentle and meek King of Heaven and Earth. “Nobody will rescue” them, especially not an unsubscribing foreign king.
Why does it take distress for people to finally cry out to God? When all hope is gone, we tend to cry out to the only One who can rescue us. God is our last option rather than the first. Consider today making Adonai your first option!
Action: I choose to make Adonai option #1 and call out to Him.
Yield: I choose to stay close to Adonai and keep His 911 number on speed dial.
Engage: I choose to engage in a lifestyle of Holy Spirit directed living.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedience to God’s commands.
Prayer: Father, Your ways are higher than mine. Your word reveals who You are and teaches me Your ways. Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalms 61:2-5 “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength before the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever. Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.” TLV
Music Video: Chris Brown & Brandon Lake—Lion of Judah https://youtu.be/apZEYgTpZxM?si=TjS8IL_s_8ZTL6IB
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”