In my quiet time this morning, I came across a wonderful promise of comfort and love. Then, further on, I heard this phrase in the strident voice of a television preacher:
"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper..."
Ugh -- prosperity doctrine 101? If we belong to the Lord, nothing bad will befall us? If we are protected by faith, everything will be fine? Here's the whole verse:
"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord.
Okay, here's what I think, and these opinions are my own and are not necessarily those of The Management. First, I have experienced what I have considered to be suffering and even depression. Second, the Lord has proclaimed His love for me over and over in Scripture. Therefore, my circumstances (and my happiness) are not necessarily reflections of His care for me, His child. No matter what I'm going through or how I feel, I am wrapped in His merciful love.
Nothing can get to us unless God allows it. Not that He intends us harm, but nothing can sneak past Him to hurt us. He knows what is happening at all times, and there are no "accidents" in His economy. Yes, I think it'd be nice if He'd warn me, or at least follow an event with a five-point explanation... But He is God, He is sovereign, and He certainly loves me. Period.
2 comments:
Katharine, I think of that passage as describing God's promise to his kingdom, rather than to individuals in that kingdom. No weapon fashioned against his kingdom shall prosper (in the long run).
I guess that part about "in the long run" is important for me too.
Hi, Marcus. Sorry it's taken such a long time to get back to this.
Your comment made me concerned that I may have been too quick to personalize the concept of God's protection. Well, as they say in football, "Upon further review..."
Yes, the context of that verse in that passage of Scripture is aimed directly at Israel during a specific historical time, but also looking ahead to a future millennial kingdom. While I do not hold a covenant theological view, there is room for some appropriate personal application of this and other promises to those who are grafted onto Jesus' family tree. In this case, there are a number of other passages that speak to God's sovereignty and care for His children. While I did not cite those verses, I was also thinking of them as I wrote.
Thanks for dialoging with me. I appreciate your thoughts.
--Katharine
Post a Comment