What Does This Period Requires (1)
Deut 10:12 says, “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,”
THERE is no doubt that Christians are in a situation the Scripture describes as miry clay - full of threat and hopelessness. Even some that profess Christ have abandoned the righteousness of and love for God and are going about trying to validate their own conceived righteousness.
They have provoked God, thereby calling for His wrath to fall upon mankind. And it looks like God has turned His back against us. We are like one who cannot find a foothold, but slips and sink in every facet of our life. Our struggle for survival even
annoys our peace, and renders us wretched.
In the Bible days, whenever the children of Israel were in an ugly situation, they would go into serious prayers and enquire of the Lord what step should be taken to escape or overcome the challenge. It didn’t matter whether the enemy was coming after them or they were going to possess their possession against their enemies. But through prayer, they were able to connect to God to fight for them, defend and make them possess their possession. We have a case of King David whom God promised to make King and all Israel gave their mandate, yet he sought God before embarking upon any project in pursuit of the dream. Although he trusted God to give him the kingdom as He promised, but that did not deter him from asking for God’s directive on where to begin.
2Sam. 2: 1 says, “And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.”
David knew his destination, but he knew also that God’s providence would always pave the way for success and victory. Thus, he took no step in presenting himself to be crowned by brethren without asking and obtaining the divine direction, even though all Israel were prepared to crown him.
Beloved, without equivocation, the situation we have found ourselves today demands God’s intervention, for only Him can deliver us from the imminent catastrophe. And if God is to intervene, we need to call upon Him through prayer, as did our fathers of faith in the Bible days. So, the period requires intense and fervent prayers. Men who acknowledge God, seek His direction, and are disposed to follow His guidance, will always see the path of duty, and as they walk on it they will find great reward. 2Chronicle 20:1-4 “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.”
Jehoshaphat acknowledged the supreme dominion of the Divine Providence and sought it. He knew that when God is involved in any situation, victory is assured. Hence, he gathered his subjects to seek God for help. And expectedly, God favoured and gave him victory.
Beloved, in a time like this, we should seek no other or trust anyone for our relief than the Creator, Who knows the end from the Beginning, Whom we have chosen and served. In all dangers, public or personal, our first business should be to seek help from God through prayer. We should not forget that He is holy and hears not sinners. So, this period requires we sanctify ourselves and approach Him with humility for our sins, trusting only in His mercy and power.