A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Flooding
on the Susquehanna River at the Columbia Crossing
River Trails Center.
(Click to enlarge)
(Click to enlarge)
"A
Flood, A Standard"
Message
summary: When
floods come in our lives we need to remember to
whom we belong and rely on Him to help in our
time of need.
Listen to
our message on your audio player.
Listen to
our message on your audio player."When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19).
We have been getting large amounts of rain since last Saturday totaling 17 inches in our rain gauge which is higher than other areas within our county. It finally cleared up yesterday afternoon and is clear this morning but alas, a storm is forecast this afternoon into the evening!
All the rain has caused lots of flooding in our region and many homeowners are dealing with flooded basements or worse. Roads have been closed and under certain conditions most of the roads we use to get out of our neighborhood can be temporarily closed. Even small streams, like the Donegal Creek which runs through our neighborhood, have flooded (see photo below taken yesterday morning). However most tragically a young lady was swept away in a small flooded creek we regularly cross and rarely see much water. A body was found last evening but as of yet is still undergoing the official identification process.
"Flood" is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, most famously the Great Flood at the time of Noah. It is also used by Jesus in an illustration of how to properly build your life (Luke 6:47-49).
At times our lives tend to roll along in a pretty routine way, like a peaceful river. At other times our lives are anything but routine, and when the troubles come it may seem we are in a flood. Today let us examine a text that speaks of this.
When
the power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He's raised up a standard, the pow'r of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord
The battle belongs to the Lord
He's raised up a standard, the pow'r of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord
Our daily
text speaks of a time "when the enemy shall come
in like a flood". This was likely initially
referring to a literal enemy to the nation of Israel
but has also often been interpreted in the sense of
the enemy of our soul.The Bible speaks of this enemy as a thief who comes only to "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10) and as "Your adversary the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This meaning is alluded to in the words of Martin Luther's great hymn, "But still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe." Indeed he still does.
Most of us have had experiences in life when it seems the troubles of life come in like a flood. It may be a health crisis, accident, job loss or many other sources. We prayerfully consider the grieving family of the young girl lost in the flooding waters Monday night and the unexpected "flood" they are enduring, even as their experience is very much in the public eye.
But note the glorious promise in the latter part daily verse: "The Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him". Again in the initial literal sense this was speaking of the actual enemy of the nation of Israel and God's desire to help in their time of need. The word, "standard", in the Hebrew means "something lifted up, standard, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign, sail, as rallying point."
Bible teacher David Guzik comments on this passage, "The enemies of the LORD will never triumph over Him. Even if they come in like a flood, and seem unstoppable, the LORD will lift up a battle-standard against him, and he will be stopped. God gives His people the glorious privilege of being more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), but will win it with or without us."
When surging floods come in our lives we need to remember to whom we belong and rely on Him to help us in our time of need.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Jesus, You describe the wise and foolish builders
in Scripture: those who say, "Lord, Lord" but
don't do as You teach are like a person who builds
a house on the ground without a firm foundation.
The moment the torrent struck that house, it
collapsed and its destruction was complete. We
want to be among those who hear Your words and put
them into practice, like the one who digs down
deep and lays the foundation of his house on rock.
When the flood comes, the house will not be shaken
because it is centered on You, our Solid Rock, the
firm foundation. Thank you that when "When the
enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of
the LORD shall lift up a standard against him".
Amen.Ester shared this perspective on her Facebook page: "Since the downpour of rain began a verse from the Bible keeps on popping in my head constantly. It in the Book of Matthew chapter 7 verses 24-27 & it says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." I'm thankful that our house was build on a good solid foundation! We love each & everyone of you. God bless."
This
home along Donegal Springs Road sits high enough
to avoid flooding but not the yard and driveway
as a branch of Donegal Creek overflows.
(Click to enlarge)
(Click to enlarge)
We
enjoy carefully passing slower buggies and
waving at the children who often are looking out
to see who might wave to them and vice versa!
Brooksyne
is holding two baby piglets from a litter of 10
during our brief visit to the Old Windmill Farm
yesterday morning. The light colored piglet was
one very unhappy squealing camper but it didn't
seem to faze the horse or the dark piglet.
Early
yesterday morning we passed the Strasburg
Railroad and saw old engine 90 warming up for
the day's work.
A
photo Brooksyne took on her neighborhood walk
last night at the Espenshade Farm with soybeans
in the foreground, and finally the bright sun at
sunset.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental Resources
"The
Battle belongs To The Lord" Video The Acappella Company
Finally today:
One of
the best sources of learning is inter-generational.
These two service techs work for JK Mechanical, an
HVAC company we serve as chaplains. Tom (left) is
over twice as old as Cameron (right), but they
demonstrate a mutual respect and value for one
another. Cameron can learn a lot from Tom since he
has been a service tech since the early years of the
company which started in 1979.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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