Message summary: 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 when our enemy attacks. Remember, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him!

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"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've had a lot of rain over the last couple of days including a heavy downpour yesterday afternoon adding to the 6" rainfall we received on Monday. Many are experiencing flooding in various ways, including the dreaded basement flood. Thankfully, our home has had none, though we've had some water on the concrete floor of our garden shed.

Flooding was a phenomenon known to people in the Bible beginning with the Great Flood at the time of Noah. Jesus referred to this great flood in Luke 17:27. He also used the flood in an illustration on 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 like we're in a flood.

Our daily text speaks of times "when the enemy shall come in like a flood". It's generally understood that this was initially referring to a literal enemy to the nation of Israel, but it has also been interpreted in the sense of the enemy of our soul and the difficult trials that at times comes in like a flood.

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 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 the troubles of life don't just trickle in, but come in like a flood. It may be a health crisis, an accident, a job loss, a broken relationship or many other sources of trial and trouble. We have on our hearts today Doug, a young man (now in his early 50's!), who grew up in the church we served in our early ministry. His teenage son Andrew has had a very difficult ongoing battle with cancer but the entire family expresses confident faith in God's plan, whatever that may be.

But note the glorious promise in the latter part of our 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, signal, signal pole, ensign, banner, sign, sail, as rallying point."

Bible teacher David Guzik comments on this passage,

Now for sure that victory may not come the way we expect or want but ultimately we are more that conquerors through Christ!

When surging floods come in our lives we need to remember to whom we belong and rely on Christ to help us in our time of need when our enemy attacks. Remember, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him!

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13