The Sun and The Shield
27 October 2023, Friday
Struggling with a fitful sleep in bed, I started praying for all affected by Israel’s war against Hamas, for both Palestinians and Jews; and for the safe return of all the hostages.
After breakfast, I thought I’ll spend some time in worship but then was led to click on the banner on our website: “2023 The Year of His Glory” instead. And this post on 4 Jan 2023:
The Sign of God’s Goodness
Decided to pull out my bible to read all of Psalms 86. Then, was led to pray from verses 5 to 17 for Israel (paraphrased by me in to a prayer) (NIV):
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God.
Teach them your ways, O Lord,
that they may rely on your faithfulness;
give them an undivided heart,
that they may fear your name.
Let them praise you, Lord my God, with all their heart;
they will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward them
you have delivered them from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
Arrogant foes are attacking them, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill them in the name of God,
but honestly Lord, they have no regard for you at all.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to them and have mercy on them;
show your strength in behalf of your servants;
save them, because they serve you just as their mothers did.
Give them a sign of your goodness
that their true enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped them and comforted them.”
My spirit quickened when I finished verse 17. I highlighted it and thought:
God will show Israel a sign of His goodness and perhaps then they will return to Him.
The Mystery of that Sun in my Bible
In this post, https://www.communityofbrokenspirit.org/blog/2023-the-year-of-his-glory, I was wondering about why I drew the sun on my Bible on Psalms 86.
V solved that mystery for me after I finished reading Psalms 86.
He said, “It is on the other side.”
I flipped the page back and it was there in Psalms 84!
I remember now. Many years ago, I had drawn the sun with a highlighter on Psalms 84:11 and it had bled through on the other side of that page to Psalms 86.
V continued with Psalms 84:11:
For the Lord God is a sun and a shield;
He bestows favour and honour;
No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
I get it - the sign – is the sun and the shield.
I thought to myself, the sun, something miraculous about the sun…
He did tell us that in the next three years, we will see more miracles and signs and wonders.
And the shield – better than Israel's famed Iron Dome…? Where technology has failed, God will provide an even better shield of protection?
September 2024
And the answer came in a box of produce I subscribe to monthly from Israel. See for yourself this poster in the box.
Indeed, surely God will honour and remember this shield of David, and Israel, His beloved nation, as they remember Him. I trust that He will provide Israel with unparalleled technology to shield her from harm by a world bent on wiping her from the face of this earth. I only pray that the nation of Israel comes to know the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, His Son, in this sad and difficult time.
More about the Star of David from this company newsletter in the next post.
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