COMMEMORATING THE COMING OF JESUS, THE WORD OF GOD. Matthew 2: 16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Herod slaughtered innocent babies in an attempt to make sure the Messiah was massacred. He taught he was a great calculator but Herod could not fathom the depths of the LORD Almighty who protects His own. Blood of innocent infants was shed in a concerted effort to make sure that the Saviour and Redeemer never lived to carry out the work of reconciling humanity to God. No human being, however great he thought himself to be, can thwart the Work of God. Run to Jesus, even when they depict Him as “a helpless and powerless baby” in the Nativity plays. He is the LORD Almighty and the Light of the world. He is Emmanuel, God with us. In Jesus, Yahweh (the LORD) is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance, forgiveness and guidance. “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Ps. 46:7). Yahweh Sebaoth. Yahweh as the LORD God of hosts indicates God’s sovereign rule in every realm or kingdom and, therefore, His ability to fulfil every promise because He is a promise-fulfiller. “The LORD of hosts, He is the King of Glory” (Ps.24:10) and he will never share His glory with any of His creatures. Our God is the LORD of celestial hosts. He created all the angels in the heavens and they carry out His will and purpose on our behalf. King Hezekiah and his people learned that our God is the Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly armies and He only needs one Angel to slay 185,000 Assyrian soldiers encamped to kill the people of God. 2 Kings 19:35. Our God is likewise the LORD of the astral hosts, sun, moon and stars. They are His handiwork and having created them, He controls them. Joshua realized this when he prayed that sun and moon might stand still, that he might fight in God’s cause and for God’s glory, and his prayer was answered. Joshua 10. Our God is also the Lord of all the animal hosts, as Daniel experienced when God closed the lions’ mouths and then opened them. Our God is also the Lord of the birds of the sky and sea monsters. His power brought birds and sea monsters and whales into being and they willingly act as His messengers, as Elijah discovered when the ravens fed him and Jonah also, when the big fish swallowed him up and took him to the place where God sent him. Our God is Lord over all human hosts, and would have us cease from fearing man, whose breath is in his nostrils. David used this divine title in defying the Philistine. “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.” (1 Sam. 17:45). As to all satanic hosts, is not God supreme in this realm too? Who is the devil? Satan is only a dog on a leash and cannot go any further than divine permission, as the God of Job teaches. As we celebrate Christmas and prepare to enter the New Year, let us honour the One who makes it happen, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” and pray for His peace to reign in this war-torn and fragmented world. Peace to you all. YAHWEH SHALOM. Wishing you a joyous Christmas and a stress-free and prosperous New Year.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:15:06 +0000
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