Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional and our Summer Inspiration series. Today we reflect on the strengthening truth that God Almighty and the armies of heaven are with us.
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‘The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.’ (Psalm 46:7)
‘The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.’ (Psalm 46:11)
Recently I watched Great Britain win a gold medal in swimming the Freestyle Relay. Something that the commentators emphasised was the importance of talent and trust - that they had to be talented, but they also had to trust one another in this team event. Likewise, for Christians, our confidence depends very much on the team that’s with us - and we are told that ’The Lord of hosts (God Almighty) is with us’!
When one faces a battle or a challenge, the strength and ability of those who are supporting us is vital. The idea behind the childish slogan, “My dad is stronger than your dad!” is still true. None of us, if we are wise, will undertake a fight of challenge for which we are not sufficient. Who will seek, for example, to build the church and reach the lost if we don’t believe that we can do it. If we believe that the world and the devil are too strong for us.
On this theme, Jesus gave this illustration:
‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.’ (Luke 14:28-32)
Today’s psalm tells us that those who have God with them have enough! Those who have ‘The Lord of hosts’ (often translated as ’The Lord Almighty’) with them, have enough! They have enough in order to follow Jesus and do all that He calls them to do.
The Lord
We are told that it’s ’the Lord’ who is with us. Jehovah - The great I Am, the self-existent God is with us. He is, as we read in Matthew, referring to Isaiah 7:14, present with us:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
Lord of Hosts
We are told that it’s the 'Lord of Hosts’ - The Lord Almighty - that is with us. Lord of Hosts means that He’s King of Kings and Lord of Lords - all powers and authorities are under Him. Added to this, the angelic hosts of the heavenly army join Him as He helps us! Hebrews put it:
‘Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?’ (Hebrews 1:14)
God of Jacob
We are told that it’s ‘the God of Jacob’ who is with us. These words are designed to recall the covenant - unbreakable promise - that He has made to be the God of Jacob and, likewise, He has covenanted Himself to be with those who are in Christ. These words are designed to make us reflect on the history of Israel and God’s miraculous and gracious work for them. This is designed to make us recall His promises to Abraham and Jacob that through his offspring, ‘all nations on earth will be blessed’. Because the God of Jacob - the God who has promised to bless all nations is with us - we can be assured that the gospel - through which all nations are truly blessed - will go to all nations and there will be a great harvest.
So, do we know that ‘The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge’ ?
Do we believe Jesus final words:
‘…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.’ (Matthew 28:20)
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday, based upon Psalm 46, encouraged us to remember that ‘The Lord of Hosts’ - God Almighty - is with us. Even in the most trying storms of life we are encouraged to ‘Be still and know that I am God’. Like the disciples in the stormy sea with Jesus asleep in the boat, we are to know that He’s with us and has the authority to speak stillness over any storm.
Please read Psalm 46
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What would you say are the main teaching points of this Psalm?
46:4 - What is the ‘river’ and how can we enter into the ‘gladness’ that’s mentioned here?
46: 7, 11 - What does it mean for God to be ‘The Lord of Hosts’ and how is this a help in our lives?
4:10 - What does this teach about the final success of the gospel?
SIV - What attitudes and beliefs does this Psalm teach that lead us into successful mission?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
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