Others Who had Faith (Heb. 11:33-34)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 06-20-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Others who had faith

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 11:33-34

 

            1.  Message of the verses:  “33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.”  (ASV)  “By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them.   They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword.  Their weakness was turned to strength.  They became strong in battle and put the whole armies to flight.”  (NLT)

            The writer now moves on to events that probably happened to different people, but from this point on he does not mention anyone’s names, as he puts these events into categories. There were many leaders in Israel’s past who subdued kingdoms, men like Joshua, David, Samson and some of the other judges and kings did this.  There were many leaders who ruled with justice, men like David, Moses, Joshua, Hezekiah, Josiah, and a whole list of other kings who ruled justly.  Men like Abraham, Moses, David, and Solomon obtained promises from God.  When you think of men who stopped the mouths of lions there are three who come to mind; Daniel, David, and Samson.  Verse 34 speaks of quenching the power of fire, and this reminds me of Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  David is one who escaped the edge of the sword when Saul was chasing him, and others did this who were in battle too.  There is quite a list of men in the OT who were at one time weak and then God gave them strength, men like Ehud, Jael, Gideon, Samson, and Hezekiah.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I look at these list of events that the writer of Hebrews gives out here in these verses and then think about the fact that there were many men who had true Bible faith in doing these events in their lives it makes me think that God has things He wants me to do in my life that He has prepared me to do, and desires me to do them based on faith in Him, and in believing what He has said in His Word.  As I said in yesterday’s spiritual diary, I believe that believers are still living out this eleventh chapter of Hebrews today, and that in heaven someday will be read by the Lord.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart, and it was refreshing at the same time.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to stand on and to the Word of God as I go through this storm that the Lord has called me to go through.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:1-17

 

To review these verses.