Friday, August 5, 2022 - OUTNUMBERED

Day 217 - (Today’s Bible readings: 2 Kings 8:1-15; Psalm 35; Matthew 17:22-18:6)

OUTNUMBERED

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see. So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17 ESV)

Elisha’s servant was terrified with the enemy forces poised to do them harm. Have you ever been there, facing evil foes right in the face? Have you ever felt outnumbered? It can be really terrifying. But what is the reality for the child of God? Every morning, we ask the Lord to provide for us what He provided for Elisha and Israel.

Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. 

Luther wrote: “It is a great comfort for all Christians to learn from these and other passages of Holy Scripture that they are not forsaken in the cross which they encounter in various forms throughout their lives. For they have the dear angels with them as protectors and guards.” (Luther’s Works, American Addition, Lutheran Study Bible, CPH p. 589)

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), undergirds this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:

https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/JyxxRfAT2Eg7JfDCXaPP99G4y4rJrZQO?

Then scroll down to 2022 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!