O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction. I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman. The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place. Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! For the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Jeremiah 6:1-5
Flee
Facing The Schemes Of Evil
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; wherein was written,
“It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, ‘There is a king in Judah:’ and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.”
Then I sent unto him, saying, “There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.” For they all made us afraid, saying, “Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.”
Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.” And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.” And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
Nehemiah 6:5-14
The Righteous Are Bold
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 (KJB)
God and His Enemies
“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.” Psalm 68:1 (KJV)
I would think that David had read the writings of Moses, and would have known the prayer of Moses on this same order (Numbers 10:35).
Many will be thinking that read this that “Well God would have no enemies”, but all who refuse to see God as God are His enemies. All who refuse to hear His Word. All who refuse to believe His Son. All who refuse to come to Him His way, but seek other ways. These are all His enemies.
Are you the enemy of God? “Let God arise” in your heart and life today, through the cross of His Son Jesus. The enemy of God in your heart will flee when you invite Jesus in. “Let His enemies be scattered” by the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ.
Christian. Let God arise in your life that the enemies you and I face flee. Let us pray that the soul will flee unto Christ, and be delivered from the enemy of men’s souls. That enemy is Satan, the devil. He is already defeated. Defeated by the cross of Jesus, and proved to be true by the resurrection of Jesus.
God does have enemies. Make sure you are not one. God has made provision for those who might hate Him;
“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:8-10
Let God arise in your heart and life today. Come to Him through His provision of the gift of Jesus Christ.
Trust in the LORD
“In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” Psalm 11:1 (KJV)
Of this verse C. H. Spurgeon in THE TREASURY OF DAVID, has written,
When Satan cannot overthrow us by presumption, how craftily will he seek to ruin us by distrust! He will employ our dearest friends to argue us out of our confidence, and he will use such plausible logic, that unless we once for all assert our immovable trust in Jehovah, he will make us like the timid bird which flies to the mountain whenever danger presents itself. How forcibly the ease is put! The bow is bent, the arrow is fitted to the string; “Flee, flee, thou defenceless bird, thy safety lies in flight: begone, for thine enemies will send their shafts into thy heart; haste, haste, for soon wilt thou be destroyed! David seems to have felt the force of the advice, for it came home to his soul; but yet he would not yield, but would rather dare the danger than exhibit a distrust in the Lord his God.
Are you in a difficult position, situation or circumstance today? God is with you. Do not heed the “advice” of those who would tell you to “Flee” by doubting the LORD. Be as David. Trust the LORD.
Begin at the cross of Jesus Christ.
The Fire and Hammer 