The Pilgrim Path---Isaiah 33: 2

O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.”

WHAT AN ARM…

When I was in the ninth grade, the Olympic Gold Medal Winner Paul Anderson came to my school. He would give these motivational talks and speak against drug use. Mr. Anderson won his Gold Medal in the Super Heavy Weight Class---weight lifting, Melbourne, 1956. They had built a platform in our gym so 14-15 of the largest guys could sit on it. Then Mr. Anderson got under that platform and simply lifted it upon his back---right off the floor---and talked---and turned---while the people sat upon that big, long looking table! Paul Anderson was five feet ten inches tall---weighed around 375 pounds. That evening, our guys group from the Southern Baptist Church went over to East Athens to hear Paul Anderson. He gave a wonderful gospel presentation throughout his strength demonstrations. One that is hard to forget is the curling of a 210-pound dumbbell---table top-- to his shoulder. Then, pressing the same 210-pound weight so very smoothly right over his head---all the while quoting Scripture about the Savior and His Kingdom. That was all so very vivid to me this past week---especially as I used this Isaiah passage in the Prayer Time this past Wednesday--- from chapter 33, “Be our arm every morning…”

---an arm to lift

---an arm to hold

---an arm to defend

---an arm to steady

---an arm to comfort

---an arm to remind

---an arm to move

---an arm to prompt

---an arm to nurture

---an arm to discipline

---an arm to deliver

---an arm to promote

---an arm to calm

---an arm to love

---an arm to satisfy

---an arm to accompany

---an arm to keep

“Every Morning, our Salvation in the time of Trouble.”

From Matthew Henry: In our spiritual warfare our own hands are not sufficient for us, nor can we bring anything to pass unless God not only strengthen our arms (Gen. 49: 24) but be Himself our arm. If God leave us to ourselves any morning, we are undone; we must, therefore every morning commit ourselves to Him, and go forth in His strength to do the work of the day in its day.

The LORD guide and use Us All for His Glory, Pastor Jason