Job 42:10 “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Psalm 126:1 “. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.”
My first visit to an African nation was almost surreal. I had only imagined such places and found their reality to be much different than my imaginings. It was the same for Europe and for that matter, Prescott Arizona.
Locations differ, but also conditions, such as Job’s trial. A long experience in certain conditions creates a kind of reality and when released from it, seems a dream. Israel had been exiled for 70 years. Release was breathtaking for those participating in it. Both Job and Israel had been in captivity.
Perhaps you have had a long battle with sickness, with cancer, with financial issues, or relationships. Maybe you have been through a dry time. Jude instructs us,
“keep yourself in the love of God.” Jude 1:21a
We cannot be separated from that love, Romans 8 teaches us. He loved us first, taught to us in 1John 4:10. His love never fails 1Corinthians 13:8
But also in Jude, “look for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. “Jude 1:21b
Both the keeping and the looking are to be done with a “right now” military salute. Vehemently!
The sphere of God’s love, we never leave throughout our inconvenience, trial, or ordeal of suffering. At the same time we look for new mercy, Lamentations 3:20. We look for what rejoices against judgment, James 2:13 We hope in mercy. Psalm 3:18 promises, Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; (see 2 Chronicles 16:9) Psalm 147:11 We are promised a way of escape for bearing the temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Lamentations 3:25 -29, “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. “” He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. “
Friends, we have words of comfort,
“For the Lord will not cast off for ever, But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approves not. ” Lamentations 3:31-35
In closing, 2 Corinthians 5:14 teaches “the love of God constrains us, it holds us in. And we thus Judge that if one died for all, then we are all dead. ” What does it mean?
There exists a place of total reliance on Him. In that place He shows Himself to us. Like with Job, there came a day of turning captivity. Like with Israel, there came a day of turning captivity.
In my personal struggle, I have sensed this “place of deliverance.” Often, not until natural attempts have been used up and the only possibility is for God to prove Himself real. He did with Job, He did with Israel, He did with the prodigal son. He shows up over and over in God’s Word, turning the tide, correcting errors, fixing hurts, delivering people, healing folks. Friends, God will prove Himself again. Love ya
