DCLM Daily Manna 22 July 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Standing In The Gap

TOPIC: Standing In The Gap

TEXT: Numbers 16:41-50

41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.

44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

KEY VERSE: “And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.” – (Numbers 16:48)

MESSAGE:

In order to avert colossal loss among His people, God often makes a way of escape; and to prevent a conflagration, He causes the rain to dampen the forest and woodland.

God will always appoint a deliverer for Israel. Already the outcome of sin and rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram had set the congregation of the children of Israel on edge. Some disenchanted and disgruntled individuals who are carnal aroused the people to murmur and complain openly against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of killing the people of God. This action kindled the wrath of God upon Israel. No sooner had the protesters gathered to mob Moses and Aaron than the cloud of glory of God appeared with vengeance against them.

It was the timely intervention of Aaron as a consecrated and committed high priest who offered acceptable sacrifice on behalf of the rebels that saved the situation. Aaron as a competent frontline priest stood between the living and the dead – interceded until the plague stopped.

Today, “The plague is begun,” according to Aaron! Already the world has gone through a pandemic and this simply is the beginning of sorrows. We, like Aaron, must waste no time to rescue the perishing among us – those in our families, neighbourhoods, workplaces and on the streets. We must not relent to occupy fully for the Master like Aaron the high priest did. By so doing, God will deliver them from the wrath to come.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Rescue the perishing and care for the dying.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 9-12

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

DCLM Daily Manna 20 July 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — A Wicked Counsellor

TOPIC: A Wicked Counsellor

TEXT: 2 Chronicles 22:1-12

1 And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.

2 Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.

3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.

5 He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.

6 And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.

7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

8 And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.

9 And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.

10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

12 And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

KEY VERSE: “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.” – (2 Chronicles 22:3)

MESSAGE:

Athaliah stands shamefully as a wicked counsellor amongst the women folk of all times. To think of it that the likes of Jezebel and her daughter Athaliah at different times wreaked havoc in the kingdom of Israel and Judah show that the devil is capable of perpetrating any kind of evil with those who yield themselves instruments to him.

Our passage reveals an astonishing wickedness carried out by a grandmother against her grandsons. It is unimaginable that Athaliah would lay hands on all her grandsons and slaughter them just to perpetuate herself on the throne of Judah. Wickedness has no limits except the one God sets. Athaliah was instrumental to the death of her son Ahaziah whom she counselled wickedly against the Lord God. And of course, the Lord arranged his untimely execution and the cleansing of that family when the lineage of Ahab and Jezebel were stamped out of Israel.

Rebellion against God and idolatry are intricate web which entangles their victims, dragging them disastrously to damnation. Ahab listened to the wicked counsels of his wife (Jezebel) and dragged the nation of Israel into Baal worship. King Jehoshaphat parleyed with Ahab in business and military alliance and his son Jehoram fell in love and married Ahab’s daughter – Athaliah. It is saddening that a righteous man like Jehoshaphat and his family would come under divine chastisement because of unequal yoke in marriage. How believers need to avoid unequal yoke!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Don’t be a miserable counsellor.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 1-4

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

DCLM Daily Manna 19 July 2021 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Enduring Peace

TOPIC: Enduring Peace

TEXT: Isaiah 26:12-21

12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

14 They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

15 Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

16 LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

KEY VERSE: “LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.” – (Isaiah 26:12)

MESSAGE:

In a traumatised world like ours, we need to ask God to establish peace and quietness for us. All-round and abiding peace is an aspiration we should pray and work for until it is realised.

The passage under consideration is part of a psalm or hymn of praise to God for His benevolence, deliverance and defense of Judah. Prophet Isaiah brings to public notice the fact that there is a great God in Judah who protects and guides the affairs of His holy people. He said of this God – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).

For our lasting personal, family, community, congregational and national peace, we need to trust the Lord Jehovah who is our everlasting Source of peace and strength. Enduring peace is one of the products of a holy and righteous walk with Christ. Only the Prince of peace can produce satisfactory and steadfast peace in the life and affairs of a believer. The case of Jehoshaphat comes to mind. Because he sought after the God of David his great-grandfather and walked with the Lord in truth, the Lord God preserved his life and kingdom from terrible kings and nations.

God is a faithful Father who commands and ordains peace for trusting souls. The Holy Scripture is replete with divine promises of peace, protection, provision, preservation and prosperity for the righteous. We must pray until God ordains peace for us in our time.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Enduring peace is the outcome of a righteous walk with God.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicles 25-29

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.