bsfblog – Page 2 – The Notes are Good

15.2 Revelation – Mystery

Mystery

Years ago I was going through a religious education class and had lots of questions. When asked a question he didn’t know or didn’t want to address, the instructor would hold his hands in the air and say, “it’s a mystery.” Not only was that frustrating, but it is also inaccurate. It implies that not only is God bigger than what our mind can comprehend, but also that we should just go along on blind faith.

I don’t believe that is what the word mystery in the case of the Mysteries of God, is supposed to mean. If God was simply going to be a mystery, why would we have the bible? Why would God reveal so much of Himself to us through His word, through His creation and through the Holy Spirit? Why would Jesus have spent so much time teaching in the temple if this was all just supposed to be some incomprehensible puzzle or equation to which we cannot find an answer.

Instead, I think the Mystery of God is like a present. Parts of our ultimate relationship with the Lord, part of the ultimate spiritual connection that we will someday enjoy, has been wrapped up like a present. We don’t have it now, but it is a gift that God wants us to have, has purchased for us and is prepared to give to us. The revelation of the Mystery is a time when we unwrap the gift and enter a time of living in even more perfect joy with our Lord and Creator.

When John is told to not write down the words of the 7 Thunders, it isn’t so that we can’t know them, like God wants to keep something from us. It is so that, at the appropriate time, we can hear them for ourselves, in all their splendor and majesty and triumph and revel in the joy those harmonic voices will bring.

My Answers:

3.
a.
a mighty angel coming down from heaven, robed in a cloud, rainbow above his head, his face was like the sun, legs like fiery pillars, holding a little scroll lay open in his hand, planted right foot on the sea and left foot on the land and gave a loud shout like the roar of a line. When he shouted, the voices of the 7 thunders spoke – John was going to write down what they said, but told to seal it up and do not write it down.

b.
by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and sea and all that is in them

4.
a.
Rule/domination of both land and sea. Also, reference back to Daniel 10 and angel he saw at river

b.
The voice of God, the 7 spirits of God

c.
The word of the Lord is sweet, but as the word is digested we feel the calling of the work to do in spreading the message to others and the hardship and pain that brings about in this very broken world – John was to continue to prophecy

5.
God’s desire for a personal relationship with each part of His creation. His unwavering love. How the hardening of hearts can be a blessing to those people and to others

14.3 Revelation – Sin permeates creation

Sin permeates creation

We tend to have a major separation in our minds between animate and inanimate objects that may be overstated.

In Exodus 4, when Cain killed Abel, “The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.””

In Luke 19, as Jesus makes His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the pharisees ask him to rebuke the crowds, He says, “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

All of creation has a voice and our sin and the sin of our ancestors has permeated and distorted the resonance of that voice. What once was a beautiful melody is now noise.

We think of sin as ephemeral, while we know it has long lasting repercussions. We think of it as intangible at the same time we feel the weight and pain of it.

Sin has corrupted not only mankind, but all of God’s creation. The sounding of the first four trumpets touch this corruption. They yank it out and destroy it.

They also serve as a sign for God’s call to the assembly. He does not need trumpet blasts, they are not for Jesus, they are for us as a sign and a calling to repent. He does not need an eagle or vulture flying in the mid heavens calling out a warning of Woe, Woe, Woe, that is for us. He did not need to start with the soil and water and plants, he could have started with the ones causing the corruption instead of the corrupted, but, again, these are signs to repent.

To repent is to turn away from all that we would like to be right, but isn’t, and turn only to the truth. To acknowledge the truth is to acknowledge our sin, our weakness, our corruption. It is easier to blame something or someone else.

How is God calling you to repent? We all have sin and all need to repent.

My Answers:

6.
1st: came hail and fire mixed with blood hurled down on earth, 1/3 of earth, 1/3 trees, all grass burned up
2nd: like mt, all ablaze, thrown into sea, 1/3 of sea turned to blood, 1/3 living sea crtrs die 1/3 ships dstr
3rd: great star, blazing torch, fell on 1/3 of rivers/springs WORMWOOD 1/3 waters turned bitter, many die
4th: 1/3 sun, moon, stars turn dark. 1/3 of day without light 1/3 of the night

7.
To allow the people of earth to repent and turn back to God

8.
a.
Patient, Just, Righteous, Glorious, All-Powerful, Mighty, Creator, Willing to Forgive, Jealous

b.
An appreciation of God’s power and might and that He holds this back, although all we deserve is wrath.

09.2 Revelation – A Great Gift

A Great Gift

Do you remember a time of giving someone a really great gift? Maybe it was when you were younger and giving a gift to your mom or dad. Maybe it was a special birthday present for a friend or loved one.

For me, the thought goes back to May Day flowers for my mom. I would have been about 6 or 7 years old and we made flowers in school for our moms. They were simple pieces of paper, cut and curled and colored in a simple construction paper cone with a construction paper handle stapled on the top.

I remember the care in making them and getting them home in my backpack. I remember that year the 1st of May was on a Saturday, so I kept them hid and stayed quiet about them. I remember the anticipation and giggling as I sneaked out the back door and around to the front of the house, carefully hanging the “bouquet of flowers” from the doorknob. The moment I rang the bell and then raced back around the house, flying back in, closing the door and diving on to the couch, to nonchalantly yell out, “Mom, there is a delivery at the door.” I remember the way my mom went to the door and the joy I felt when her faced lit up at the gift. The way she displayed them throughout the day.

I also remember years later seeing them in a storage box, where she had held on to the memory of that day.

I did not have the money or means to get a fancy gift. I could only craft something out of materials that were given to me. But the joy we both shared in the giving was the the true gift.

This is, to me, the meaning behind the robes and crowns of the elders. They are/were human beings who lived a life of faith to God. They had no ability to earn a white robe or a crown. These were materials given to them. But throughout their life they crafted them into something of joy. The joy is not in the pride. The joy is not in the possession. The joy is in the giving of the gift itself.

We have nothing God lacks. We have nothing God needs. But God has given us materials: bodies, time, talents, materials, a voice, a mind, a heart and soul, relationships, eyes to see, His holy word, a Spirit alive within us. Like a great parent, He loves the moment of seeing our gift of what we craft out of those materials and sharing in that joy with us, not once, but over and over and over again throughout eternity.

My Answers:

3.
God, the appearance of jasper and ruby, a rainbow shone like an emerald encircled the throne, from the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, sitting behind a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Demonstrates God’s majesty

4.
a.
24 elders, the saints who had died for faith in God

b.
A crown that will last forever, a crown of righteousness awarded by the Lord the righteous judge, a crown of glory that will never fade away from the Chief Shepherd, the crown of life that the Lord has promised to the blessed one who perseveres under trial and stands the test

08.3 Revelation – Bound in Praise and Prayer

Bound in Praise and Prayer

There is an interesting question in our lesson today talking about praiseworthy things God has done for us recently. It is interesting because it challenges us in our definition of praiseworthiness.

A beautiful sunset is definitely praiseworthy. A miraculous healing. Financial stability. A repaired relationship. Safety in the midst of a battle or accident. All praiseworthy.

But how far down the list do we go and still give praise?

In my life recently, the adversity has come not in big attacks but in little ones. The electrician who is not prompt in returning calls. The dishwasher that quit working. The upset stomach. A technical glitch. A stain on a shirt. None of these are big things in themselves, but added together they take a toll. You begin to feel like your life is fraying at the edges and you don’t know where it will stop. You don’t feel like you are standing on solid ground.

It can seem silly to turn these things over to God – to pray to Him about a dishwasher pump. But that is exactly what He wants us to do. God is not just the God of big battles, He is the God who protects us in the daily skirmishes of life. He is God over the universe and over every hair on your head.

My wife enjoys sewing and has made a number of quilts. It is the image of the quilt that brought this together for me. Like life, a quilt is made up of many small pieces, all fitting together, all stitched and joined together with threads. A quilt may or may not have a big central design but they do all have something in common, a binding. The binding of a quilt is what goes around the outside edge. It is what holds the pieces and layers all together and prevents it from fraying and tearing and falling apart. It is seldom beautiful or decorative, but it is critical. It is also normally sewn on by hand with great work and time and attention to detail.

This week I’m reminded to praise God for His handwork in the binding of the quilt of life He has given me.

My Answers:

6.
a.
Wisdom and Power, He changes times and seasons, He deposes kings and raises up others, He gives wisdom to the wise, knowledge to the discerning, reveals deep and hidden things, knows what lies in darkness, light dwells in Him, God of my ancestors. (given me wisdom and power, made known to me what we asked of you, made known to us the dream of the king)

b.
He is seeing me through a time of adversity where many things in my life seemed under attack and fraying at the edges.

7.
a.
(see v.28 – all to God) God knows and controls all about all kingdoms of the earth (past present future), He allows them power and deposes them. His kingdom will rule over all others, crushing them and bringing them to an end and then enduring forever

b.
I am assured that I am part of that kingdom by the seal of the Holy Spirit in my soul

07.5 Revelation – Holy Whole not Holey

Holy Whole not Holey

When God calls us, we are broken. The reading we did from Acts 2 said the people were “cut to the heart” by Peter’s words. We are broken, cracked, empty, a sieve.

God does not wait for us to create a perfect vessel for His spirit to abide within. He waits for us to recognize that we are truly broken in pieces beyond our own repair to even hold things together. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit isn’t something that we hold in our hearts, it is something that holds our hearts together.

But God doesn’t leave us broken. The song of Amazing Grace is not celebrating what wretches we are, but that God would take us while we were wretches and transform us into something different.

Unfortunately, that transformation is not a “one and done” event. The Holy Spirit as at work daily in our lives. And, like any other repair job, He first must dig and scrape out the rotten, rusted, weak and infected parts of our lives to then lay a foundation of something new. This part isn’t fun. It hurts. It cuts to the heart. But, would we want less? Would we want a builder to construct on a weak foundation? Would we want a paint job on top of wood rot? Would we want a band-aid covering up a cancerous growth?

Ephesians 4 gives instruction for living a Christian life. But it is an order that we cannot fulfill on our own. I can be humble some of the time. I may be humble most of the time, but am I truly humble in thought, word and action all the time. I can forgive others, but do I forgive them as God forgave me. Always? All it takes is one instance and it isn’t always!

But, God can. God with us can. God in us definitely can. God is gracious and good. He is strong and mighty. He is love and compassion and peace.

Ephesians 4 is not a rubric by which to grade your performance. If it were, we all have failed. It is an explanation of the ways the Holy Spirit will, from the inside, be transforming your (and my) life. How He will be cleaning out and patching the holes in your heart, mind and soul.

When D.L. Moody was asked why he had to be filled with the Spirit so often he said simply, “Because I leak.”

My Answers:

11.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bear with one another in love; keep the bond of peace; keep faith in one body and one Spirit and one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God over all

12.
Am I a body with a soul or soul with a body? Which defines you? The now of the everlasting?
As Christ sacrificed His life for mine, He has given me eternal life and my calling is to serve Him (not myself) with this body at this time.

13.
With great struggle – magnification of my own sins in light of others around me whom I am called to care for. The preparing of the foundation to build upon is painful, but through God all is possible – even holiness.

05.3 Revelation – I Want to Do What I Want to Do

I Want to Do What I Want to Do

The letter to the Church in Thyatira starts out great. ^“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” If only it could have stopped there. But, there was something else living in their ranks.

Nevertheless, “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet“.

Jezebel is likely a reference to the philosophy of the wife of King Ahab at the time of Elijah. That Jezebel personified the self-centered attitude of “I want to do what I want to do.” It was a philosophy of life without boundaries. It was a belief that power and authority were to be used as weapons to take what I want from whom I want. It was a life focused on self-indulgence seeing others beliefs and boundaries as tools that could be used against them for my own personal wants and gains. It was an attitude of “live for the moment,” where lies flourished, image was everything, and eternity was mocked (may they be damned, and may I be cursed if…). It was an attitude of living for now regardless of consequences.

Sound familiar?

There have been Jezebels of every age. They have been people in power and authority. They have been neighbors. They have found their way into our places of work, our neighborhoods, our schools and even in to our churches. Some of us may have been a Jezebel earlier in life.

Jezebelism is not to be tolerated. I am not simply talking about the person. The cardinal matter here is not the person but the attitude and philosophy of which the the person is a prophetess.

The instruction to the church is to “hold on”. Jesus knows the corrosive nature of this attitude and philosophy. He has been at work, in the spirit, on the hearts and minds of those who hold to what they contrive to be “the secret”, but is in fact nothing but lies. He has called them to repent, but they have refused.

The instruction to the church is that He is coming and He will take care of this. The proper authorities are on their way – just hold on.

The instruction is the same to us. There are boundaries. I am not the center of existence. Power and authority are gifts given to serve. It is not about me, it is all about God. Hold on.

But holding on doesn’t just mean not jumping in to the temptation with our entire being. It also means not yielding to the temptation to see how far we can stretch the boundaries. It means not seeing how close we can put our own self interest to the center of our world before we’ve pushed God aside. It means not yielding to greed, lust, sexual immorality, theft, murder, idolatry, lying, cheating, self-centered behavior – not even a little beyond what is honoring and holy before the Lord.

There are boundaries. Not as oppressive limits, but as healthy and helpful constraints. Sweet treats are good, but a diet of only sweet treats is deadly. We understand that, but we want to listen to Satan’s so-called deep secrets, including the idea that more is always better. It’s not – that is one of the lies – and living a life without boundaries is missing the mark. It is called sin.

Just hold on. Keep doing good deeds. Keep loving. Keep on being faithful. Keep your focus on service and perseverance. Keep doing more than you did at first.

My Answers:

6.
deeds, love and faith, service and perseverance, doing more now than you did at first.

7.
a.
sexual immorality. eating of food sacrificed to idols. Allowing and holding to the teaching of false teachers

b.
She was a murderer, idol woshipper, blasphemer. She was amoral leading her husband the king and the people he led against God and into sin

c.
suffering (cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely) – strike her children dead, be repaid according to deeds

8.
He is all knowing. His eyes (like blazing fire) penetrate hearts and minds and know. He will justly repay according to the deeds performed

04.2 Revelation – Tolerating Wicked People

Tolerating Wicked People

The buzz-word of our time seems to be tolerance. Tolerance has been positioned to be not only a virtue, but a requirement of modern society. Tolerance is defined as a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, beliefs, practices, racial or ethnic origins, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.

But, your tolerance toward another does not grant that person the right to do wrong or perform wickedness nor does it require you to tolerate those wrongs or wicked acts.

Jesus commends the church of Ephesis because, “you cannot tolerate wicked people.”

I think the ways to reconcile this in our lives are as follows:

Purposefully eliminate filling your life (what you read, listen to, think about and discuss) with the wickedness of the world. There are far better things to fill your life with rather than the latest celebrity news and debauchery. It can feel like we are swimming in soundbites of sin because that is what we have allowed to surround our lives. Turn it off. Spend less time on tabloid trash (or no time) and use that time to serve God by drinking in His Word and pouring out His love to others around you.
Do not be drawn into the notion that practicing tolerance is the same as being accepting of every sin someone wishes to continue to perform. It is possible to consider sinful behavior sin without hating the person committing the sin. Jesus modeled this. While we were sinners, He first loved us and died for us, paying the price for our sin before we did anything. Jesus was inviting to sinners, but he absolutely did not encourage them to continue sinning.
Do not allow your own sin to disqualify you from being able to stand against wickedness. Those in the family of Jesus are not perfect (yet), but we are saved and forgiven. We desire to continue to be transformed into holiness and desire to sin less. The fact that you are not to cast the first stone, does not equate to giving up your right to believe that sin is sin. It is not judging others to hold onto the core values of right and wrong. That is a form of perseverence.
Like the church in Revelation 2, test those who claim to be bringing a “new truth”. If their teaching and preaching is not consistent with all the words of scripture, it is false teaching.

Will doing these things be an easy path? In our times, the most intolerant people seem to be those refuse to tolerate beliefs by others that anything and everything they want to do is acceptable and right. Tolerance is expected for all beliefs except the one that says that sin is sin and we require a savior from our sin.

But whose acceptance and praise do you desire? From those on social media and in the news or from the one who holds the stars in His hand? Do not grow weary. Persevere.

My Answers:

3.
a.
The 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches and the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches

b.
The words John writes to the churches are the Words of Jesus, who holds the churches in His hand and knows all

4.
1. Deeds 2. Hard Work 3. Perseverence 4. Cannot tolerate wicked people 5. Tested those who claim to be apostles but are not (and found them false). 6. Persevered 7. Endured hardships for Jesus’ name 8. Have not grown weary

I desire to have less tolerance for wicked people. They tend to dominate news and discussions – there are better things!

5.
examine the scriptures to see that it is true, do not conform to the world but stay transformed to know God’s will, if speaking by the spirit then praising Jesus as the Lord (always), test by actions and share good things with their instructor, test against scripture, know right from wrong by being fed daily by the bible

6.
To, regardless of consequences, stand firm in the name of Jesus. To witness the gospel. To speak boldly and act differently. To not back down. Not for own sake – but for Jesus’ name. To accept the persecution and hardships that come from that.

03.4 Revelation – Don’t Be Silenced

Don’t Be Silenced

Many believers through the ages have faced resistance and persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. John, and the apostles, were no exception. This persecution continues to this day and there are areas of the world where people are dying for their faith.

But, what is the appropriate response for those of us who are not facing great persecution or hardship for our faith. Should we feel bad? Should we feel guilty? I don’t think so.

Instead, I think we should see through the opposition and persecution that happens in the world, beyond the action itself and view the goal of the evil forces that are behind the persecution. Their goal is not simply to make life difficult or kill that believer. Life is difficult and every believer (until the rapture) will die. Their goal, I believe, is bigger. Their goal is to silence others. The bigger picture is not the one person or even group of being being attacked but the deterrence of others who would be witnesses.

So, what can and should we do? Do not be silent! Do not be deterred. Do not be intimidated. Do not fear the persecution (God is bigger and stronger).

Our call in the commission that Jesus gave through the apostles is “to be my witnesses”. It is not a competition about who has the best persecution story. (I don’t know if it happens in the ladies’ groups, but guys are notorious for following up from a previous answer from another guy with the statement “I can’t top that…”). It is a call to not let any persecution story – your own or someone else’s – silence your witness. Be bold. Stand strong. Be a witness.

My Answers:

10.
a.
On the Island of Patmos, suffering in patient endurance because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus

b.
stoned, run through with sword, hung on cross, tortured, killed. Tradition says John was placed in a vat of boiling oil prior to being sent to the Island of Patmos

11.
a.
They are minor – but every conflict or issue happens on BSF Mondays.

b.
through standing strong – continued witness is thought, word and action to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stand boldly!

03.2 Revelation – Blessed

Blessed

We sometimes get a bit too casual with blessings. Bless you, bless you, oh, you sneezed, bless you, too. But blessings from God are big deals.

I know there are more authoritative definitions, but I think of a blessing as receiving undue and unearned favor. Blessings can be conditional, and have requirements or qualifications in place to receive them, but they are not wages or payment, they are a gift. Blessings can be something that the receiver immediately sees as a positive, but not always. Sometimes the biggest blessings in our lives can be hardships and challenges that helped us grow stronger, change path and walk closer to the Lord.

Since creation, God has blessed His people. He gave a special blessing to Abraham, which he passed to his son Isaac who then passed it to Jacob who became Israel. We see in the story of Jacob and Esau that a blessing is something of great value worth desiring. From Jacob/Israel we see it is even something worth fighting for as he wrestled with the angel of the Lord.

Jesus was serious about blessings. His first recorded sermon is filled with blessings from Matthew 5:

³“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
⁴God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
⁶God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
    for they will be satisfied.
⁷God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.
⁹God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.
¹⁰God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

So, when we read Revelation 1:3, we need to not take it lightly. A blessing from God is something we should long for and desire with our whole heart. This one is a conditional blessing offered freely when these conditions are met:

Read aloud the words of the prophecy
Hear it
Take to heart what is written in it

By doing these things, we are offered a double blessing from the Lord. And this particular blessing is an everlasting blessing, one that promises to the family of believers, everlasting life. Not only is this something we should desire, but it is something that should cause a change in our lives. It is impossible to “take it to heart” and not have a transformed heart in the process.

My Answers:

3.
a. Jesus Christ

b. God to Jesus to the angel to John. Blessings

4. To receive undue favor. An eternal blessing. Increased faith leading to a better ability to witness

5. Not just knowledge but an emotional, physical and spiritual change. My love for God and others should change for the better. My faith and the witnessing of that faith should become more bold.

29.4 Moses 29, Day 4

Avoiding Battles?

Deuteronomy 33:26-29 reads like a battle cry to rev up the troops to take up arms. Look at the language:

He will drive out your enemies before you
“Destroy them!”
Ride across the heavens to help you
On the clouds in His majesty
You will live in safety, grain, new wine, heavens dew
He is your shield
Your glorious sword
Your enemies will cower before you
You will tread on their heights

All of this language convicted me of how much I hide from battles in my faith walk. How often I don’t say something because it might come across the wrong way. My fear and doubt of possibly offending someone that prompts me to not speak when I should.

I’m not talking about taking up arms to slay the enemy and I’m not talking about going out and picking fights. But when you read this language of God, I think there is a message that we aren’t supposed to “just go along with the crowd so we don’t make waves” either.

It just made me think about the times I don’t speak up, the times I don’t speak Jesus’ name, the times I sit quietly in the midst of what I know to be sin, the times I fail to witness or to comfort or to just speak the truth. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” Am I so afraid of battles that I come across as ashamed of my faith and my Savior.

One of the central themes of the book of Acts, when the new Church was being formed, is the call to speak boldly. (see below). Paul’s letter to the Ephesians calls us to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God.

Are you like me? Do you need to speak up? Do you need to reach out? Do you need to face the fight with the truth of the gospel instead of hiding it under a basket?

The greatest news of all in this, and throughout the bible, is that when we choose to stand for God, He always stands in front of us. God never takes the position of having our back. He always takes the front. He may require us to take the first step into the water, but then He lifts us up to walk across it or parts it as we move forward.

Here are some of the bold references from Acts – Take Strength Mighty Prayer Warriors!:

Acts 4:29
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.
Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 9:28
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
Acts 13:46
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 14:3
So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.
Acts 18:26
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Acts 19:8
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
Acts 28:31
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

My Answers:

8.
Because they were the Lord’s possession, His portion. He was their king. He is holy. There is no one like God.

9.
There is no one like the God of Jeshurun. He rides across the heavens to help you. On the clouds in His Majesty. The eternal God is your refuge. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you. “A people saved by the Lord.” He is your shield and your helper. He is your glorious sword.