Daily Devotional for Tuesday, June 9

Damascus’ and Philistia’s Judgment

“Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron. Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom,” Amos 1:3, 6.

Our God is a God of covenants. His covenant people are the Jews, and God will not break His promises to them. “He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant” (Psalm 105:8-10). It is no surprise that Satan is always at work to destroy the people of God. But rest assured those nations that come against Israel will be judged.
Hazael of Damascus slaughtered God’s people with extreme cruelty as he destroyed all the land of Gilead (2 Kings 10:32, 33). The Philistines of Gaza came against the most defenseless of the Jewish people and sold them as slaves to the Edomites for great profit. God declared His righteous judgment on these nations in great detail, and each was fulfilled precisely to the letter.
Israel continues to be surrounded by enemies to this day. Antisemitism is on the rise, not only in the Middle East, but all over the world. This deep-seated hatred is well beyond racial discrimination or dislike of the Jewish people. It is a spiritual wickedness that seeks to annihilate God’s chosen nation altogether. But that will never happen! God has delivered His people time and again and He will continue to protect His heritage. May we boldly stand with the people of Israel and pray for their peace and protection.

REFLECTION
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

Darla Goodrum