In the previous Crisis Counsels, we heard how the people of Judah, when faced with a terrifying invasion, were told by the musician/prophet Jahaziel that they should go out into battle position against the invaders; but they would not need to fight, because the Lord would bring about a victory on their behalf. Jahaziel followed that instruction with these words:
Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.
II Chronicles 20:17b
This is the second time in a short speech that Jahaziel says, “Do not fear.” He felt he needed to repeat those words, because the people were fully in the grip of fear! But what is it that can enable human beings to no longer be afraid? The answer is what Jahaziel says next: “The Lord will be with you.”
More than a century later, the land of Judah would again be subjected to an invasion of allied foreign powers, and the king (Ahaz) and the people would again be in dismay. A prophet – Isaiah – would declare to the king, “Do not fear,” (Isaiah 7:4); and Isaiah would go on to speak of a sign that God would give. A child would be born, said Isaiah, who would be called, Immanuel – God is with us. The message that “The Lord will be with you” echoes throughout the Old Testament, and it comes to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Today, as we face enormous threats in the world and perhaps in our own personal lives, we can find release from fear when we receive the message that comes to each of one us through Jesus Christ. God is with us. We can live, therefore, not in fear, but in faith.
Daily Prayer: Free us, O Lord, from our fear, as we know that You are with us. Share on X
