Great Deliverance

GREAT DELIVERANCE

I CHRONICLES 11:12-14

And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties. He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.  And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.

David, by the force of character and prowess of his arms, gathered around him man able, valiant men, who were a strength to himself, and a protection to his kingdom.  Of the thirty heroes most famous and mighty, some are recorded to have wrought great and memorable exploits. The passage before us relates a feat of arms performed probably by Shammah, one of these mighty men of valor. He attacked the Philistines, who were stationed in a field of barley or lintels, routed and slew the enemy, and secured a victory for Israel. It is worth observing that, while the valor of the hero is celebrated, by which a defeat was turned into a victory, the result is ascribed to Jehovah, God of hosts: “The lord saved them by a great deliverance.” This deliverance may be regarded as symbolic of that yet greater salvation which our redeeming and merciful God has wrought on behalf, not of Israel only, but of mankind – a spiritual and everlasting deliverance.

I.                   THE LORD IS THE AUTHOR OF THIS SALVATION

A.   HIS MIND DESIGNED IT

1.     The gospel is the good news of Divine compassion, and the expression of Divine wisdom.

2.     It bears the imprint of His character.

3.     It witnesses to His attributes. God is love.

4.     It is his supreme word to man.

B.   HIS SON ACHIEVED IT

1.     The battle was fought When Jesus lived, was won when Jesus died and rose again.

2.     He is the Hero who girds His sword upon his thigh, and goes forth, conquering and to conquer.

C.   HIS SPIRIT APPLIES IT

1.     The deliverance has to be effected, not only FOR but IN every ransomed and saved one who experiences the Savior’s in dwelling presence, share his conquest

II.                THIS SALVATION IS GREAT, BEYOND ALL COMPARISON, BEYOND ALL PRASE

A.   TO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE SALVATIONS, CONSIDER  FROM WHAT THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD ARE SAVED

1.     Israel had been saved from the bondage of Egypt, and in this book it appears they were repeatedly saved for m bondage to the Philistines

2.     From how much worse slavery – a captivity – are men redeemed by the grace of God our Savior, which appeared in Christ!

B.   CONSIDER THE COST OF REDEMPTION: 1Pe 1:18  “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,  from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;”

C.   CONSIDER THE NATURE OF THE SAFETY – THE SALVATION – WHICH CHRIST SECURES FOR HIS PEOPLE

1.     It is not merely a deliverance from sin and death; it is:

a.     A conferring of happiness,  dignity, and joy.

b.     The impartation of the Divine favor, the bestowal of the Divine Spirit.

D.   CONSIDER ITS FINAL ETERNAL CHARACTER

1.     It is a deliverance extending through time aind into eternity, a salvation from which there is no return to bondage.

E.    CONSIDER THE GREAT MULTITTUDE FOR WHICH IT HAS BEEN OBTAINED

LESSONS:

1.     A great deliverance calls for great gratitude and great devotion from those who experience its blessings.

2.     A great deliverance proclaimed is a great opportunity for the enslaved and oppressed.