A few days to Christmas in 2023, authorities invaded the haven of manufacturers of illegal products in Nigeria. Drinks of various brands were discovered and destroyed. Our world has never been this plagued by evil. It is like the entire forces of nature are in revolt. Moreover, human beings have never been this ingenious in the manufacture of things that can hurt. The Bible speaks out in plain language of the times we are living in; it is called “the last days”. And of these days Paul declares: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). Is there any ground for optimism in the midst of these upheavals? God’s word says there is! “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, And shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33 KJV. The wiseman links our safety to hearkening to the voice of the Lord.
In the days that we are living in, we need to trust God to make us more sensitive every day and trust Him for grace to follow only the leading of the Spirit. As we do, we will find the Lord to be a shield just as the psalmist did.
What does it mean to hearken? Ordinarily, it will mean to listen. But in Bible usage it is more than this. It literally means to be attentive to what the Lord is saying and to follow in His light through obedience. Jesus taught an important lesson on the mount of temptation. When the devil asked Him to command stone to turn to bread, He replied: “Man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord”. God sees ahead of every occurrence. His love will compel Him to speak and warn His children to keep away from harm’s way. That is if they will listen, of course. In the days that we are living in, we need to trust God to make us more sensitive every day and trust Him for grace to follow only the leading of the Spirit. As we do, we will find the Lord to be a shield just as the psalmist did.
