Post by Don Gieseke on Jul 21, 2021 6:27:08 GMT -6
Wednesday, July 21
The Angel of Strength
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to [Gideon], and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”
Judges 6:12
When the apostle Paul was in prison in Rome, he had few resources. Then the Philippian church sent gifts to sustain him and he expressed his thanks in a letter (Philippians 4:10-20). He summarized his perspective in verse 13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Even in the Old Testament, saints were strengthened through Christ. Most theologians believe that the “Angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament was a “theophany”—a revelation of Christ. It has always been Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, who has manifested the Godhead bodily on earth. Certainly that was true in the New Testament, and it appears it was true in the Old Testament as well—as it happened to Gideon who was called to deliver Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6). Gideon was a “nobody” in Israel, but he learned, like Paul, he could do all things through Christ (the Angel of the Lord) who strengthened him.
Just as Christ strengthened Gideon, Paul, and many others, He will strengthen you as well if you call on Him.
The work which his goodness began, the arm of his strength will complete.
Augustus M. Toplady