"The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous."

A. The Godly families will be vindicated, and will reign over the ungodly families of the earth.  See also Isaiah 49:23, 60:14.
B. There are many examples of this:

1. The Egyptians and Joseph's brothers bowed before Joseph (Gen. 41:43, 42:6).
2. The Proud Pharaoh and his people bowed before Moses (Exodus 8:8, 9:27,28, 11:8).
3. King Saul bowed to David (1 Sam. 24:16-21; 26:21).
4. King Jehoram and General Naamon bowed to Elisha (2 Kings 3:12; 5:9).
5. Prince Haman bowed before Esther (Est. 7:7)
6. The civil magistrates bowed before the Apostles (Acts 16:39).

We read whatever we do we are to do it to the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Also to seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness ( Matthew 6:33).  Let's remember that whether we had a good year in 2010 or not, God work all things after the counsel of his own will (Ephesians 1:11), he is working all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), he is performing all things for us (Psalm 57:2), and he is showing himself strong on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9).  Let's rejoice and walk by faith and not by sight.  Christ, not man, is King!

First. By armour is meant Christ.  We read of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, Ro. Xiii. 14.  


Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall

A soul out of Christ is naked and destitute of all armour to defend him against sin and Satan 
First.  It is a state of alienation from God: ‘Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise,’ etc. Eph ii. 12.  

Second.  The Christless state is a state of ignorance, and such must needs be naked and unarmed.  He that cannot see his enemy, how can he ward off the blow he sends?


Third. The Christless state is a state of impotency.  ‘When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly,’ Ro.v.6. 
Fourth. The state of unregeneracy is a state friendship with sin and Satan.

I got up this morning as I always do and read a few pages of one of my favorite books.  The Christian in Complete Armour by William Gurnall.  I started the chapter on the "shield of faith."  There are many types of faith.   One is historical faith that merely believes the facts but does not act upon them in any way.  Another is miraculous faith which is when a person using the power of God for good at the same time is an enemy of God.  An example would be Judas.  He went out with the other disciples doing miracles and casting out devils but he lacked the faith in Christ to save his soul.  The real kind of faith is justifying faith.  This faith says "Christ has pardoned my sins."  Then because this faith is real it does not remain alone but continues to grow in grace and obedience to the law of God.  After some time of true faith in Christ, study and meditation of his Word, then you enter into the realm of assurance.  Now faith says, "I believe that I will go to heaven with Christ when I die."  These are some of things that encouraged me in my studies of the Bible this morning while I sat at the feet of Jesus and William Gurnall.  


Remember: This is the day that the Lord has made.   So let's rejoice and be glad in it, knowing the joy of the Lord is our strength.