© Copyright 2018 Lisa J. Fulghum. All rights reserved.

Hinds’ Feet in High PlacesDavid and his men bellowed out the song with great rejoicing after the victories they had witnesses first hand.

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,

And sets me on my high places.

He trains my hands for battle,

So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,

And Your help makes me great.

You enlarge my steps under me,

And my feet have not slipped.

(2 Samuel 22:34, Psalm 18:33)

The Best of TimesDavid sang this song of praise after God had subdued all his enemies. David’s nation was firmly established at that point in history, and Israel was headed for its golden age of peace and prosperity. David had faced innumerable trials and great opposition from many deadly foes. God delivered him from all of them. David had much to sing about.

David said that God made his feet link a hind’s feet. A hind is a female deer with sure footing and a quick, agile sprint. The deer can place her rear feet exactly where her front feet had been, allowing her to scale the hills and climb quickly to great heights. Basically, David said that God made him surefooted and allowed him to climb above his trials.

He went on to explain how God trained his arm for battle enabling him to bend a bronze bow. Usually bows were wooden. A bronze bow would have required unnatural strength to use. Then, David attributed his great accomplishments and salvation to his amazing God who empowered him.

We all face life’s trials. You may be like me and look at the current state of our world and wonder what the future holds. Geo-political crises abound. Environmental issues are as close as the red tide in our back yard. Any secular media outlet will glorify the immorality explosion under way. The drug abuse statistics, divorce rate, abortion rate and number of children born out of wedlock are staggering. Then we add the news of military, economic and social issues around the world. Looking at our city and our nation, can we sing David’s song with confidence?

Volume 14, Issue 9 September 2018

The Worst of TimesAnother Old Testament hero also echoed David’s song during dire circumstances. During his life, the nation had sunk into moral depravity, idolatry, violence and total disregard of the Creator. It was a terrifying time when the nation faced foreign invasion, starvation and servitude. Yet, our man of God was able to praise the sovereignty of our Creator and sing David’s song from his heart, “He makes my feet like hind’s feet, and sets me on my

high places.” (Habakkuk 3:18) Let’s look at the progression of his thoughts in the book of Habakkuk.

“How long will I call for help, and you will not hear?” (Habakkuk 1:2) The book starts with a desperate plea for God to intervene in his violent world. At first blush, it looks like God will answer our hero’s prayer just like he wanted. God replied: “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days you would not believe if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5)

Doesn’t that sound fabulous? Wouldn’t you be thrilled to have a word from God like that for yourself? It sounds like God is there to show Himself strong and set things right. That is what it appears until you read further.

God goes on to detail the destruction that He is sending on Habakkuk’s people. He spends the next six verses talking about the Chaldeans who will wreak havoc, destroy and instill terror in the hearts of the Jewish people. (Habakkuk 1:6-11) Now how would you feel if you received that word for our nation?

Just like I would do, Habakkuk questioned God. “Why?” He told God about the horrors of the Chaldeans. Then he said, “I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me.” (Habakkuk 2:1) Oh could I learn a lesson here! He asked the question that burned

on his lips. Then he listened. He waited as long as it took. He was watching for an answer from God. And you know what happened? God spoke to him again. God listed a series of offenses which Habakkuk’s people had committed.

• Pride – The proud one has a broken soul, but the righteous live by faith. (Habakkuk 3:4)

• Greed - The greedy man “enlarges his appetite” and is never satisfied. (Habakkuk 3:5)

Watchman Prayer Alert

September 2018

• Vanity – Mocking others, they take out loans and pretend to be wealthy. (Habakkuk 3:6)

• Devaluation of human life - God abhors the human bloodshed and the violence that seems to be the new pattern. (Habakkuk 3:8,12)

• Immorality – God calls out drunkenness and an obsession with sexual things. (Habakkuk 3:15)

• Idolatry – They fashion idols that suit them, idols which are powerless but the people can control. (Habakkuk 3:18-20)

Does any of that sound like our nation today? Shouldn’t we all feel the same foreboding that Habakkuk endured?

The Only AnswerIn the end, Habakkuk honestly told of his fear of God’s wrath and asked for revival. (Habakkuk 3:2) In this chapter, he recounted the glory of God (Habakkuk 3:3-7) and described in detail how God’s wrath would be poured out (Habakkuk 3:8-15).

He said, “I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered, decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us.” (Habakkuk 3:16-17) Can you relate? Habakkuk looked at the future with pure terror in his view. He was waiting for judgment to fall.

His final conclusion in the face of this unadulterated fear was an innocent faith in the sovereignty of God Almighty.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold an there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in

the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Basically he was saying that even if there is no food and he has no source of income, he will choose to praise God in spite of his circumstances.

His final declaration is an echo of David’s words, “The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” (Habakkuk 3:19)

Do I have the same measure of faith to trust God in my day? Can I say the same thing when I look at the headlines? The Lord is my strength. He gives me sure footing to climb swiftly to His high places.

Wrap UpThis declaration stands like bookends on the history of the nation of Israel. David in the good times after having faced adversity makes the same proclamation as Habakkuk who is facing calamity just before the nation was scattered. God is good when we are living high on the hog and when we are wallowing with pigs. God is in control when the nation follows Him and when it strays. He can be our

strength if we rely on Him. He can keep our feet from stumbling, even in a crisis. We can walk in the high places of security even when trials are visible on all sides.

As we cry for revival for our nation, let us also make David’s declaration.

The LORD is my strength. He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and makes me walk on high places. He trains me for the battles I face so that I can perform beyond all humanly expectations. Thank you, Jesus, for your peace in the troubled sea.

He makes my feet like hind’s feet, and sets me on my high places. - Psalm 18:33

August 2018

Pastors Corner � Philip and Angie

Nation � John Gregory � Doug and Angela Hull � Aaron and Erin Pilant � Mike and Brittany

Wilder

Deacons � Rick Bennett � Maurice Cooper � Mark Fulghum � Mike Golda � Josh Jordan � Mark LaRowe � Kyle Reilly � Ron Shroyer � Brian Theirs

Cancer � Susan � Buddy Wheeler � Betty Ratliff � Dan � Patrick Caldwell � Joel Grim � Joe Conard � Okai � Dr. Jim Ganey � Margaret Frey � Corinne � Gary Clark

MilitaryArmy

� Amber J. Cox � Col. Scott King � Sgt Matthew Lowe � PFC Nathan Meyer � Sean Stover � Zack Cooper

Marines � PFC Benjamin Guthrie � Jeremiah Iverson

Navy � Motte Morrison

Friends & Family � Nilsa Pizarro-Chronic

pain � Victor Pizarro-

Dementia and Parkinson’s

� Madelene Doren - Recovery

� Jeff Nelson- Healing-body, mind and soul!

� Marion-Intestinal problems, limited use of her hands

� Tiffany - No home, no car, 4 children

� Rich Guccini - Surgery

� Roger Grossman - Missionary with health issues

� Joel Grim - Cancer, salvation

� Roy Shopher - (7 yo) Leukemia

� Scotty - Pain, health � Maureen - High risk

pregnancy � Laura - Digestive tract � Isis - Kidney

transplant � April - Fall � Tara - Thyroid cancer � Alaura- Life struggles

and difficult decisions � Bonnie - Upcoming

surgery � Debbie Clark -

Colon cancer and recovering from surgery

� Kathleen - Brain tumor, surgery 9/12

� Margaret Long - Health issues and medication

Members � Betty Huth-Memory

issues � John Huth - Strength � Palm Shores Teams � Ed Rawsthorne -

Infection � Marcella Fielder-

Health � Maurice Cooper -

Spinal stenosis � Rosner Samma -

Recovery � Sandy Boettcher -

Eye treatments � Art & Sonja - Health � Edie Butler - Home

from hospital stay � Linda Billa - Home � Zach Cooper - Basic

training (ARMY) � Ashley Cooper - Baby

due 8/27 � Buster Cox - Health

issues � Linda Eason - Health

and upcoming surgery

� Bob Kiley- Heart issues

� Clara Starkey - Helping family with health problems

� Teachers, principals and staff starting the new school year

� Our college students � Ron Kozak -

Recovery � Nancy Stegeman

- Waiting for test results

� Jessica Marty- At FUSION

� Tyler Collins - Grief at the loss of his great grandmother, housing and job

� Linda Jentsch - Shoulder issues

� Mary GentryFall and may face back surgery

� Jeanette Goins - Fractured spine

Shut Ins � Phyllis Murphy � Thelma Weese � Barbara Johnson � Harold Douberly � Jean Basehore � Margaret Bryant � Paula Johnson � Melba Gentile � Charley Elmore � Doris Miles

Salvation � Marie Aiken � Chris and Troy Pettit � Betty Lidster � Todd and Terri

Heasley � Christie Galase � Chris, Gracie and

Cameron Hill � Kim Harding � Bob Fisher � Christina and Jennifer � Levi and Calvin Blair � Jerry McAninch � Steve Bell’s family � Josh Conard � Susie � Hillary G � Nik Knoth � Brenda Smith � Bobby Williams � JR � Idelle Bee � Herb Frith � Meri and Krishna � Todd Center � Brent Shearl � Zachary and Nicole � Jim Evans � Bob Luersen � Amy & Diane