"Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year," Exodus 34:23-24.


Israel was and still is, one of the great warrior nations yet from her prophets we learn that there is more to securing our borders than military prowess and tactics. "There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: whois like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places," Deuteronomy 33:26-29.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," Psalm 46:1.

I would like to consider the topic of keeping our border, especially in a day when the question of that border most important to the Ulster Protestant is being undermined and that universally!

We will not consider military matters but rather what has to be done to obtain the aid and the assistance of the One Who alone can raise up or cast down!

"God hath power to help, and to cast down," 2 Chronicles 25:8.

In our text, we are told that the men of Israel were commanded to appear before God three times a year to worship Him. In the later years, this meant travelling to Jerusalem. During these times of worship when the borders of Israel would be deprived of men to defend them, God promised to make sure that no foreign enemy would rise to invade!

I. PLEASE NOTE THAT GOD CONTROLS EVEN THE THOUGHTS OF OUR ENEMIES.

He can quench enmity and hatred against His people. "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: andbecause of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds," Judges 6:1-2.

"When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him," Proverbs 16:7.

Read 1 Kings 11:9-14.

God is sovereign in the affairs of nations.

Sennacherib king of Assyria - "But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me. Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest," 2 Kings 19:27-28.

In the very courts of kings it is so. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will," Proverbs 21:1.

It is so with the lowliness of men. "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand," Proverbs 19:21. "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure," Isaiah 46:9-10.

Even the devil is subject to God's will. Job 1:9-10, 12. "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him," Matt 4:11.

II. WE MAY CLAIM THE SPIRIT OF THIS PROMISE TODAY

Israel was promised protection while they were engaged in worshipping Him in obedience to His Word. So the same applies to all today who WALK and LIVE in obedience to God.

This is so even when obedience to God is contrary to human wisdom! "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me," Luke 18:21."And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth," 1 Kings 17:13-14.

Faith in God is required to enjoy this security. Ulster enjoyed a great measure of God's mercy and protection in former times when faith in God's Word was much stronger than today. That is why I utterly condemn the ecumenical false prophets who have destroyed, to a very great measure, that faith. In so doing they have robbed us of our help!

The defence of God is the ultimate defence. "Neither shall any man desire thy land." The word 'desire' means to 'lust after'! What a thing if God were to take away the lust of republicans for this land of our fathers! The machinations of Sinn Fein and the Dublin government would wither!

III. THIS PROMISE WAS ESPECIALLY LINKED TO THREE ACTS OF WORSHIP

Passover. 'Faith in the lamb'. We know that this pictures Calvary. It was the first of the seasons. The Cross is the chief of our places of worship.

Pentecost. 'Fulness of the Spirit'. The season when the Holy Spirit was poured forth upon the people of God. Acts 2:1.

Tabernacles. 'Following the King'. "That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God," Leviticus 23:43.

These are the key factors of true religion, the observance of which will see God's blessing rest upon us!

This feast highlighted their separation from the world, marking as it did their leave of Egypt. This feast is mentioned as being observed in the Millennial Reign of Christ, Zech 14:16, 18-19. That is a day when the Saviour will enforce His holy will upon the world, Rev 19:15.

These were seasons of joy and feasting as well as security. All these feasts were occasions of Joy. God would have us joyfully worship Him.

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," Romans 14:17.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light," 1 Peter 2:9.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" Philippians 4:4.n.