Editorial - Lie Down That We May Walk Over You

by Joy Hunting

An ancient custom of a conqueror was to put his feet on the neck of his captured enemy, and even tread his enemy into the dust. Or he might cause his enemies to prostrate themselves on the ground to be ridden over!

We read in the Sciptures of the time when five kings of the Amorites –- the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon -- made a pact together through fear of Joshua, to resist him and the men of Israel in their conquest of Canaan.

But the Lord assured Joshua that these five kings would not prevail in their resistance to His servant, for He said: "The LORD your God has delivered them into your hand" (Joshua 10:19). And so it happened that after their capture Joshua said to his people: "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings."

King David was also able to say in the day when the Lord had delivered him from all his enemies including King Saul: "You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me" (Psalm 18:40).

But it is a reversal of roles for God's people Israel to be the ones who prostrate themselves for their enemies to dictate to and walk over. Should they be so unmindful of their ability to overcome all obstacles and enemies through the strength and power of the God of Israel that they humiliate themselves before other nations? Even their so-called friends often demand that they lower themselves to the dust, that they give up this and give up that -- for what?

Fortunately it is the Lord, the God of Israel who will have the last word on His people's position in the nations of the world. He said: "Thus says the Lord, the LORD your God, who pleads the cause of his people: 'See, I have taken out of your hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury; you shall no longer drink it.

'But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to you, "Lie down, that we may walk over you." And you have laid your body like the ground, and as the street, for those who walk over'" (Isaiah 51:22,23).

God's Word is a living Word; it is relevant for today as it has been relevant in every generation.

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