Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places.” (Deuteronomy 33:29)
Many kingdoms and empires have risen, boasting of their glory, only to fall into utter oblivion. The reason for their demise is quite simple: they depended on the might and wisdom of men — a dubious and unreliable prospect. On the other hand, Israel continues as a nation and people and is, in fact, promised future victory and glory beyond what they have experienced in the past — for that matter beyond what any nation has ever experienced. Truly, God’s people are unique and will prove to be victorious but not because of our might and wisdom. No, as it is written, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
According to Moses, we are a people delivered and preserved by the Hand of God and no other. He is our Defense and Offense and, without Him, we could do nothing; without Him we would be nothing. But because He is for us and not against us, all of our enemies will submit to us. All that they have raised up in defiance of His authority, He will allow us to trample underfoot. That is what is meant by the statement, “You shall tread down their high places, which is literally their “haughty ones.” Let’s put it this way: all those nations, empires, institutions, organizations and individuals who have, in their arrogance, resisted and withstood the Will of the Creator will be brought low — so low that the people of God will be able to place them under our feet.
This promise was made long ago but it is yet to be fulfilled in its entirety — but it will be. It is written, “Behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear my name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 4:1-3).
When God says something like this, it should not be taken lightly. However, we should not fall into the trap of thinking the way the world thinks — in other words, let’s not get haughty. When the enemies of God are humbled it will not be due to our might and power, but by His alone. Still, He intends to allow us to participate in the demise of all things ungodly and rebellious, which is why we should be diligent to continue walking upright before Him in humility and to always fear His name. If we are faithful to do this, we will be a happy people.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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