REWARD

Reward Refuge Restoration and Refreshing

"The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." Ruth 2:12

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,  A refuge in times of trouble.  And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;  For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:9-10

     Only the Lord can give to those who trust Him a full reward, total refuge, complete redemption,  wonderful restoration, great refreshing and a glorious renewal. Things which He has promised to do and is clearly written all over His word. As God’s word is always true:

"Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 'I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  'And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.' " Exodus 6:6-8

"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

 "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;  "and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.  Deuteronomy 7:7-10

There is none like the Great God who has come to redeem for Himself as a people, and  to make for Himself  great  name in the process.  A God who is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments. A God who can and does what ever He sets His hand to do especially to choose for Himself His people. As God’s word is true:

"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

 "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;  "and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face.  Deuteronomy 7:7-10

"Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  "And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name-and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land-before Your people whom  You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? "For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, LORD, have become their God.  2 Samuel 7:22-24

The Lord is the only refuge and strength,  and a  very present help in trouble. As a result His true ones do not have to not fear, even though the earth be removed,  and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.

For there is a river of the Holy Spirit which flows from God Himself and will bring rest, refuge, redemption and refreshing to His people.  His word is true:

Blessed be the LORD,  Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!  The LORD is my strength and my shield;  My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;  Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,  And with my song I will praise Him.  The LORD is their strength,  And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.  Save Your people,  And bless Your inheritance;  Shepherd them also,  And bear them up forever. Psalm 28:6-9

God is still in the midst of His people and He shall help them just at the break of dawn.  The LORD of hosts is with them and the God of Jacob is their refuge and He is still the one who He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, on the Sea of Galilee when His disciples were fearful and terrified and there was a great calm. God’s word records:

Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."  But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."   Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.

Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Matthew 8:21-27

God’s children are not to be fearful or of little faith because He,  the Creator of the ends of the earth and all of heaven,  is for them, with them and not against them. He is their rock, rest, refuge and redemption and everything else which they need. He is their heavenly Father and a good and wonderful God. He has more than enough power and resources and riches to handle any problem, situation, and need which is given to Him by His loving children. For after all He is God and the great “I Am that I Am.”

He is still  the God who has promised rest and refreshing to His people. His word is true:

And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Joshua 21:44

"Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. 1 Kings 8:56

"Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people. 1 Chronicles 22:18

Yes! When men seek the Lord with all their heart and rest on Him and in His name  they shall find Him and their haven of rest. For God’s word is true:

Therefore he said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered. 2 Chronicles 14:7

And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" 2 Chronicles 14:11

And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. 2 Chronicles 15:15

To those who sought the LORD their  God, He has given us rest on every side To those who cried out to Him and rested on His name He gave victory over the enemy. For it is nothing for Him to help, whether with many or with those who have no power.

For those who have sought Him with all their heart and with all their soul  He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.  He is still the God who wants to give rest to people. His word is true”

For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not, Isaiah 30:15

"The children of Israel were oppressed,  Along with the children of Judah;  All who took them captive have held them fast;  They have refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; The LORD of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, That He may give rest to the land, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. Jeremiah 50:34

He is their strong Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name and He will thoroughly plead their case, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet their enemies. He is the mighty One who will rid Himself of His adversaries and take vengeance on His enemies, whoever they might be! His word is true:

Therefore the Lord says,  The LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,  "Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries,  And take vengeance on My enemies. I will turn My hand against you,  And thoroughly purge away your dross,  And take away all your alloy.  I will restore your judges as at the first,  And your counselors as at the beginning.  Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city."  Zion shall be redeemed with justice,  And her penitents with righteousness. Isaiah 1:24-27

He is the God who has promised refreshing and  restoration to His people. For God can and will restore everything including judges and health and He can turn the wilderness into a fruitful field. His word is true:

For with stammering lips and another tongue  He will speak to this people,  To whom He said, "This is the rest with which  You may cause the weary to rest,"  And, "This is the refreshing";  Yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:11-12

For I will restore health to you  And heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD,  'Because they called you an outcast saying:  "This is Zion;  No one seeks her." '   "Thus says the LORD:  'Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob's tents,  And have mercy on his dwelling places;  The city shall be built upon its own mound,  And the palace shall remain according to its own plan.  Then out of them shall proceed thanksgiving  And the voice of those who make merry;  I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Isaiah 30:17-19

He is the God who does all things by His wonderful mighty Holy Spirit who raised created Heaven and earth, raised Jesus Christ from the dead and turns the wilderness into a fruitful field and the fruitful field into a forest. As His word is true:

Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,  And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,  And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.   Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,  And righteousness remain in the fruitful field.  The work of righteousness will be peace,  And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.  My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,  In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places, Isaiah 32:15-18

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,  And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,  Even with joy and singing.  The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,  The excellence of Carmel and Sharon.  They shall see the glory of the LORD,  The excellency of our God.  Strengthen the weak hands,  And make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are fearful-hearted,  "Be strong, do not fear!  Behold, your God will come with vengeance,  With the recompense of God;  He will come and save you." Isaiah 35;1-4

For in due season,  God  will bring back the captivity of His people and have mercy on them and increase them greatly. He will come with vengeance and recompense and save His people. So that justice will dwell in the wilderness,  and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

As a result the work of righteousness will be peace,  and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.  Then His people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,  In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places and not be afraid.

As a result the Psalmist prayed and said about restoration and the promises of God:

The LORD is my shepherd;  I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures;  He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Psalm 23:1-3

Create in me a clean heart, O God,  And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence,  And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

Restore us, O God of hosts;  Cause Your face to shine,  And we shall be saved! Psalm 80:7

Yes! God is the Great Restorerer. He can and will restore what no other can do. He can restore a man’s soul, his health, his finances, and even the years which were lost. His word is true:

Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord?  Arise! Do not cast us off forever.  Why do You hide Your face,  And forget our affliction and our oppression? 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;  Our body clings to the ground. Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies' sake. Psalm 44:26

Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old, Lamentations 5:21

Be glad then, you children of Zion,  And rejoice in the LORD your God;  For He has given you the former rain faithfully,  And He will cause the rain to come down for you-  The former rain,  And the latter rain in the first month.  The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,  And the vats shall  overflow with new wine and oil.  "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,  The crawling locust,  The consuming locust,  And the chewing locust,  My great army which I sent among you.

 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,  And praise the name of the LORD your God,  Who has dealt wondrously with you;  And My people shall never be put to shame.  Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:  I am the LORD your God  And there is no other.  My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:23-27

Yes God can and will for the asking restore all things for His people. He can and will give them rest refuge redemption renown refreshing restoration reward and much, much more. For He is that kind of God who loves and cares for His own.

He is a God of unlimited power, riches and resources which He loves to use for the good of His people. His word is true even this day:

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30

 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-32