The Lord Stood with Me 2 Timothy 4:17

Paul the apostle had to “answer” his first trial as he was in prison for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. At that time, “no man stood with” him, and “all men forsook” him. Even though this was true, Paul prayed to “God that it may not be laid to their charge”, and in chapter four and verse seventeen of this final letter to Timothy, he told how “the Lord stood with” him, though everyone else did not where we read:

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

The verse begins, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;” Paul began with the word, “Notwithstanding” which means “but, moreover, and” “the Lord” who is “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding, master, and a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, and is the title given to God, the Messiah” “stood with me” or “beside, near, present or at hand with Paul”. Paul added, “and strengthened me” or “endued and increased with strength Paul”. Though all others had abandoned Paul in his time of crisis and need, the Lord not only was present with him, but also gave him the strength to be able to endure it.

The verse continues, “that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:” Paul went on to give the reason the Lord stood with and strengthened him, “that by me” which referred to Paul himself, “the preaching” or “that which is proclaimed by a herald or public crier or a proclamation of the heralds of God or Christ” “might be fully known” which means “made or brought full, to carry through to the end and accomplished”. Paul went on to say, “and that all” which means “each, every, any, the whole and everyone” “the Gentiles” or “multitudes of men or women, tribes, nations and people groups” “might hear” which means “be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf, attend to, consider and perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence and learn”. In other word, “the Lord stood with” and strengthened Paul so the proclamation of the gospel would be “fully known” and that “all the Gentiles might hear” the message of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

Finally the verse says, “and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” Paul went on to add, “and I was delivered” which means “rescue, saved, retrieved and recovered” “out of the mouth” or “heart, soul and edge of the sword” “of the lion” which literally means “lion or a brave and mighty hero” and is a reference “to Nero (as some think) or some other judge”. At this time in Paul's life, he was spared and did not suffer death. Later on, he would be martyred for that cause of the gospel.

When we think upon Paul's words, we may have experienced the comfort and wisdom that only “the Lord” can provide in our times of crisis. Perhaps we have felt abandoned by others when we faced difficult circumstances, and in those times have found the presence of “the Lord” not only comforting, but also proving to have another end. The gospel of Jesus Christ was “preached” and made “fully known” because Paul endured such loneliness, and no doubt many “Gentiles” heard the message of Salvation through Paul's plight. We must remember, the Lord Jesus has a plan for our lives that often goes beyond our current circumstances, and as with Paul, should there be a time of discard and loneliness, not only will He be with us and give us strength and wisdom, but He will also “deliver” us from any “lion” like foe who comes against us.

Next time Paul tells Timothy how the Lord shall “preserve” and “deliver” him, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.