Page 24 - January 2023 - Truth & Tidings

or any battlefield observers that of this and more. So, what exactly is He
day at Rephidim (Exo 17), the sight now doing?
Fwould have been both perplex- The Intercession of a Faithful High Priest
ing and intriguing. In the valley were The wilderness journeys were not easy
the two armies in combat, Israel, under for the Israelites, nor are they for us.
Joshua’s command, and Amalek, their But our God has not left us to face these
long-standing enemy. But on the hill over- difficulties alone, for Christ our Great
looking the battlefield stood a man with High Priest invites us to draw near to
his hands outstretched to heaven. Amaz- experience His presence and power. His
ingly, as long as his hands were held up, intercession on our behalf is not related to
Israel prevailed, but when his hands were our sin but rather to the weaknesses and
lowered, Amalek moved in prevailing infirmities that mark us. The KJV uses the
power. As the day progressed, it became word “succour,” which really means to
abundantly clear that what was taking “help” in view of our needs. The woman
place in the valley was being dramatically of Canaan who appealed to the Lord
affected from above. on behalf of her daughter finally cried
Wonderfully, we too have a Man in the in desperation, “Lord, help me!” (Mat
glory, for our Lord not only died for us but 15:25), and the Lord graciously healed
now is living for us in our pilgrim jour- her daughter. Many of us have cried the
ney. Hebrews 9:24 makes this great truth same prayer in the greatness of our need,
abundantly clear: “Christ is not entered with similar results. What a tremendous
into the holy places made with hands … resource we have in this One who knows
but into heaven itself, now to appear in every detail about us, who remembers
the presence of God for us.” Although our frailty, who pities us as a father pities
1
Calvary has settled the great issue of our his children, and who delights to answer
sin, day by day we are being saved by His our calls. He has been where we are and,
ongoing ministry in heaven. As a sinner, I “because he himself has suffered when
needed a Mediator with a righteous God tempted, he is able to help those who are
(1Ti 2:4); as a child in the family, I needed being tempted” (Heb 2:18 ESV). He truly
an Advocate with the Father; but as a sympathizes with us in our weaknesses,
pilgrim, I needed an Intercessor in view for He “was in all points tempted like as
of my weaknesses and infirmities. Our we are, yet without sin” (4:15), and thus
Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished all we can come with boldness to the throne
¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV of grace to obtain the mercy and grace
unless otherwise noted. for the trial.

24 TRUTH kTidings January 2023