2 Timothy 4:17
17 Notwithstanding [de]
the Lord [kurios] stood [paristemi] with me, [moi] and [kai] strengthened [endunamoo]
me; [me] that [hina] by [dia] me [emou] the preaching [kerugma]
might be fully known, [plerophoreo] and [kai] that all [pas] the Gentiles
[ethnos] might hear: [akouo] and [kai] I was delivered [rhoumai] out of [ek] the mouth [stoma] of the lion. [leon] KJV-Interlinear
17 But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order
that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the
Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth. NASB
Paul
lived in a unique time. It was a time
following the crucifixion of Christ, which Paul did not witness, and of whom Paul
never knew nor was concerned about during Jesus’ life.
But
then after that fateful day on the road when Jesus introduced himself to Paul,
his life changed dramatically. He ended
up living a life that he neither considered nor planned for himself.
And
only after a few decades from perhaps the early 30’s A.D. until the late 60’s
A.D., Paul lived a life of study and teaching and writing and never once looked
back on his former life.
Paul
had his assignment, to bring the gospel to the gentiles, Acts 9:15; 22:21;
26:17, Rom. 11:13, and it was to that end his life was dedicated and would not
end until his work was completed.
During
that time, his friends came to him and left him. None stood by him in his hour of need, but
God was always there.
In
the mean time, persecution of Christians was growing and accelerating and life
for Christians was extremely dangerous. Paul
could have been killed on many occasions.
In fact there was a very organized conspiracy to plot the death of Paul,
Acts 23:11.
But
while Paul was alive, and more specifically while God had a plan for Paul, and
while that plan remained incomplete, there was nothing on this earth that could
interfere with his life.
Delivered
out of the lions mouth is a general expression for imminent and certain danger,
from which there is no earthly possibility of escape, and yet with God, there
is always certainty of escape so long as His plan is in effect.
It
would not be until after he had finished writing the last book that he was to
write and after giving his final instructions as he always did after his
writings, then and only then was his life forfeit in this world.
The
world is full of dangers, from choking on a piece of food to flying bullets on
a battlefield, from downturns of all types in business or employment or income,
or relationships with people. When you
are functioning within the scope of Gods plan for your life, there is nothing
on this earth or in this universe that will prevent you, or take you, from Gods
intended purpose for your life.
When
you are not functioning within Gods plan for your life, due to your
indifference, through your own self-defined plan, through your
self-righteousness, through your sin, through your too busy for doctrine
attitude, through your defiance or belligerent attitude, through whatever your ‘better’
priorities might be, then your life is forfeit at any time. And in that, God determines your life’s
timetable, not you.
Nobody
could cause Pauls purpose to continue to its completion, except God. No one stood by Paul, only God stood by him.
And
that is the same for you. This world will never back you, and never support
you, and never promote you. Only God
will do that. Only God is able to do
that.
But
only when you dedicate your daily life to His mandates, which are, confession,
study, learning, understanding, application, and growth to wisdom and
maturity. These are your priorities. Every other detail of your life will fill
itself in as naturally as pouring water into a mold.
God
takes care of all of the details, when you take care of the priorities He has
placed before you.
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