A Dread Champion

 I don't think I had ever heard of a "dread champion" before reading it here in the NASB1995. I looked it up, since it caught my eye. It means a great warrior, a champion warrior, who defeats enemies so badly that others dread even the thought of having to face him. In the culture of the East, where honor and shame are so important, he brought shame on the ones whom he defeated, a shame they would never forget. As Jeremiah was having his troubles for standing up and speaking the words of doom to Israel that God commanded him to speak, he was so glad that the Lord was with him like a dread champion. (Jeremiah 20:11) He knew that his persecutors would stumble and not prevail against him. In fact, Jeremiah was assured that his enemies would suffer an everlasting disgrace that would not be forgotten. I believe there is a lesson for all of us in this reality.

How often are we afraid of people? The only kind of fear we are to have, as believers, is the fear of the Lord. When God is with us, we have nothing to fear from other people or other things. We need to think of God like Jeremiah did. He is our "Dread Champion." He defeated Satan by sending Jesus to die on the cross and rise again for us. That was an everlasting disgrace for the devil and his demons. All they can do is fight a losing battle, until they are all thrown into the Lake of Fire. Whenever  Satan or one of his demons comes against us to persecute us, all we have to do is to trust in the Lord, draw near to Him, and Satan has to flee from us. He doesn't want anything to do with the One who defeated him so badly. Let's praise the Lord for being our Dread Champion, and let's set Him loose to fight for us.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Jeremiah 21-23.