Chains That Bind

CHAINS THAT BIND

Some of we older folks might remember the lyrics to a country song that made the circuit in the top ten in the sixties: “take these chains from my heart and set me free.” There are chains that bind from the outside and chains that bins us from the inside. The outside is visible. There are chains applied to us by others and chains accepted of our own free will. No matter the source or reason, the binding alters our life; sometimes to the end. Paul, Peter, Silas and other biblical men of God were bound behind bars by iron chains. John Revelator was bound by chains of decree, excommunication and abandonment. The cave dweller which is over against Galilee near the Gadarenes was chained by a legion of demons. And there are chains of love, deceitfulness and misapplied trust. Today we see chains of concern, fear and caution binding many by COVID-19. Heart, mind, Spirits or body all chains that bind are life altering. Know this too shall pass. Cling to the creator of all things and know He shields those who are His. When this wind of sorrow passes, recovery will begin. Leaders on all levels will need strong minds and bodies participating in the rebuilding. Be strong and faithful to God and to yourself. A brighter, unchained day is on the way. What saith the Word?

Judges 16:13 “And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web. (Mark 5:4) “Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.” (Judges 16:21) “But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass;”

Jeremiah 52:11 “Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.”

Matthew 14:3 “For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

Luke 8: 26 “And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. (A man possessed came from a cave.) “...oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) (Acts 12: 5) “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.”

Acts 20:22 “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:”

Acts 21:32 “...they left beating of Paul. 33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

Acts 23:12 “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.”

Romans 7:2 “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth;”

2 Timothy 2:9 “Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.”

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

Revelation 20:2 “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,”

Psalms 68:6 “God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains:...”

Thus we observe many diverse chains of bondage. Our hope lies in our willingness to Know God, know peace. Amen. 05-08-2020 BLL