Zech. 12:7-8

7 The LORD [Yahovah] also shall save [yasha`] the tents ['ohel] of Judah [Yahuwdah] first [ri'shown], that the glory [tiph'arah] of the house [bayith] of David [David] and the glory [tiph'arah] of the inhabitants [yashab] of Jerusalem [Yaruwshalaim] do not magnify [gadal] themselves against Judah [Yahuwdah].

8 In that day [yowm] shall the LORD [Yahovah] defend [ganan] the inhabitants [yashab] of Jerusalem [Yaruwshalaim]; and he that is feeble [kashal] among them at that day [yowm] shall be as David [David]; and the house [bayith] of David [David] shall be as God ['elohiym], as the angel [mal'ak] of the LORD [Yahovah] before [paniym] them. KJV-Interlinear

7 The LORD also will save the tents of Judah first in order that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be magnified above Judah. 8 In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. NASB

Those who are cornered and trapped in Jerusalem, even throughout the whole of Judah, will not be just the young and the strong, but they will include the young, the handicapped, and the elderly.

The city of Jerusalem will have lots of natural defenses. It has buildings, and walls, even some forms of defense structures like cars and busses in the streets, blockades and such.

Judah is the description of both rural and small town settings. While the main thrust of the enemy attack will be against the city, the outlying areas will be under attack too, and they will not have the defensive mechanisms that the city of Jerusalem will have.

In order to make sure that the residents of Jerusalem do not make themselves out to be their own deliverers, God will demonstrate that no one is delivered unless it is He, God, who does the work of deliverance.

The fighting in the region will be furious. There will be a natural tendency to give ones self credit for the victory, especially when you come out on top after a very intense engagement.

That can be what many folks will tend to think after they have worked hard, thought up the means of their creation, or innovation, or escape from some predicament. It is very easy to give ones self credit for the effort. But, here is the warning from God. There is nothing that you will encounter, or will be able to accomplish, without Gods help.

You are not your own creator. You did not give yourself your IQ. You did not give yourself your talent or physical ability. You did no determine the circumstances of your environment, family, or your life for that matter. God did all of those things.

A very tall basketball player, were he born a couple of centuries ago, would not have an athletic talent to use in life. He might even have become an outcast, being looked at as some freak of nature.

A rocket scientist born centuries ago, might have been burned at the stake for suggesting concepts of scientific speculation.

So, be thankful that you live today in our current time, and not at some other point in history.

Remember Elisha in 2 Kings 6, when their eyes were opened, and they saw fiery chariots defending the city that was surrounded.

Life goes far beyond what you can detect from this world. God has legions of angels defending us day and night. And, in the Tribulation, in Judah, you can be sure that all angels will be on duty during those last days of furious battle, defending with an unseen protection, the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

There will be no place for boasting, no place for arrogance, no place for overconfidence in ones own ability or sense of accomplishment. But even so, God will raise up a courage in all of the defenders such that they will be great fighters just as David was against Goliath. They will be great leaders just as Moses was at the Red Sea. They will be great in their faith as they follow Christ, in faith, through this last battle of human history.

They will wait patiently and confidently in the return of Christ at the Second Advent, because they will know that this really is the time of the end of human history, and that Christ s return is indeed imminent.

They will not be like many groups throughout history who have foolishly decided, on their own, that Christ was returning. They will use logical thinking and reasoning, and see all of the signs of their time, and interpret them accurately.

Bible study develops awareness of the realities in our life. That awareness helps build faith. And faith builds courage and independence from the worlds chains.

This mechanism is available to you now. And in the Tribulation, those folks, who will have very little freedom as we have today, to grow up in their spiritual lives, will still demonstrate that even in the most difficult times in all of history, they will be able to accomplish spiritual maturity, and use their faith to the maximum to secure their deliverance.

Now is the time to post a prayer.