service genset jogja
Song of Solomon 5:16

Jesus is “Altogether Lovely”

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
January 2, 2022

The Old Testament book, “The Song of Solomon” is a real difficult book to preach. Most ancient commentators see this book as only metaphorical and the love descriptions of Solomon and his lover are figurative of the nature of Christ and his bride, the Church. John Owen, from a long time ago, says, “The whole Book of Canticles (Song of Solomon) is nothing but a mystical declaration of the mutual love between Christ and the church. And it is expressed by all such ways and means as may represent it intense, fervent, and exceeding all other love whatever; which none, I suppose, will deny, at least on the part of Christ. And a great part of it consists in such descriptions of the person of Christ and his love as may render him amiable and desirable unto our souls, even “altogether lovely.” 1 J. Vernon McGee says, “He is altogether lovely. Now the important question is this: Is He altogether lovely to you? Are you able to speak of Him with the enthusiasm the bride had for her bridegroom? We must know Christ intimately if we are to witness of Him. And we must love Him. When one comes to Christ it is not a business transaction. He is wonderful, and I do not think that we laud Him, glorify Him, lift Him up, worship Him, and bow before Him with thanksgiving enough. He is wonderful any way that you look at Him”2

More modern exegetical work on the book wants to see it more literal. It’s all about sex and young love. Arnold Fruchtenbaum entitles his commentary on Song of Solomon, “Biblical Lovemaking.” Rob Morgan concludes his comments on the Song of Solomon by writing, “Earlier generations viewed this book primarily as an analogy for Yahweh’s love for His bride, Israel; or Christ’s love for His bride, the Church. There are certainly lessons there, but the primary purpose of Song of Songs is to convey the pleasure God intends to bestow through His invention of love, marriage, and sex.” (Check out: https://www.robertjmorgan.com/devotional/song-of-solomon-the-bibles-pre-marital-counseling-course/) Also, Larry Richards, in his “Teachers Commentary,” takes the book much more literal. Concluding his remarks on the literal nature of the sexual illusions in the Song of Solomon says, “Scripture, of course, forbids sex out of marriage, both adultery and premarital. It also forbids prostitution. A number of passages in the Law, but particularly Leviticus 18, define sexual limits. Yet when it comes to marriage, the biblical message is one of freedom rather than restriction. No passage in Old or New Testaments regulates sexual practices within marriage. Instead the Bible affirms the joys and values of human sexuality.”3

God is the creator of “male and female” and is very much pro-sex within the confines of marriage. Yet, if I’m to truly understand the book of Song of Solomon, I have to see it in light of Christ’s word to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He told them that the whole bible: the Law the Prophets and the Writings were about himself. Song of Solomon is one of the “writings” that Jesus was referring to. Thus, I cast my lot with the older commentators. Further, to see the Song of Solomon as a depiction of exclusive marital bliss misses the mark when we remember that no one in the Bible was less “exclusive” in marital relations than Solomon. Also, to understand all the descriptions of the physical body parts of both male and female throughout the book makes it no more then acceptable pornography. I think Exell has it right when he says, “I am not about to speak of Christ’s loveliness after the flesh, for now after the flesh know we Him no more. It is His moral and spiritual beauty, of which the spouse in the Song most sweetly says, ‘Yea, He is altogether lovely.’ The loveliness which the eye dotes on is mere varnish when compared with that which dwells in virtue and holiness; the worm will devour the loveliness of skin and flesh, but a lovely character will endure for ever.”4 As the text lays out various descriptions of the beloved, as seen through the eyes of the lover, one cannot help but see the beauty of Jesus in it all. O’Donnell says, “That’s the perfect picture of this text. Anyway you turn it, it points us to the cross, to Jesus who is ‘altogether lovely’ (Song 5:16, kjv )—lovely in his person, glory, majesty, resurrection, ascension, grace, power, wisdom, pardon, and in his selfless incarnation and death.”5

1 John Owen, The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, vol. 1 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), 157.

2 J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: Poetry (Ecclesiastes/Song of Solomon), electronic ed., vol. 21 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 174–175.

3 Lawrence O. Richards, The Teacher’s Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987), 356.

4 Joseph S. Exell, Ecclesiastes & The Song of Solomon, vol. 2, The Biblical Illustrator (New York; Chicago; Toronto; London; Edinburgh: Fleming H. Revell Company, n.d.), 124.

5Douglas Sean O’Donnell, The Song of Solomon: An Invitation to Intimacy, ed. R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 95–96.

Tags:
Permalink
Psalm 137:7-8, Revelation 3:17, Luke 13:5, Isaiah 64:6

A Wretch like me!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
January 1, 2022

Everyone knows the famous hymn by John Newton, “Amazing Grace.” It’s been around since it was first published in 1779. A web search on the song says, “Amazing Grace is the most popular of the Christian hymns. Many people know this and it is commonly sung in churches or congregations.” There are more than 7,000 cover versions of the song! It’s still being performed today by popular artists of every music genre: Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, Judy Collins, Carrie Underwood. Cher also “covered” the song! Wikipedia says the song is sung 10 millions times every year! It begins, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”

Do I really consider myself to be a “wretch?” According to one of my lexicons (dictionaries) for biblical words, to be a wretch is to be “of very poor quality or condition; perhaps inciting pity.” Poor quality? Me? We moved into a new house about four years ago and this past week I just got around to unpacking my office stuff. I hung up my diplomas on the “I love me” wall. My bachelor’s of theology degree has a gold sticker on it that says, “Summa cum laud.” My Master’s of theology degree has a gold sticker that says “with honors.” They both look pretty good right next to my oversized Doctor of Ministry Degree. I’m a pretty good guy! I don’t like the idea of identifying with being of “poor quality.” I think I’ve done pretty well in life. I own my home and my car and have few debts and have a satisfactory retirement in my old age. I’m pretty well off! I don’t need anything.

But it’s that kind of thinking that makes God want to spit me out of his mouth. Well, that’s what he told the members of the church at Laodicea in the third chapter of the book of Revelation. In verse 17, God tells them he wants to “spew” them out of his mouth because “…you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” God doesn’t see my diplomas or my gold stickers. God sees my heart. He knows behind all the good works in my life lies a deceitful, glory seeking, pitiful man. Thus he tells Isaiah that all your “good works is as filthy rags.” In Isaiah 64:6 we read, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.”

The Greek word for “repentance” literally means “to change one’s mind.” I believe repentance means to change the way we think about ourselves. We must see ourselves as God sees us, as we really are. None of our gold stickers will save us. You have your own “gold stickers” don’t you? They are just filthy rags! When the disciples encountered the Galileans who perished when the tower fell on them, they assumed it was the result of some great sin in the Galileans’ lives that they were not guilty of. Jesus says in Luke 13:5, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Jesus came to save the sick, not the healthy. He came to save the “wretched” not the glorious. It’s the ones who recognize and acknowledge their “wretchedness” that God saves. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 137:7-8, “He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who’ve been thrown out with the trash, Seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best.” Paul knew that he was a wretch. He wrestled with sin in his life and seemed to lose that battle more often than he won it. Finally, he exclaims In Romans 7:24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He answered his own question in the following verse, Jesus! “Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!”

Tags: , ,
Permalink
Hebrews 3:1-4, Exodus 7:1, 1John 4.1

Jesus as an Apostle!!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
December 31, 2021

The word that’s translated as “Apostle” in the New Testament literally means, “Sent One.” The Greek English Lexicon gives this definition. “…a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.” 1 When we hear the word “Apostle” we normally think of the twelve men appointed by Jesus to go out and spread the message of the good news. Indeed they were men sent out with orders. But there is also reference to lower case “apostles” in the New Testament which seems to refer to those sent out on missionary journeys from various churches in the Apostolic age. Some groups today call their missionaries “apostles” today with the idea that any who is sent out to share their faith is also rightly called an “apostle.” We don’t usually think of Jesus himself being an apostle, but that’s what he is called in Hebrews 3:1-2. It says, “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.” We see that Jesus was “sent out” from the “one who appointed him” for a particular mission. Moses was the one that God sent to Pharoah with a mission to set the Israelites from from captivity and just as he was faithful to that mission so too was Jesus faithful to his calling to be the sin bearer of the world. 1 John 4:1 makes this perfectly clear. John writes, “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” So, Jesus is an “Apostle” in the true meaning of the word.

According to another Greek Dictionary the word includes the idea of “Ambassador.” Liddell’s entry for the word is, “ἀπόστολος, ὁ, (ἀποστέλλω) a messenger, ambassador, envoy…”2 Regarding this title Charles Rolls says, “Christ as the Apostle was specially called and commissioned by the Father as heaven’s ambassador to earth. He represents the Father perfectly and heaven in reality. The Father placed in Him absolute confidence and sanctioned full exercise of authority to fulfill the divine purposes, confirm the promises and execute the prerogatives.”3 In the handbook that the United Bible Society published to help Bible Translators, we read, “Some of the meaning of the Greek term traditionally rendered “apostle” may be expressed as “God’s messenger” or “God’s ambassador.” In some languages this is expressed literally as “one who speaks God’s words” or “one who announces what God has said.”4 Now, going back to the passage in Hebrews 3:1-2, the writer exhorts his readers to “consider.” Without adding a new group of footnotes here, this Greek verb means, “To think carefully” about something; to “reflect on” the ideas, to “meditate” on this truth.

Since the writer of this verse includes Moses let me give you something to contemplate. Moses was God’s Ambassador to Pharoah. He came with God’s authority and message. When we reflect on the Old Testament we are amiss if we fail to understand it’s message as it relates to Jesus himself. In Exodus 7:1, “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh…” Yes, Moses was like God, he spoke for God, he exercised God’s power through the 10 plagues and more but the author of Hebrews will later make it perfectly clear that Moses, the greatest figure in Israel’s history, does not have the same authority that was given to Jesus! Hebrews 3:4 goes on in our passage and says, “For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” There may be a lot of lower case “apostles” who are sent out for a mission. There were 12 upper case “Apostle” who were sent out specifically by Jesus. But there is only one “Apostle” like Jesus. Whereas Moses spoke for God, Jesus spoke as God. One more quote (sorry). Guthrie says in his commentary, “To look at a beautiful, artfully crafted building may inspire appreciation or wonder, but praise belongs to the craftsman rather than the craft. In this case the author of Hebrews considers Moses as part of the house that Jesus built. The inference to which the analogy points is that Jesus, as God, has made Moses, a member of the people of Israel, and as Creator is worthy of more honor and glory than one of his creatures. Thus, the author continues to point to Jesus as God.”5

1 Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers., 1889), 68.

2H.G. Liddell, A Lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996), 107.

3 Charles J. Rolls, The Indescribable Christ: Names and Titles of Jesus Christ: A-G (Loizeaux Brothers, 1984).

4 Paul Ellingworth and Eugene Albert Nida, A Handbook on the Letter to the Hebrews, UBS Handbook Series (New York: United Bible Societies, 1994), 52.

5 George Guthrie, Hebrews, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 128.

Tags: , ,
Permalink
Hebrews 6:19

Jesus: Our Steadfast Anchor!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
December 30, 2021

Jesus is the guarantee of God’s love for us. Even while we are sinners, God demonstrated His love for us on the cross of Calvary. The cities of refuge were spread out across Israel so that any sinner could make it to a city of refuge in a day or less. This was so designed so that every citizen would have within reach a place where they could find protection and safety.  At the time of the writing of the letter to the Hebrews, the cities of refuge no longer existed in Israel. But their illustrative value to Bible readers cannot be missed. Jesus took the place of the cities of refuge. Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses on our behalf. Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system. No more blood sacrifices need be made. The Priesthood of Aaron has been superseded by the Priesthood of Jesus in the order of Melchizedek. You see, everything in the Old Testament is about Jesus! The Bible is still relevant today because it all offers mature insights into the person and work of Jesus which nourishes our faith.

In Hebrews 6:19 the writer talks about the most sacred of places in the Old Testament as a picture of where Jesus went on our behalf. He’s talking about the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant rested upon which the mercy seat lay. He writes, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain…” As any good seaman knows, anchors don’t always hold. It depends upon what it takes hold of and on the stability of that object. Jesus is our anchor! Jesus is the subject of the whole Bible. He is the physical embodiment of God’s promises from Genesis to Revelation. He is the Lamb of God that makes atonement for sin. He is the true king, priest and prophet. He is the seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham and the seed of David. He is the full and complete demonstration of God’s love for us all. Priscilla J. Owens wrote the beautiful little hymn that captures this verse’s truth. One of the stanzas goes like this,

“We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.”

Once the anchor has dropped we can no longer physically see it. But we know it’s there and when it finds a stable hold we can rest knowing that the ship is not going anywhere. Lenski writes, “As the anchor is out of sight, so the hope, promised and sworn to us, is out of sight. It is in the heavenly Sanctuary. It is the promised salvation through the all-atoning blood of Jesus.”[1] In the early church three images arose as acceptable symbols of the Christian faith. Clement of Alexandria around 200 AD acknowledges these three symbols as the Dove, the Fish and the Anchor. Brown observes, “Clement of Alexandria, an outstanding teacher in the early church, mentions the anchor as an appropriate device for a Christian’s ring: And let our seals be either a dove or a fish … or a ship’s anchor. It is sometimes found on early Christian epitaphs as a symbol of secure hope.”[2]

[1] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews and of the Epistle of James (Columbus, OH: Lutheran Book Concern, 1938), 205.

[2] Raymond Brown, The Message of Hebrews: Christ above All, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 121–122.

Tags:
Permalink
1 John 2:1-2, John 14:16, Hebrews 9:24

Jesus is the best Lawyer!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
December 29, 2021

Jesus is called the “advocate.” 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) adds this comment, “The thought here in 1 John 2:1 is of a defense attorney who takes up the case of his client before a tribunal.” The Greek word, Paraclete, is usually referring to the Holy Spirit who takes up our cause and “comforts” us in all of our trials. But the Apostle John says clearly that Jesus is our “Advocate.” It seems that the Holy Spirit is our “advocate” here on earth while Jesus is our advocate in Heaven before the Father. I think the distinction between our advocate in this life and our advocate in Heaven is clear. When Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure he promises to send them “another” advocate. Of course, this additional advocate is the Holy Spirit. Jesus made this promise in John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, in order that he may be with you…” Then another biblical author teaches us like John did that Jesus is in Heaven making intercession for us. Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”

If I were arrested for any crime I’d really like to have one of the best lawyers to defend me whether I was guilty or not. In American today, Alan Morton Dershowitz is probably the best known if not the best lawyer in our country. The web search on him describes him as “… an American attorney, political commentator, and jurist. He has spent the past fifty years practicing the law and is well recognized for handling a number of high-profile legal cases. As a criminal appellate attorney, Alan has won fifteen, which is a high percentage of the dozens of attempted murder and murder cases he has managed. The attorney has represented several celebrities, which include Jim Bakker, Mike Tyson, and Patty Hearst. His most prominent cases include his role as an appellate consultant in the O.J. Simpson case, and for overturning the conviction of Claus von Bulow in 1984. In addition to his consulting and appellate practice, Alan is a Professor at Harvard Law School. In 1967, at the age of twenty eight, he became the youngest full professor of law in its history. Since 1993, Alan has held the Felix Frankfurter professorship at Harvard.” But even Dershowitz has no argument that could sway God in the least. Any argument he could produce to substantiate the claim of my innocence of all sin in life would be ludicrous at best.

But Jesus doesn’t defend or advocate on our behalf because we’re innocent. He advocates on our behalf because we are guilty and He’s righteous. This is why John adds the final description of Jesus in 1 John 2:1 that our advocate is Jesus Christ “The Righteous One.” The United Bible Societies handbook for translators explains, “The adjective righteous is best taken as a predicate, adding a new trait to the argument. It serves to make the reader aware of the fact that Jesus, since he does what is right before God, is man’s most effective advocate with God. His prayers for man are not hindered by sin and, therefore, will certainly be heard by God.” Kruse in the Pillar New Testament Commentary explains the significance of this. He writes, “Thus it (The adjective “righteous”) would seem that it is used in the present context to indicate that it is the One who has acted righteously, who now stands in the presence of the Father to speak on behalf of those who have not acted righteously. However, Jesus Christ is much more than an advocate who intercedes for those who have sinned, as becomes apparent in the next verse.” 1 John 2:2 says, “he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Again, Kruse explains, “The author emphasises that Jesus Christ is not only our advocate who speaks in our favour in the presence of God despite our sins, but that he is also the atoning sacrifice for those sins. In the first case he appears as an advocate in court, in the second as a sacrificing priest in the temple.”

Tags: , ,
Permalink
Exodus 25:21-22, Hebrews 10:19-22, John 6:31-35

Jesus and the Ark of the Covenant

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
December 28, 2021

Jesus is not Called “The Ark of the Lord” but there are so many allusions from it to the Christ it’s unmistakable. It is called by various names: The Ark of God, the Ark of the Testimony, The Ark of the Covenant, The Ark of the Lord, and even the Ark of your might (See Psalm 132:8). But we mostly know it as the “Ark of the Covenant.” It was the actual presence of God with his people. Even Indiana Jones knows that God dwells in the Ark of the Covenant. The cloud and the fire that led Israel from Egypt settled on the Ark and represented the presence of God who had promised to be “with” his people. It’s the place where God promised to meet with His people in Exodus 25:21-22. It says, “And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”

There are some things about the Ark of the Covenant that set the stage for the presence of God with mankind in the person of Jesus. Numbers 10:33 speaks of God “going ahead” of them to lead the way to the place of rest, “And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.” In Matthew 11:28, Jesus calls people to himself to find true “rest for their souls.” He is the resting place. Also, when Jesus talked about himself being the “good shepherd” he said in John 10:4, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” In the same way as the went “before” the people, Jesus goes “before” those who believe in him. When the Temple was built the Ark of the Covenant was put in the Holiest of all places. Only the High Priests could come into that place where God had promised to be “with them.” There was a huge curtain, veil, the kept regular people from having access to the presence of God. But Jesus took care of that barrier on the cross. Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,  by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…”

The Israelites were directed to gather a quart of the manna that they had eaten during their wilderness wanderings and place it in the Ark of the Covenant. God wanted them to remember how God fed them throughout their wanderings every day. But Jesus made it clear to the people and to us that the “real” manna isn’t the stuff they ate in the Wilderness. In john 6:31-35 we read what Jesus said to the Israelites, “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’  Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” Also notice that the “Rod of Aaron” that budded was really a shepherd’s staff. Jesus is the good shepherd who leads his people beside the still waters in green pastures where they find nourishment and rest. Jesus is the “bread of life” from which one is nourished with that which will lead to eternal life through simple faith in the good Shepherd.

Tags: , ,
Permalink
Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 63:9

The Angel of the Covenant!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
December 27, 2021

Alumni of Ohio State University like to let everyone know that their university is unique from all others and is in a class all its own. They will refer to it as “The” Ohio State University to make that clear. There is not any others like it! Of course that’s one of the grammatical uses of the definite article “the.” I hesitated to use that example but it does illustrate the use of the definite article. The Bible used that article when referring to one particular angel in the Old Testament. In Greek the word for “Angel” is also frequently translated as “messenger.” I think that’s why John Nelson Darby translated Malachi 3:1 leaning on the Greek Translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint. Most translations call this person the “Messenger of the Covenant.” But, Darby translates it as “Angel of the Covenant.” This verse in the last book of the Old Testament foresees the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Messiah. We see the Gospels quoting this part of the verse to refer to John the Baptist. But the verse goes on to foresee the coming of Jesus, who will fulfill God’s promises of salvation as contained throughout the Old Testament. Here’s how Darby translates Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord whom ye seek will suddenly come to his temple, and the Angel of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.”

There are lots of angels mentioned in the Bible but there is only one “Angel of the Covenant.” He is “the” angel! Now he is called other things in the Old Testament but always with the definite article. He is referred to as “The Angel of the Lord” over a hundred times. He’s called “The Angel of God.” The term “Angel” is even used to refer to Satan as the unique and only angel like himself. Revelation 9:11 calls him “The Angel of the bottomless pit.” But “The Angel of God,” “The Angel of the Lord,” and “The Angel of the Covenant” cannot be mistaken for anything but the pre-incarnate Jesus, the Messiah himself. Isaiah 63:9 calls him “The Angel of His Presence.” Meaning the manifestation of God Himself to his people. In 1 Kings 19:7, It was “The angel of the Lord” that fed Elijah in the wilderness and Charles Boll observes “ He who prepared a meal for weary Elijah and said to him, “Arise and eat,” is the same who prepared a meal for tired disciples on the shore of Galilee and said to them, “Come and dine.” Yes, the scriptures make it obvious that “The Angel of the Lord” is none other that the Christ Himself.

Malachi calls this Angel “the one you delight in.” He is not the one you need to fear and cringe before. He’s the one who brings comfort to his suffering people. Jesus said himself that he did not come to “condemn” but to “save.” Those who believe in Jesus, look forward to his coming. He is the one we delight in. In so many of the references referring to the actions of “The Angel of the Lord” we see that when he appears he brings comfort to the people amidst great trials and sufferings. He was the one who comforted Hagar in the wilderness. He was the one who fed Elijah, He was the one that Abraham spoke to, that Isaac followed, and that Jacob called on the bless his descendants. At his death in Genesis 48:15-16, Jacob prays, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” Finishing up the quote from Isaiah 63:9, we read about this “one and only angel” that took care of His people, Israel, and will take care of us: “ In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”

Permalink
John 12:37-40, Isaiah 53:1, Psalm 118:15-16

The Arm of the Lord!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
December 26, 2021

When Jesus had performed many miracles the religious leaders and others still did not believe in him. Jesus then spoke to his disciples using a quote from Isaiah and applying it to himself. In john 12:37-40 we read, “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” The “arm of the Lord” phrase shows up three times in Isaiah but it seems the quote that Jesus is referring to comes from Chapter 53 which is the most famous of the messianic passages. Isaiah 53:1, begins the chapter saying, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Further the Psalmist sings about the “arm of the Lord.” Psalm 118:15-16 calls it the “right arm of the Lord.” It says, “Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things! The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!” Isaiah and the Psalmist both set forth the prophecy concerning the Messiah so that the people would see Jesus as the one the Bible promised from the beginning. But, like today, even the marvelous works of God do not evoke faith in everyone.

All the mighty works, miracles, that Jesus performed were motivated to bring people to recognize Him for who He truly was. He was the Lord, Himself, manifested to us in the flesh. He was the promised “Immanuel” (God with us) that we celebrate in the Christmas season! Jesus even told those who did not believe in Him to look at the miracles, the mighty deeds, and let the mighty deeds speak to them about the one who performs them. He did not simply change water to wine to show off. He did not give sight to the blind, healing to the lame and sick because he felt sorry for them and wanted to help. All the miracles that Jesus performed were performed in order to open the hearts and minds to Him and to bring salvation to all who would believe. Jesus condemned the ones who followed him just to get the free bread or to learn how to perform miracles themselves. He wanted their faith! He wanted them to trust Him. It’s not about the miracles themselves, rather it’s about the miracle worker. God has revealed himself to us in the person of His son, Jesus.

The “arm of the Lord” is Jesus’ arm! This was clearly seen in the miracle where Jesus brings Peter to walk on the water. Peter saw Jesus walking on the water coming toward them who were in the boat and called out for Jesus to let him also walk on the water. Jesus simply told Peter to come out of the boat and do it! Without question Peter did climb out of the boat and walk on the water, at least for a few minutes. Then Matthew 14:30-31 tells us, “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”. I like to think that Jesus used the hand at the end of his “right arm.” Just as the Lord’s right arm was powerful enough to save Peter it is also powerful enough to save us through all the storms of life along with the ultimate demise into the sea of death. We can relax in His hand and trust His intention and ability. He will not let us drown. Arthur Pink said it like this, “One of the outstanding glories of the gospel is its promise of eternal security to all who truly believe it. The gospel presents no third-rate physician who is competent to treat only the milder cases, but one who heals all manner of sickness, who is capable of curing the most desperate cases. It proclaims no feeble redeemer, but one who is mighty to save.”

Tags: , ,
Permalink
sewa motor jogja
© Chuck Larsen 2019. Powered by WordPress.