Trusting During Trouble

Isa 30:18 -19 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.


The people had not been willing to rely on God. Israel had come to rely on themselves, on Egypt, and on idols. It appears at times we trust in anything and anyone except for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Due to this the LORD had delayed giving them grace. The planned redemption of Israel was delayed. Their sin and rebellion will only demonstrate more clearly how wildly merciful God is in forgiving His people. Some believe that the Hebrew here should be interpreted to means that God is silent in order to show greater mercy upon them in the end.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a just God who keeps His promises. Therefore, those who trust in those promises even when all the circumstances speak against those promises being fulfilled have received grace from God to endure in faith in the midst of the most difficult times. One of the signs that we are true believers is that we rely on God’s promises even when all seems lost. This does not mean we may not struggle with moments of doubts and have questions. It does mean that in the end we are committed to reliance upon God’s goodness and mercy. It is the character of God and His competence in accomplishing what He in intends that gives us hope.

For a holy people will dwell in Zion. The additional adjective “holy” is supplied by the Septuagint version of the Old Testament and seems to fit well into this context. This seems to be a picture of the final redemption of God’s people. No more tears of sorrow. The people of God will know the full experience of God’s great grace and mercy.

On the one had we are to patiently wait. On the other we are to know that the LORD hears the cry for help the moment it is spoken. He has decided to act from the moment He hears it. From our perspective it seems like it takes a long time for God to keep His redemptive promises, but from His perspective He is not slow in keeping His promises but only allowing more time for more grace to be displayed. As we wait we are to know that He has heard us.

There are times in our lives when it seems that God is waiting to demonstrate grace to us. We can be seeking some new experience in prayer only to feel like our prayers hit the ceiling. Our desire can be to grow in faith and to do this we read the Bible only to have our reading create more questions than answers for our faith. We desire to develop Christian friends only to be hurt and rejected by them. We have been seeking God’s help to minister to people but can feel like there is no divine wind at our back. God seems to be waiting and at times the LORD seems silent to our cries for help and direction.

What are we do to when this happens? This passage would urge us to wait upon the Lord, depending upon his commitment to help and save us. It would remind us that God is fully committed to His plan of redemption and that He does hear the cries of His people. We must not despair. We must not give up faith in prayer. We must remain trusting in His amazing grace knowing that Christ/Messiah has died for our sins and been raised again. All the promises of God are “YES” in Messiah Jesus. He is the incarnation of God’s mercy and grace.

The Almost Daily Devotional

Almost Daily Devotional

Reading

NLT 1 Thessalonians 1:1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. It is written to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May his grace and peace be yours. 2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we talk to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and your continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 We know that God loves you, dear brothers and sisters, and that he chose you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you yourselves became an example to all the Christians in Greece. 8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Greece, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, 9 for they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven-- Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.


Meditation

Thessalonica is a seaport in northeastern Greece on an inlet of the Aegean Sea The original name of this city was Therma; and that part of the Macedonian shore on which it was situated retained through the Roman period the designation of the Thermaic Gulf. Cassander the son of Antipater rebuilt and enlarged Therma, and named it after his wife Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great. St. Paul visited Thessalonica (with Silas and Timothy) during his second missionary journey, and introduced Christianity there. The first scene of the apostle's work at Thessalonica was the synagogue. (Acts 17:2,3) It is stated that the ministrations among the Jews continued for three weeks. Not that we are obliged to limit to this time the whole stay of the apostle at Thessalonica. A flourishing church was certainly formed there; and the epistles show that its elements were more Gentile than Jewish.

Paul seems to have two attitudes that dominate in his relationship with other believers. One he thanks God for them being believers and what they bring to the kingdom of God through their gifts and talents and second he constantly prays for God to help them become more like Christ.

Paul specifically thanks God for the believers in Thessalonica for their activities inspired by their faith, their labors of joyful love, and their patient hope in the return of Christ. Here we see that Paul defines what God is doing in them as a matter of faith, hope, and love. Paul is able to see God at work in the lives of the imperfect believers in Thessalonica. He is able to see the glass half full as well as to call them to fill it more. His optimism is not based on his faith in the believers of Thessalonica but in God who is at work in them.

Paul also affirms his faith that they are truly the objects of God’s eternal love in Jesus Christ. He remembers as he preached to them that there was a true movement of God’s Spirit among them and that they gave a clear profession of faith. The Thessalonians had seen God’s power in miracles performed by the Holy Spirit but also in the lives of love demonstrated by the apostolic missionary team that had brought them the message. This team had become an incarnation of the gospel and its power.

In light of the power of the Holy Spirit in deeds of wonder and in the lives of the missionaries that brought them the gospel of Jesus they had joyfully believed even though it had brought upon them persecution and hardships. Here we see pain and joy combined. There is an ability of human beings to have sorrow and holy glee at the same time. They became like Jesus and the missionaries who had both been blessed by being allowed to suffer persecution for righteousness sake.

Now, the Thessalonians were an example of faith under fire and were providing an example to believers throughout Greece and around the world. Because they were a center of trade and travel, what happened in Thessalonica traveled around the world through the travelers and traders that went through the city.

Their faith is one in which they have not just added Jesus into their religious lives but have allowed the Lord Jesus Christ to totally dominate their thinking. They were willing to turn against the ultimate concerns of their lives before Jesus in order to make the Lord Jesus the ultimate concern of their lives. This reality, lived out in their daily existence, had become the talk of the world and a demonstration of the truth of the gospel.

Christocentric - Christ must become our operating system and not just another program we add into our lives. Our true loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ is measured to the degree we abandon our “idols” that is whatever we value or trust in more than we do the person of Messiah Jesus. Christians who do not abandon their idols lose the opportunity to become world changers because they are worldly.


Moral - Faith determines what tasks we find important enough to do, inspires in us a working faith, and allows our actions to endure disappointments because we optimistically believe that history is governed by Christ. We are called to have faith, love, and hope be the dominate attitudes of our actions.

Eternal - For Christians death and the end of the world do not hold fear. We know that at these great moments in our personal and world history we will be embraced by God and fully accepted in our Lord Jesus Christ. We have joyful anticipation of what the future holds for us in the eternal kingdom of God.

Prayer
Lord Jesus help me to abandon my idols in the way the believers in Thessalonica did when they heard the good news. Let me break my allegiance with the world system of unbelief and give to me a stronger and more fruitful faith.

Contemplation
Abandon all and follow me

Action
Today let me thank God for my brothers and sisters in Christ and take note of their virtues instead of their vices. If I find myself complaining or gossiping about others let me stop and make a compliment about the person. Let me look for and specifically define how God is working in the lives of those around me and praise God for them in this light.

Remember How God Came To You!

Devotions

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Reading

NLT Psalm 114:1 When the Israelites escaped from Egypt-- when the family of Jacob left that foreign land-- 2 the land of Judah became God's sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom. 3 The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs! 5 What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River, that you turned away? 6 Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Israel. 8 He turned the rock into pools of water; yes, springs of water came from solid rock.


Meditation

Literal - What Psalm 114 means
This portion of scripture is a part of the Psalms that is called “The "Egyptian Hallel" (Psalms 113-18) has been a significant component of Jewish festival liturgy since the before the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. A “Hallel” is a song of praise. This group of psalms is read during Passover.

What happened when the people of Israel left Egypt? Several things happened:
· God led them to the Promised Land, (verse 2).
· God led them through the Red Sea, which became dry for them, (verse 3).
· God led them over the River Jordan. It also became dry for them, (verse 3).
· Mountains and hills like Sinai seemed to jump like animals, (verse 4).
· God gave them water from the rocks in dry places, (verse 8).
What caused the waters to retreat, the mountains to shake, the animals to flee, and the rocks to give forth fresh water to drink? It was the presence of the Lord God of Israel who cleared a path for His chosen people to reach their chosen destiny. It is God in the midst of His people that gives them salvation, hope, and victory.

Christological: The Exodus took place because the Passover lamb had been slain and the people redeemed from the curse of death that fell upon Egypt due to their sins. Jesus is the ultimate Passover lamb. Jesus has said that His presence is in His church now today so just as God walked with Israel through the wilderness so Jesus the Christ is walking with us today to give us salvation, hope, and victory as well.




Moral: We must tell ourselves the grand narrative of God’s acts of redemption so that we will be led to praise. One of our main ethical duties is to “remember” the wonderful grace of God which is found in the history of redemption. To forget will cripple our faith and limit our vision.


Eternal: The presence of the Lord is the main treasure of heaven. Then in that place of eternal peace and rest we will rehearse in praise and joy the wonderful deeds of God in history as we experience the fullness of His presence on every side. We will rejoice in the wonderful deeds of God for all time and never forget His love for us.


Prayer Dear Lord, keep my heart from becoming hard and my memory faint. Allow me to see clearly the wonder of your deeds of redemption, both in the Passover and even more in the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.


Contemplation Remember!


Action: Take time today to remember the redemptive acts of God in Jesus Christ to save you. Preach to yourself the gospel. Look to your own life journey. Where has God’s presence been most real in your life? Remember all that God has done for you and rejoice over it today!

Remember God's Love

Devotion

Reading

NLT Exodus 12:1 Now the LORD gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron while they were still in the land of Egypt: 2 "From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice. 4 If a family is too small to eat an entire lamb, let them share the lamb with another family in the neighborhood. Whether or not they share in this way depends on the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 This animal must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no physical defects. 6 "Take special care of these lambs until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then each family in the community must slaughter its lamb. 7 They are to take some of the lamb's blood and smear it on the top and sides of the doorframe of the house where the lamb will be eaten. 8 That evening everyone must eat roast lamb with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. 9 The meat must never be eaten raw or boiled; roast it all, including the head, legs, and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next day. Whatever is not eaten that night must be burned before morning. 11 "Wear your traveling clothes as you eat this meal, as though prepared for a long journey. Wear your sandals, and carry your walking sticks in your hands. Eat the food quickly, for this is the LORD's Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn sons and firstborn male animals in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD! 13 The blood you have smeared on your doorposts will serve as a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 "You must remember this day forever. Each year you will celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD.


Meditation

Literal

The Passover was the key miracle and event that would free Israel from slavery in Egypt and release them to become the nation of God under the direct rule of God. God wanted His people to recognize the great significance of this event. He altered their calendars and said that they must now make this the beginning of everything. The Jews were most likely living under an Egyptian Calendar at the time which would have made their new year normally begin in July. God’s command here moves their New Year to March/April and it is done that they might recognize that this redemptive event is central to their birth as a nation.

God has been showing that He is sovereign over Egypt and their “gods”. In this battle over “who owns Israel” Yahweh has demonstrated that He has the power to humble Egypt and bring His people to Himself. Now in this final plague upon Egypt God is telling His people something very profound. Every household is under the sentence of death. Only the blood of the covenant can keep anyone alive. Here is the reality. All have sinned and come short of God’s glory. All deserve death. Only a God ordained sacrifice can cause this judgment to “Passover” a person and leave them alive.

Our 21st century reaction to this is how unfair it seems. We see most people as innocent. We see no reason for God to condemn us to death. Surely, we are not so sinful as to deserve devastation and tragedy. Weren’t the Egyptians doing the best they could? Why is God so angry with them? These perspectives are due to our lack of taking sin and rebellion against God seriously. The idolatry of Egypt seems primitive to us but not necessary evil. Yet, in the eyes of God it is an abomination and worthy of plagues. The passage challenges us to have a greater love for holiness and of the serious nature of sin.

Here we find a call for Israel to remember. They exist only because the blood has been shed. Death passed over them because of the blood of the lamb. They were a nation born out of the blood of God’s chosen sacrifice. This remains true for the people of God today.

Chrstocentic: ESV 1 Corinthians 5:7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

The Church is to see the fulfillment of Passover in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the Passover lambs of all the centuries were really only shadows of Jesus. His blood is the real ordained sacrifice the causes the just condemnation of God to pass over our heads and leave us safe. He is our one hope of life, deliverance, and salvation.

Moral: In light of Christ being our Passover we must be ready to leave our “Egypt”, which is that pagan culture in which we were born with all of its idols. We must be ready to walk with Jesus and leave the unbelieving world system in the same way that the Jews had to be ready to leave with God to worship in the wilderness. We must say no to our culture of origin and yes to God’s kingdom culture ruled by Jesus Christ.

Eternal: We will worship the Passover Lamb on the throne. In heaven we will always be filled with joy that God’s just wrath has not touched us because of the blood of the lamb. This will be the center of heavenly worship forever and ever.

Prayer: Lord, help me remember your sacrifice for my sins and help me see the magnitude of my forgiveness.

Contemplation: Remember my Sacrifice!

Action: Identify a attitude, habit, belief, practice, or activity that reflects part of American pagan culture that is still part of my life. Then purge this out in honor of Christ being my Passover.

Don't let the fear of people keep you from doing right!

Devotions

Reading

NLT Jeremiah 15:15 Then I said, "LORD, you know I am suffering for your sake. Punish my persecutors! Don't let them kill me! Be merciful to me and give them what they deserve! 16 Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. 17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I burst with indignation at their sins. 18 Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook. It is like a spring that has gone dry." 19 The LORD replied, "If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them; do not let them influence you! 20 They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall. They will not conquer you, for I will protect and deliver you. I, the LORD, have spoken! 21 Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands."

Meditation

Literal:

We have more psychological insight into Jeremiah than any biblical character outside of Job or Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. Jeremiah will suffer abuse. He will be abandoned and rejected by everyone. He will be verbally, emotionally, and physically abused for answering God’s call to be a prophet and give an unpopular message. He will have to say “Israel will lose” to be faithful to God. His great love for His nation and people will be questioned because he dares question their national morality and piety. In the midst of this abuse, it does not seem to him that God is protecting him by brining his worst persecutors to judgment.

Jeremiah loved God’s word and this was his strength. He hated sin and this was his grief. His hatred of sin led to isolation from the “parties” of his time which were prone to abuse of alcohol and sex as “parties” in all generations are prone. He also felt that the people were ignoring the real crisis they were in. He alone was mourning over the nation’s fall into idolatry and immorality. His heart was broken. How could they not all be weeping? In the midst of this Jeremiah is feeling God’s presence and help is distant. He is the servant of the LORD, yet he feels abandoned even by God.

The LORD speaks to him in this time of intense prayer and struggle. He tells him that he need to turn back to receive the LORD’s embrace. It is not God who has moved but him. The LORD encourages him to keep faithful to the words he has been given to speak. Do not abandon his divine mission. He will be attacked but God will be a fortress to him. His life will be preserved. Jeremiah must simply hold on and not give in to the fear of what others might do to him.

This passage points out that the righteous do suffer for doing righteousness. Living a life of faith does not automatically lead to health, wealth, and prosperity. We will lose our popularity and social standing at times if we remain faithful to God. We will feel at times that the presence of the Lord is far from us. Yet, the reality is that He is our fortress and strength. His word provides guidance, challenge, and comfort. Like Jeremiah we must remain faithful even when we are persecuted for righteousness sake.


Christological: Jeremiah is a shadow of Christ. He is the suffering servant. He is rejected by the nation he has come to save. He will suffer great psychological pain even as Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane. It is thought that Jeremiah was martyred by being cut in two and Christ died for our sins in order to fulfill the redemptive will of God. Here in this man of sorrow we can see our Savior as he weeps over Jerusalem who is addicted to her sins.

Moral: Never abandon doing God’s will due to social pressure or persecution. Do not allow depression to keep you from being faithful.

Eternal: In the fully manifested kingdom of heaven all the wicked and cruel plans of sinful people to hurt us will be forever stopped. We will be in total safety and joy. Our fortress from harm for all eternity will be the eternal LORD himself! We will have 100% security forever. We will not be condemned by God or humanity. Instead we will live in an environment of praise, worship, and acceptance forever and forever. Amen.

Prayer: Lord keep me from being unfaithful due to the fear of other people or failure. Give me a stronger faith and an enduring spirit.

Contemplation: I am with you always

Action; Where do I need to speak boldly God’s word into my world today?

Matthew 16 - The Darkness will lose!

Devotions

Reading: NLT Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." 15 Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.


Meditation

When Herod the Great died in 4 B.C., his kingdom was divided, with his son Archelaeus inheriting Judea and Samaria, Herod Antipas receiving Galilee and Perea (Transjordan), and Philip taking over Gaulanitis, the territory on the Golan, east of the Jordan River and north of the Sea of Galilee. Following the example of his father, Philip built the first city at Panias, naming it Caesarea Philippi to honor the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus and to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast.

Caesarea Philippi became a center of Greek-Roman culture, a city known for its pagan worship, its prestigious status as the capital city of Herod Philip’s domain, and its significant Gentile population. References to "the district of Caesarea Philippi" (Matt 16:13) and "the villages of Caesarea Philippi" (Mark 8:27) reflect the city’s status as the power center of Philip’s territory.

These factors, together with the sheer rock cliff at the worship site, made this an ideal place for Jesus to make His historic announcements. Peter’s declaration, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," challenged the gods in the niches of the cliff and their devotees who worshiped these gods as though they actually existed. I was impressed when I was in Israel that it was here that Jesus declared that the “gates of hell” would not prevail against His church.

If Jesus were standing with His disciples in front of this sheer cliff, it would explain His use of the metaphor "rock" used in His conversation with Peter. The word He used was petra, a term that would be used to describe such a bluff. (Cf. Matt 7:24,25, ". . .who built his house upon the rock petra.") It was Jesus’ practice to teach in metaphors and parables that related to the physical context in which He was ministering, for example, "fishers of men" and "a sower went out to sow" spoken on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where fishing and sowing could readily be observed. It is likely, therefore, that on this occasion, as they stood before this rock bluff, Jesus’ choice of the metaphor, petra, reflected this practice.[1]

What is this passage teaching. First that there will be many view of concerning the identity of Jesus. Perhaps a prophet, a resurrected spirit from another time, or the second coming of Elijah. We should not be surprised when people try to make Jesus fit into their world views.

Second, that the true understanding of Jesus is that He is the promised Messiah, the anointed prophet, priest, and king and promised divine Son of God found in Psalm 2 who is worshipped by the kings of the earth. Only when we see Jesus in this light do we really understand Him.

The third teaching is that this true understanding of Jesus comes only thru divine revelation. It is the Father who must reveal this to us thru the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart. We cannot see this without divine help.

The fourth teaching is that Peter’s profession of faith will be used like a rock catapulted against the walls of a fortress and smash the “gates of hell” and lay the foundation for Christ’s Church. We see this as Peter is used to preach the gospel to the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles.

The fifth teaching is that Christ has promised His Church that they will be victorious in their struggle with unbelief in the world. The commission to make disciples of all nations will be a success. The Church is asked to minister in a very optimistic attitude.

We should be encouraged by this passage to see Jesus as the true Messiah, thank God for being able to see Him in that light, and have courage to press on in discipling the nations due to the promise of ultimate success.

Christocentric: This who passage screams at us that Jesus is the promised Messiah and assures us that though His coming did not bring in world peace and harmony as expected that the real plan of discipling the nations and overcoming the spiritual strong holds of the enemy is being accomplished. The first step towards world peace and harmony is to build the Church.

Moral: Have faith in Christ and in His plan!

Eternal: In eternity we will fully understand the greatness of how Christ planned to build His Church and overcome spiritual strongholds through the preaching of the gospel. We will see the grand design and be awed and inspired by the Wisdom of our God.

Prayer: Lord, let me see you more clearly, that I might love you more dearly, and follow you more dearly this day.

Contemplation: Take courage: I have won!

Action: What can I do to join the Christ in building His Church? Do it now!



[1] http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/caesarea_philippi.htm

Psalm 138 - You give me strength and give me success!

Devotions

Reading: NLT Psalm 138:1 A psalm of David. I give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods. 2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. 3 When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need. 4 Every king in all the earth will give you thanks, O LORD, for all of them will hear your words. 5 Yes, they will sing about the LORD's ways, for the glory of the LORD is very great. 6 Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. 7 Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies! Your power will save me. 8 The LORD will work out his plans for my life-- for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me.


Meditation

Literal
Verse 1. The false gods were the gods of other countries, like Babylon and Assyria. These “gods” could also be the pagan political rulers who claimed many times to be gods or sons of gods. "*Praises" are words that say how great somebody is. So the psalmist is saying that in the presence of idols that the pagans depend to give them power and the great men who claim to be walking demi-gods, he will sing the greatness of The LORD.

In these circumstances the *psalmist writes about the *LORD. The *LORD is a special name for God. It is the "*covenant" name for God. A *covenant is when there is a promise given between two people. This promise can be conditional or unconditional. The LORD has unconditionally promised to love and give help to the people He has chosen. "With all my *heart" is a Hebrew (and English) way to say, "as well as I possibly can".

Verse 2. "Your name" means more than just "God" or "*LORD". It means everything that God is. The "unfailing and faithful love" is a special Bible word. It means the love that God has for his people:
· will never finish;
· will always send help.
These promises are fully guaranteed by God. He will keep His word.

Verse 3. God gave David strength. This is what David would write. Often, when he wanted help, he prayed to the *LORD. The *LORD always answered him. Not by keeping him from having problems but by giving him the strength to get through the problem. David knew that this strength to endure was not his strength but the LORD’s strength given him.

Verses 4 and 5. The day is coming when every leader of every land will hear the word of the LORD. They:
· thanked him (verse 4); and
· sang about it (verse 5).
God has *glory because he is infinite in greatness both in character and in deeds. He is very, very great. So spiritually speaking the greatness and wonder of the LORD shines as the sun shines! That is what "*glory" means.

Verse 6. This is about two groups of people. One group is people that need help. God is high above us in eternity. But he can still see who needs help. He also sees the *proud people. These people think that they are so good that they do not need help and reject God’s word concerning their need.

Verse 7. "The right hand of God" is a Hebrew way to say "what God does on the earth". We could translate it, "by the power of God". God will ultimately protect us from our enemies and give us victory over the satanic forces of darkness. The pagan kings and their gods will not have the ultimate victory in my life. This belongs to the LORD.

Verse 8. This great LORD will accomplish His plan for my life. He will cause every one of his people to know true eternal success.
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Christocentric Perspective – Christ is the fulfilment of all the promises of God. It is through Him that the ultimate enemy Satan has been defeated. His death on the cross, burial, and resurrection has brought the power of God into history through the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Church. The great commission will take the message of Christ and disciple every nation. The gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’s church and the His purpose for us will be totally fulfilled.
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Moral Perspective - I should trust in and give praise for the faithful love of the LORD.
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Eternal: In the eternal kingdom we will dwell before the Lord and see His Glory face to face. We will be filled with thankfulness and see every enemy of our soul totally crushed and powerless. We will give praise to the LORD out of the fullness of our heart and with every atom of our being. This intense and total worship will fulfil us more than anything else we have ever experienced. This is our ultimate destiny as believers in Jesus Christ.
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Prayer: Lord let me see your greatness, express wonder and praise for your greatness, and give to me the strength I need to get through all the struggles I face today. Let me know this is your strength and not mine.
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Contemplation: In Christ is the victory!
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Action: I will not fear what I read in the paper about politics but I will rejoice in the promises of God to me in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 51 - Hope in the middle of trouble

Reading

NLT Isaiah 51:1 "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance-- all who seek the LORD! Consider the quarry from which you were mined, the rock from which you were cut! 2 Yes, think about your ancestors Abraham and Sarah, from whom you came. Abraham was alone when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation." 3 The LORD will comfort Israel again and make her deserts blossom. Her barren wilderness will become as beautiful as Eden-- the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Lovely songs of thanksgiving will fill the air. 4 "Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. 5 My mercy and justice are coming soon. Your salvation is on the way. I will rule the nations. They will wait for me and long for my power. 6 Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth beneath. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!

Meditation:

Literal Interpretation:

This was written to give Israel hope of a future redemption even though in the present they were faced with devastation and judgment because of their sins. The LORD is assuring his people that the promises given to Abraham that his descendents would be inherit the world would yet be kept. The Kingdom of God will be established and fill the earth.

This passage breaks into the following parts

I. Listen and Consider (1)
II. Abraham began without hope of family and ended up with a great nation (2)
III. Therefore: Israel who now seems without hope with become great again (3)
IV. Listen & Hear – (4a)
V. I will bless all nations thru Abraham’s children (4b)
VI. The Kingdom of God is coming soon! (5)
VII. Look! Creation will wear out but my Kingdom will never end! (6)

The point God is making is this. Prophecy has a practical purpose. To keep us from getting discouraged or defeated! Rough times come but God’s purposes cannot fail! You and I are part of something huge. We are part of the LORD’s kingdom which cannot fail will never end! Remember you are part of the kingdom that cannot be defeated! Use that to help you have courage to face the battles of today!

Christocentric perspective: This passage is soaked in promises of the Messiah and the extension of the gospel throughout the world. Christ is the fulfillment of all the promises given to Abraham (Romans 4). The word for “law” here can also be translated “teaching” and could easily refer to the spread of the gospel to all nations. Clearly, the purpose of the LORD was to bless all nations thru Jesus even in the Old Testament. The fact that such bold affirmation of the great commission was proclaimed in Isaiah’s day should give us confidence of the reality of all that Christ Jesus claims to be! It also tells us the importance of seeking to fulfill the great commission in our lives today!

Moral perspective: This passage would tell us to “Listen, Consider, Hear, and Look” at the promises of God found in the gospel. We are to fight the discouragement we feel when trouble and trial come by focusing on the good news of God assurances that evil, error, abuse, and attacks will not be the final word of human history. We are to find courage to live a faithful life by reminding ourselves that God is faithful!

Eternal perspective: This passage gives us a vision of a perfect kingdom of justice, order, paradise, Eden, prosperity, joy, happiness, lovely songs, and thanksgiving. This is our future and destiny because Christ has died for our sins. A perfect kingdom of peace, righteousness, and joy! The struggles of this life will seem small in light of the glory found in this final and eternal kingdom of the LORD.


Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, may your name be glorified! Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! LORD, encourage my heart today by reminding me of your kingdom promises!

Contemplation: Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest!


Action: Preach the gospel to myself today! Seek to preach the gospel to others today! Seek to know joy in the gospel today!

Gospel Not Law

Our sermon series on Romans has focused us on the reality that it through the person of Jesus theMessiah alone that we have union and communion with God. Our obedience to the law of God is the basis of our having fellowship with God. The reality is that we should speak more of our disobedience to the law than our obedience for we have all fallen short of the demands of the law. We are in need of forgiveness and restoration. These are found in Jesus the Christ who has paid for our sins and been raised to life again to give us hope and fellowship with God. This "good news" is the focus, foundation, and center of our Christianity. It is not just a "front door" by which we enter the Christian life; it is the Christian life.

I hope you will join us for our meditations on Romans