Friday, September 30, 2005

 

Peace

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV)

Thursday, September 29, 2005

 

The Not-Needed Friend

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4 NIV)

Yikes!

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

 

The Friend II

"But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:8-10 NIV)

"You see that faith was active along with his [Abraham's] works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'--and he was called a friend of God." (James 2:22-23 ESV)

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my [Jesus speaking] friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." (John 15:13-17 NIV)

We get great pleasure in being selected by our friends for dodgeball, basketball, etc.; how much greater is the pleasure to be chosen by God himself!! I am chosen, are you?

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

 

The Friend


"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24b)

Monday, September 26, 2005

 

Friendship

"Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you--better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away." (Proverbs 27:10)

"Wounds from a friend can be trusted ..." (Proverbs 27:6a)

"A friend loves at all times ..." (Proverbs 17:17a)

“You become a man’s Friend without knowing or caring whether he is married or single or how he earns his living. What have all these ‘unconcerning things, matters of fact’ to do with the real question, Do you see the same truth? In a circle of true Friends each man is simply what he is: stands for nothing but himself. No one cares two-pence about anyone else’s family, profession, class, income, race, or previous history. Of course you will get to know about most of these in the end. But casually. They will come out bit by bit, to furnish an illustration or an analogy, to serve as pegs for an anecdote; never for their own sake. This is the kingliness of Friendship. We meet like sovereign princes of independent states, abroad, on neutral ground, freed from our contexts. This love (essentially) ignores not only our physical bodies but that whole embodiment which consists of our family, job, past and connections. At home, besides being Peter or Jane, we also bear a general character; husband or wife, brother or sister, chief, colleague or subordinate. Not among our Friends. It is an affair of disentangled, or stripped minds. Eros will have naked bodies; Friendship naked personalities.” (C.S. Lewis The Four Loves)

Sunday, September 25, 2005

 

Do Men need "Men-Friends"?

"So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, 'May the LORD call David's enemies to account.' And Jonathan had David re-affirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. ... Jonathan said to David, 'Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD....'" (1 Samuel 20:16-17,42a)

"The homosexual theory therefore seems to me not even plausible. This is not to say that Friendship and abnormal Eros have never been combined. Certain cultures at certain periods seem to have tended to the contamination. In war-like societies it was, I think, especially likely to creep into the relation between the mature Brave and his young armour-bearer or squire. The absense of the women while you were on the war-path had no doubt something to do with it. In deciding, if we think we need or can decide, where it crept in and where it did not, we must surely be guided by the evidence (when there is any) and not by an a priori theory. Kisses, tears and embraces are not in themselves evidence of homosexuality. The implications would be, if nothing else, too comic. Hrothgar embracing Beowulf, Johnson embracing Boswell (a pretty flagrantly heterosexual couple) and all those hairy old toughs of centurions in Tacitus, clinging to one another and begging for last kisses when the legion was broken up ... all pansies? If you can believe that you can believe anything. On a broad historical view it is, of course, not the demonstrative gestures of Friendship among our ancestors but the absence of such gestures in our own society that calls for some special explanation. We, not they, are out of step." (C.S. Lewis The Four Loves)

We, men, need David's!

 

A Woman: Mary

I think sometimes we, men, do not respect women enough. This might be true the other way as well, but I am not going that direction. When it comes to feminism, I agree that men and women are created equal--in worth that is. However, I do not always agree that men and women have equal roles. But I digress again! I think while here on earth, men can never completely understand women. Nevertheless, one thing that I have picked up is the need for women to have girl-friends (http://humanblogger.blogspot.com/ see Another Year Gone By, Another Friend Moves On posted Friday, September 23, 2005). Mary, the mother of Jesus, was no exception:

"The help of having another human being to talk to--two of them, in fact--who were prepared to believe her and discuss the wonder of it all, was such an understanding kindness on the part of Mary's heavenly Father, and ours. Mary ran off to visit Elizabeth and Zacharias. Mary was full of her story you can imagine, and eager to tell someone who would not scoff. But God gave an additional 'sign' to Mary, because Elizabeth was the one who began the conversation with a greeting in a loud voice, saying, "You are blessed among women, Mary, blessed is the fruit of your womb. How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as you greeted me, Mary, my baby leapt in my womb for joy. Blessed are you, Mary, for believing, because there will be a performance of those things which were told you from the Lord. [Luke 1:42-44]"" (Edith Schaeffer Christianity is Jewish)

I may not completely understand the relationships of women; however, I can respect their need for close girl-friend relations.

Saturday, September 24, 2005

 

God's Love for Men

"The LORD God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'" (Genesis 3:9-10 NIV)

"To Adam he said ... 'Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.'" (Genesis 3:17-19 NIV)

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." (Ephesians 5:25-28 NIV)

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. ... But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" (Romans 5:12, 15 NIV)

Friday, September 23, 2005

 

God's Love for Women

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." (Genesis 3:6 NIV)

"To the woman he [God] said, 'I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.'" (Genesis 3:16 NIV)

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. BUT women will be saved [or restored] through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety." (1 Timothy 2:11-15 NIV)

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman ... " (Galatians 4:4 NIV)

"Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary [Magdalene] stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she said, 'and I don't know where they have put him.' At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 'Woman,' he said, 'why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?' Thinking he was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabboni [Teacher]!'" (John 20:10-16 NIV)

Thursday, September 22, 2005

 

The Music of the Night

Once again I find myself coming off of a Bible study high--the body parts of God. I haven't stumbled onto a new study yet. However, on the way to school the other day, I was listening to the Phantom of the Opera. One of my favorite songs in this musical is The Music of the Night. The Phantom has just enticed Christine into the dark depths of the opera house. He then sings these words:

"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imaginationSilently the senses abandon their defences
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your face away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night
Close you eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to go
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the harmony which dreams alone can write
The power of the music of the night
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night"


Does anyone else think this is a "beautiful" picture of temptation and sin?

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics: Charles Hart; additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
Show: "The phantom of the opera" (1986)

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

 

The Scarred Hands & Feet of God

"But he [Thomas] said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.'" (John 20:25)

"Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.'" (Luke 24:36-39)

Wow, majestic hands and holy feet were ruined because of me.

 

The Hands of God

"'Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power.
Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleased your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.'" (Song of Moses and Miriam Exodus 15:6-7)

"Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David." (2 Chronicles 6:4)

"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)

"You [the LORD] open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." (Psalm 145:16)

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?" (Isaiah 40:12a)

"My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I summon them, they all stand up together." (Isaiah 48:13)

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13)

 

The Mouth of God

"Jesus answered, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Deuteronomy 8:3'" (Matthew 4:4 ESV)

"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2:22 ESV)

And my favorite, and it is only a small prepositional phrase:

"For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 40:5b NIV)

Need I say any more?!

 

The Mouth of Wesley

"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." (James 3:3-11 NIV)

"As it is written:
'There is none righteous, not even one;
there is none who understands,
there is none who seek for God;
all have turned aside, together they have become useless;
there is no who does good,
there is not even one.
Their throat is an open grave,
with their tongues they keep deceiving,
the poison of asps is under their lips;
whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness;
their feet are swift to shed blood,
destruction and misery are in their paths,
and the path of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.'"
(Romans 3:10-18 NASB where Paul quotes Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3, Eccles. 7:20, Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 10:7, Isaiah 59:7-8, and Psalm36:1)

Saturday, September 17, 2005

 

The Feet of God

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isaiah 52:7 KJV)

"Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!" (Nahum 1:15a KJV)

"'I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'" (John 16:33 NIV)

"And this was his [John the Baptist's] message: 'After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.'" (Mark 1:7 NIV)

"I [John the apostle] turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone 'like the son of man,' dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ... His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." (Revelation 1:12-15, 16b NIV)

Friday, September 16, 2005

 

Soldier Comes Home

"Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal." (Joshua 10:15 and 10:43 NIV)

Welcome home Joshua!

Thursday, September 15, 2005

 

The Face of God X (Gideon)

"When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD [read chapter 6 of Judges], he exclaimed, 'Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!' But the LORD said to him, 'Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.' So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.' (Judges 6: 22-24 NIV)

 

The Face of God IX (Hagar)

"The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, 'Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?'
'I'm running away from my mistress Sarai,' she answered.
Then the angel of the LORD told her, 'Go back to your mistress and submit to her.' The angel added, 'I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.'
The angel of the LORD also said to her:
'You are now with child and you will have a son.
You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hands will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him,
and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.'
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.' That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered." (Genesis 16:7-14 NIV)

 

The Face of God VIII (Jacob)

"The same night he [Jacob] arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, 'Let me go, for the day has broken.' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' And he said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' Then he said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.' Then Jacob asked him, 'Please tell me your name.' But he said, 'Why is it that you ask me my name?' And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, 'For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.' The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip." (Genesis 32:22-31 ESV)

 

The Face of God VII (Manoah)

"Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, 'We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.'
The angel of the LORD replied, 'Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.' (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)
Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, 'What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true [the promise of a son]?'
He replied, 'Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding [Or is wonderful].'
...
'When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife [due to his ascention in the flame from the burnt offering], Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.
'We are doomed to die!' he said to his wife. 'We have seen God!'
But his wife answered, 'If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.' The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson." (Judges 13:15-18, 21-24a)

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

 

The Face of God VI

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV)

"No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:3-5 NIV)

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

 

The Face of God V

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:7-18 NIV)

 

The Face of God IV

The above passage is from Numbers 6:24-26. It is called the Aaronic Benediction. It is read from top to bottom, right to left for those who can read it (I cannot). The above passage is a beautiful blessing in poetic form. Similar to a Japanese haiku, the above poem contains three words on the first line, five words on the second line, and seven words on the third line. According to The Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament by John R. Kohlenberger III, the rough English of the above verse is:

may-he-bless-you Yahweh and-may-he-keep-you
may-he-make-shine Yahweh faces-of-him on-you and-may-he-be-gracious-to-you
may-he-turn Yahweh faces-of-him toward-you may-he-give to-you peace

Each verse contains two elements of benediction! And the last word "peace" is the fullness of the concept of "shalom."

"The LORD said to Moses, 'Tell Aaron and his sons, "This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
'The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.'
So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."'" (Numbers 6:22-27 NIV)

[DISCLAIMER: I took the above passage from a Hebrew Bible and tried my best to duplicate it in Microsoft Word. I do not guarentee that it is 100% perfect]


 

The Face of God III

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

"Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior." (Psalm 27:7-9 NIV)

"Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." (Psalm 105:4 NIV)

Monday, September 12, 2005

 

The Face of God II

"No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father." (John 6:46 NIV)

"Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.'
Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father?" Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?'" (John 14:8-10a NIV)

Saturday, September 10, 2005

 

The Face of God

"Moses said, 'Now show me your glory.'

And the LORD said, 'I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD [YHWH], in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,' he said, 'you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.' Then the LORD said, 'There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.'

... When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. ... he put a veil over his face. ... Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went to speak with the LORD." (Exodus 33:18-23, 34:29,30,33,35 NIV)

Friday, September 09, 2005

 

Where to now?

I am coming off of a high from the last series of posts (Resurrection, Redeemer, The Return). Where do I go now? I am waiting in anticipation for what God will show me next. Until then, a hymn:

"Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

"Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

"To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish--but naught changeth Thee.

"Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render: O help us to see
'Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee." A-men
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. Walter Chalmers Smith. Welsh Melody

"...he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." (Psalm 121:3,4)

Thursday, September 08, 2005

 

The Return VI (the vow)

"I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,
In lovingkindness and in compassion,
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the LORD." (Hosea 2:19-20 NASB)

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

 

The Return V (the bride)



"And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.'" (Revelation 21:2-4 NLT)

"Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, 'Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed--on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." (Revelation 21:9-14 ESV)

"Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens." (Song of Solomon 2:2 NIV)


Tuesday, September 06, 2005

 

The Return IV (the groom)



"Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant? Look! It is Solomon's carriage, escorted by sixty warriors, the noblest of Israel, all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle, each with his sword at his side, prepared for the terrors of the night. King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon. Its posts he made of silver, its base of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple, its interior lovingly inlaid by the daughters of Jerusalem. Come out, you daughters of Zion, and look at King Solomon wearing the crown, the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day his heart rejoiced." (Song of Solomon 3:6-11 NIV)

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16 ESV)


 

The Return III

The mountains are now leveled, the road repaired, and the gates are flung open:

"Look! Here he comes, leeping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. My lover spoke and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.'" (Song of Solomon 2:8-13 NIV)

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.'
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)"
(Revelation 19:6-8 NIV)

Monday, September 05, 2005

 

The Return II

One of the greatest strengths of the Roman Empire was their roads. These roads had to be recleared and releveled periodically, especially when an important personage such as a king was to travel on them.

"As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."'"
(Luke 3:4-6 ESV)
"Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
Who is the King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of host,
He is the King of glory." Selah
(Psalm 24:7-10 NASB)

Sunday, September 04, 2005

 

The Return

Not only does Job reference the Resurrection and the Redeemer, he also prophesies about the second coming of Christ (what I call The Return). "... and at last he will stand upon the earth." (Job 19:25b ESV)

"the LORD, whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi ..." (Malachi 3:1b-3a KJV)

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV)

 

Redeemer IV

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. [see blood-avenger in previous post] He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26 NIV)

Nicely put Paul!

Saturday, September 03, 2005

 

Redeemer III

Redemption is all through the Bible. I could quote Exodus 6:6, Ps 44:26, Hos 13:14, Isa 44:6, Lk 21:28, Ro 3:24, Ro 8:23, 1Co 1:30, Eph 1:7, Eph 1:14, Col 1:14, Heb 9:12, etc, etc, etc. The list just goes on and on. Of all the verses, the following stuck out to me!

"No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for himm--the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--that he should live on forever and not see decay. ... But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah" (Psalm 49:7-9, 15 NIV)

"O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins." (Psalm 130:7-8 NIV)

"'Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you,' declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 41:14 NIV)

The prophet Isaiah loved the title of Redeemer and Holy One. It can be found in 43:14, 47:4, 48:17, 49:7, and 54:5. In 54:5-7 the Redeemer is called Israel's husband. And the husband is longing for his wife, who married young and was rejected, to return back to him. Isaiah continues this thought in 62:4-5. So Agur son of Jakeh, who is this Holy One?

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and wordly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14)

"'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31-32)

I was going to end with Redeemer III and move to the third point of Job. But too much is here to move on quite yet!

 

Redeemer II

"If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull must be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death. However, if payment is demanded of him, he may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded." (Exodus 21:28-30 NIV)

"...you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there. ... If he [manslayer] struck him down with an iron object ... struck him down with a stone in the hand ... struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he might die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. The blood avenger (goel) himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him." (Numbers 35:11,16a, 17a, 18,19 NASB)

Jesus redeems us by "paying whatever is demanded." We are--I am-- guilty of unintentional and intentional sins. Therefore, I should be put to death. Nevertheless, I flee to the "city of refuge," that is God himself. But I have just run straight to where one would logically avoid. I have fled to God, the blood avenger, who justly requires death. However, Jesus steps in and claims my innocence! But how? I am not innocent! I am guilty! Jesus, that is God himself, takes on the punishment. "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25) A price must be paid. The Price was paid.

Friday, September 02, 2005

 

Redeemer

Returning back to Job's comments, I will now look into the word Redeemer. The word redeemer in Job 19:25 is the Hebrew word goel (According to the Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary). The commentary says that the word has both a criminal and a civil aspect. I will look at the civil side during this post.

The civil aspect of the word goel refers to a kinsman-reedemer. In the Book of Ruth, Boaz becomes Ruth's kinsman-reedemer by buying the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess. "The women said to Naomi, 'Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he [directly Obed, son of Boaz and Ruth, and indirectly King David, great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth] become famous throughout Israel!" (Ruth 4:14 NIV)

Jesus ultimately fulfilled the position of The Kinsman-Redeemer. "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:20) "For you know that is was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

But why did Jesus have to pay a price? Why could he just not claim us? That is for tomorrow!

Thursday, September 01, 2005

 

Resurrection IV

Why all the posts about resurrection from the dead? Well, "if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and [our] faith is also vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14) However, "for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

 

Resurrection III

East Tennessee has been known for an area of secrets. During War World II, The Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge was not disclosed to the public. Another area kept out of sight is the Body Farm. At the Body Farm, forensic scientists study human decay. Death and the decay of earthly bodies are just part of life's cycle. However, Jesus was in the tomb for only three days and did not see decay. "...you [God] will not abandon me [King David] to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." (Psalm 16:10) "Bloating of the body usually is present two to seven days following death. Following this, within structures, there is frequently rapid decomposition and skeletonization. ... Exposure of large portions of the skeleton usually does not occur until four to six months after death. Bleaching and exfoliation of bone—the beginning stages of destruction of the skeletal elements—begins at about nine months' exposure." (Galloway A, Birkby WH, Jones AM, Henry TE, Parks BO. Decay Rates of Human Remains in an Arid Environment. Journal of Forensic Science. Volume 34, Issue 3 (May 1989) ). Amazing!

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