Such beauty seen from the grandstand of life is seldom beheld as is seen in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53. We read the beautiful foreshadowing of our present day Hope and Faith. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ The voice of your watchmen-they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.” Isaiah 52:7,8 Within the pages of Isaiah we are given a picture of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Did the audience who received these worst realize how precious and beautiful these words of God truly were? ”Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.” Isaiah 52:13 Continue Reading…
Despised, rejected, oppressed, and crushed for you: Isaiah 52 and 53
Do your actions proclaim your trust or disdain of God: Isaiah 29 and 30
We are given a looking glass into our own lives in Isaiah 29 and 30. What do you treasure? What do you value? What do you hold in high regard? Our lives will answer these questions without a need for us to speak. We can proclaim to act or believe in one thing or another but if our actions do not match what we say we are lying. Do you live out what you proclaim to be your faith in God? Do your actions proclaim your trust or disdain of God? “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.’” Isaiah 29:13,14 Where is your heart? Our hearts are what truly motivate us to do everything we do. Continue Reading…
Blessing found in an unexpected glimpse of Jesus Christ: Psalm 106
All of our thoughts and ideas are wholly worthless compared to the truth contained and the blessing bestowed to us as we meditate upon Jesus Christ. Have you ever been fixated on a problem, task or idea when suddenly a seedling thought of Jesus Christ instantaneously grows in your mind to be all-comsuming? These unexpected moments where we clearly see what Jesus Christ has done for us are blessings of greater worth than anything mankind can contrive. Are you blessed as you meditate on Jesus Christ? Do you celebrate when you are given a clear perspective and picture of Jesus Christ in a moment you are not expecting a glimpse of Him? Why do we so often forget to continually look expectantly for glimpses of Jesus Christ in everything that we do? Continue Reading…
Great expectation for the second advent of Jesus Christ: Psalm 72
What do you expectantly desire and wait for? Do you get excited when you have been invited to a massive party? What is the hope and desire of your heart? “I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or look into it; and one of the elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.’ And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” Revelation 5:1-7 Are you living in great expectation for the second advent of Jesus Christ where he will restore creation? Our hope is grounded on the provision of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ returns it will be a time of joyful celebration for everyone who has placed their hope and trust in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. Continue Reading…
Out of confusion springs fellowship with God: Psalm 45
How do you deal with confusing passages of Scripture you come across in the Bible? Do you move on to other passages that are less confusing or do you sit down and meditate upon the passage that seems confusing? What is Psalm 45 talking about? I’ll admit that I am a little confused after reading through Psalm 45. What is being discussed? What key people are talked about within this Psalm? It would be easy to run to the ‘helpful’ commentaries at the bottom of my Bible to get a better understanding of this chapter but I would lose out from the time spent meditating on the Bible in fellowship with God. Continue Reading…
Hope and promise found in God: Psalm 34
Why would a humble person rejoice with David’s boasting in the Lord? What is there to cause David to call us to magnify the name of the Lord? In Psalm 34 David speaks about hope for the believer that is overwhelmed by situations and adversaries that seek to destroy. How is this hope relayed to the reader? We are given a first hand account of God’s faithfulness and deliverance from David. David’s life was filled with many moments of great joy and others of great despair but he continually set his heart, mind, soul and strength toward God. “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 David knew first hand that his dependance upon God brought hope, strength and peace to his soul. The language David uses in Psalm 34 brings hope to the hurting, strength to the weak and joy to despairing because of God’s faithfulness. Continue Reading…
Foreshadowing of deliverance from David: Psalm 22
Would you remain steadfast in your faith and dependance on God when everything in life seemingly turns against you and God is silent? When David was faced with overwhelming odds of deliverance he resolutely placed his trust in God alone. Are you downtrodden today facing your overwhelming trouble, trial and tribulation? If you are weary in the depths of your soul I ask you to sit down and read through Psalm 22 and let the truth envelope your heart. David was a man who was completely flawed like we are today yet his hope to overcome his sinfulness and the schemes of men was found in God. Continue Reading…
Foreshadowing of Jesus Christ in the defense of a child: 2 Chronicles 23 and 24
Are you willing to defend your faith? To what extent are you willing to obey God’s commandments? Who do you defend when there is injustice? In 2 Chronicles 23 and 24 Jehoiada secures the rule of Judah for Joash who was just a child of seven. The Levites gathered to protect this young ruler from anything that could harm him. These Levites stood alert and ready to react to anyone who would seek to enter the Temple to harm Joash. Is there a parallel to our relationship to Jesus Christ found in the story of Jehoiada, Joash, and the Levites? Continue Reading…
What is the true meaning of sacrifice: Deuteronomy 17 and 18
Why does God require an unblemished ox or sheep to be used as a sacrifice? In Deuteronomy 17 Moses reminds the people of Israel that they shall never offer a blemished sacrifice to God. It seems a little weird to me at first to think that God wanted perfect animal to be sacrificed. I tried to place myself into the story of the Israelites in Deuteronomy and that is when I started to understand why it was important. Let me put this command in a more modern sense. My sacrificing a blemished animal would be me giving my church money only after I have everything I need or it is like donating your car to your church only after you have upgraded to a new and better one. Continue Reading…
