My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
92
CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
We have before us our third name of God that describes our Father as a Creator, the Creator of the ends of the earth. We have been introduced to God as the Creator, and as the Creator of Israel, but in this description we find He is speaking to Israel regarding that which they cannot see. The ends of the earth are the furthest distance from Israel, that part of creation that they have never seen, experienced or interacted with.
Yet God has created the ends of the earth, and as such, has a heart for those who have not been seen, experienced or interacted with.
As believers, we tend to be concerned only with our own “world”, our own circle of family, friends and foes, but God is looking to far greater concerns than simply our concerns, valid as they are. His heart is not only for the individual believer, for the body of Christ as an organism and family, but also He is looking to the ends of the earth for their redemption and He will accomplish it.
Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
God has created the ends of the earth, so that they along with us, may worship Him together with us.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
In our last post on this passage I asked if those reading think of this passage as a tough passage? I assumed everyone would agree.
I mentioned that for the purpose of the last post, I wanted to delve into the conditional security topic this particular passage speaks to and that I would not address the difficult phrase of “saved through childbearing” in the previous post
This is a new post and I would like to offer a few thoughts and maybe a possible solution to this difficult passage.
The phrase that sticks in my throat every time I read it is “she will be saved through childbearing”. How to understand this phrase spins my head in loops, for it seems to say that only mothers have the opportunity for salvation, but this is obviously incorrect, for the apostles themselves were believers and not one of them had given birth.
Of course Paul may be speaking only to women in this passage – check the context – but that still knocks out all women who have never given birth. How does that jive?
In my reading about this passage I found that the Greek word for childbearing has the definite article associated with it. That is, it may be referring to “the child” borne into this world. Could Paul be referring to a specific child, the God – man Jesus, that though born through a fallen woman, may provide salvation to not only specific women, but off to all women no matter their condition.
One additional aspect of this phrase that seemed to help me swallow some of this passage is that some translations translate the term saved, as preserved, and may refer to not only to specific women, but also to the preservation of the dignity and character womankind began with.
Hopefully I have not caused any deeper confusion, but in my looking at this passage last week, I found myself digging, and wanted to provide some of my preliminary thoughts.
Your thoughts (preliminary or other) are always welcomed.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
Abraham
Father of Many Nations
Genesis 17:5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Abram began his walk with God in obedience to the call of God, given the promise of being a blessing, and eventually being provided the promise of a land for his children. He would become a great nation, but as it is with the Lord, Abraham would not simply be the father of a nation, but the father of many nations.
It is commonly thought, that Abraham has lineage in many of the eastern nations surrounding Israel, but even greater is his status of being the father of three of the largest religions in the world.
Of course he is a founder of the Jewish faith, and by extension a father in the Christian faith. Many in the faith of Islam consider Abraham a father of their faith, though through Ishmael.
Gen 17:5 speaks of Abraham as being the father of many nations, and that can be understood in various ways, whether it be through geopolitical nations, or groups of people that are of a nation without land, but by faith.
Abraham was a father of many nations! Our God is the Father of all, no distinction of differences, no “us and them”. He is not the Father is all the nations, although is a sense He is, but in our thoughts for today, He is the Father of all.
Of all.
I don’t understand it, but that is alright, for He is the One in charge and not I.
May His name be praised, ab all who have breath.
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
93
CREATOR OF THE HEAVENS
Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
This name of God is our last name for us to consider that includes the concept of creation. Earlier we have considered “Creator”, “Creator of Israel” and “Creator of the ends of the earth”.
With this name, we find we are hearkening back to the first concept, that of creating out of nothing. He is the Creator of the heavens, that which was described in the very first verse of Genesis.
The heavens. What most modern believers may think of as space, with all the galaxies, planets and stars flung into it. For the ancient Hebrews, their concept of the heavens may have been that of the firmament, the sky with the clouds. How they considered the sun and stars relative to the sky is an unknown for myself.
Nevertheless, God created all that is above us, an expanse that neither the Hebrew nor we can understand. It is not only physically above us, but it is greater than our imaginations, unfathomable in our understanding.
Yet He created it, a reflection of His eternality, His all mighty power, His unknowable wisdom and His abundant “over the top” provision for His people.
He is the Creator of the heavens, and they speak of His glory.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
91
CREATOR OF ISRAEL
Isaiah 43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”
In our last post, we considered God as Creator. He who created out of nothing, or as the ancients used to say “ex nihilo”. Our passage this morning speaks of God as Creator, using the same Hebrew word as in Gen 1:1, but in a different sense.
God created Israel, the nation now in captivity in Babylon. He is reminding the people who have been dragged off into captivity that He is their Creator. The nation would not exist with His active work in the world.
Consider the patient work performed in the creation of the nation. The calling of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the expansion of this dysfunctional family, the rescue of Israel from Egypt though the plagues, the exodus through the Sinai of a thankless people, the giving of the law, the invasion and domination of the land of Canaan, the provisions of judges to provide leadership, the rejection of His authority in demanding a king, the calling and equipping of prophets to warn the nation, and finally, at this point in their history, the humbling of the nation by a cruel Babylon.
God created Israel through many processes and was calling on them to recall their past, in that He is their Creator.
Only a few lines later, Isaiah draws their attention the the current activities of God, in that He is doing a new thing. His creative powers, in that of the nation of Israel in not finished. Babylon will not have the final word. God is actively working and doing a new thing in the history of Israel.
He will make a road in the wilderness (v 19), a path back to the land they have been carried away from. Their story wasn’t over yet, and if truth be told, the Way they would be provided would be greater than all their hopes and wishes.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Is this a tough passage? Everyone says YES!
This is a difficult passage that creates more questions than answers. My intent isn’t to solve the mystery of what it means to be “saved through childbearing”, but to bring the last clause into focus.
This is an example of the topic of salvation being contingent upon continuance, by our perseverance, persistence and determination to practice our faith, love and holiness, with self control. This begs the question of our source of strength for only through our connection with the Savior, can we continue through His strength. Yet we are to follow, look to Him, seek His help, pray for His strength, ask for His wisdom and in every way we know, lean on Him for our every need.
Yet as I walk through these passages that speak of conditional security, I can see where this topic may foster an attitude of superiority, of a pride in persevering, of thinking haughty inner thoughts due to continuing in a religious life, of comparing your “living” faith with others who may be struggling.
My brothers and sisters, this is antithetical to true Christian life and exhibits a self reliance, a leaning on the strength of your own will. This pride of perseverance is the very sour air that turns so many away from the faith, and rightly so.
We desperately need to admit our weakness, our poverty, our neediness, our inabilities. Not only to ourselves, which is the first (and hardest?) step, but also to our family, our friends, our fellow workers, and dare I say it – even our enemies.
But alas, this requires great wisdom, and a true humility, where we don’t necessarily think lowly of ourselves, but that we don’t think of our selves at all. – What a blessing to be in that state!
Truly, to walk with the Lord is impossible without Him. It is just too deep, too broad, too high and too wide, for our feeble minds and weak hearts to fathom.
May we seek Him, and in the seeking find the strength He provides to humbly admit our weaknesses.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
Abraham
Altar Builder
Genesis 12:7 So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:8 And there he built an altar to the LORD Genesis 13:18 there he built an altar to the LORD. Genesis 22:9 Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Hebrews 8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.
Early on in the Word, any place could be an altar, and Abraham in his travels built many altars. I often think of altars as places of quietness, calmness and peace. For those in the Old Testament, this might not be such an accurate picture, for the word altar, in the Old Testament can literally be translated as “a place of slaughter”.
I may have mentioned this in a previous blog, but my son took it upon himself to read through the Bible in a month, and in the reading, as he got through Leviticus, he made the following statement. Dang – those priest’s in the temple were more like butchers than religious priests today!
Sharp boy, that son of mine! He saw that the altar was a place of slaughter, blood and death. The slaughter of any animal has got to be a violent, possibly noisy endeavor, not to mention the gushing of blood, the experience of a life ending and the impact on the conscious of the one sacrificing.
The New Testament is no different, for it also refers to a place of slaughter. I am not convinced that the Altar was any less bloody during times of sacrifice, or that the practice was “sanitized” much from early times. To sacrifice an animal would be the forcing of one’s will upon a helpless victim, an animal with no choice.
Consider Jesus, who was not only the sacrifice, but the High Priest of the New Covenant. He officiated over His own sacrifice, and was the One who orchestrated the time, place and extent of His sacrifice.
He is the ultimate altar builder, and as such has eliminated the blood letting for His worshippers. There is no altar for the believer, no place to sacrifice an animal to appease God. This is an ultimate insult to consider this as being an acceptable approach to God. Our altar is Him, and our approach to the altar is to be in a state of humility, teachableness and with a thankful spirit.
Abraham was a shadow, but Jesus is the reality. Look to the Only Sacrifice offered up for your life!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
90
CREATOR
Romans 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
When we think of creating a piece of art, making a machine, or writing a poem, we think we are creating something, that may have never been in existence before. Well – that may be true in some instances, but we should stop short of thinking we are creating in the same manner as God created.
We “create” out of a plethora of materials.
If we are making a piece of art, whether a painting, sculpture or a book, then all the material and subjects we broach in the art is found in the originally created world. We are merely recreating, or rearranging already existing thoughts feelings and ideas.
Similarly with the making of a machine. Whether that machine is a tractor, or a computer, the original machine is made from ideas and truths available to the one searching specific processes or methods already established and ready to be found in the originally created world.
In the writing of a poem or story, we are taking truths or observations and communicating these truths or observations in a hopefully unique way.
But in all these human creations, we can not claim that we are creating in the same way as God created the world we live in. For when we speak of God creating, He creates out of nothing.
He did not have any one previous to him to provide guidance in creation, or methods of creating, or materials to create out of. He did not have any materials to manipulate in order to create something new. He had nothing to work with, and by a simple spoken word, emptiness, what many call space, was created.
Space was created. Time was created. Material was created.
In the beginning (time), God created the heavens (space) and the earth (materials).
We have been made, created in the image of God, and yet though we are broken, we do mimic God in our creative efforts. But there are limitations to our mimicking, for He has provided us not only the materials and time to create from, but the space to perform all our necessary work.
He has established all things. We are simply trying to understand His creation, and in a small way create systems or things that may be of benefit for those around us.
There is a massive difference between our creating and His creating, and due to that huge distinction, He is truly the only actual Creator.
May His name be praised.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
89
COVER OF YOUR PRESENCE
Psalm 31:20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
Decades ago, when I was courting my wife, we ended up in a little donut shop in my neighborhood, all alone with just the cashier behind the counter. It was a quiet area, and we were enjoying each others company (and a donut of course!) when it multiple groups of people entered the restaurant. Two young men, a couple on a date, some fellas from the bowling alley, three teenagers. It just seemed that the store was inundated with customers for no apparent reason.
After the crowds entered and we had finished our donut, we got up to leave and as we walked away, we both described a feeling of “apartness” or of being separate from “the masses”. It was a very identifiable experience that we both shared in, and though I am surely not implying those who entered the shop were of any malicious intent towards us, I think the experience is a parallel to David’s description of the Lord’s covering.
Other translations speak of “shelter of your presence” (NLT) or the “secret place of Your presence” (NKJV), even the “protection of Your presence” (CSB).
Make no mistake about our little experience. I am not claiming we were under any attack from anyone, but only that the experience of being separate, of experiencing being apart from others is my intent.
David speaks of this covering, of this protection as being God’s presence, which is a most audacious thing to say, for David must surely understand the presence of God is only in the Temple. Just as the believer may understand the presence of God may only be found in a church building.
David also brings this description to our attention due to the fact that he is under attack by the plots of men, and is the recipient of the strife of tongues. David was under attack, and yet he knew of God’s protection, of God’s active work in hiding him in plain sight.
It is a truly mysterious and glorious God that we serve. May we understand His many ways of working in our lives and be a thankful people.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
John is coming to a close in the book of Revelation and enters into his description of the new heaven and the new earth. As he describes this new creation, and especially the provision of the water of life to those who conquer, he veers off and starts talking of some who do not conquer. The ones who are cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars will enter the second death.
But John – you are sending this book to the seven churches. Are you not concerned that some of the believers might see themselves in these descriptions. These are believers that will read this message and they may not realize you intend this for unbelievers.
That is the rub in this passage. Those in the church who may read this, if they are not hardened beyond repentance, will see this as a warning and return to the truth. John is actually evangelizing the saved, and is not providing a warning for those in the church to use when they are talking to the lost.
As a matter of fact, it occurs to me that many times when the apostles spoke to the lost, their emphasis was the risen Lord, and not the destination of those who may believe. In other words, it is rare when an apostle uses hell to “scare them into heaven”. If my reader has a portion of Scripture that I have missed, please provide, but the apostles emphasis was His resurrection and not our destination.
Nevertheless, this passage speaks of the believer who has apostatized, who has decided to walk away from the Savior, who has hardened their heart and stopped their ears, rejecting the leading of the Father.
The new heaven and the new earth is for those believers who have continued with the Savior through thick and thin, who have followed and kept the faith, not merely as a doctrine, but as a practice in their lives.
My friend – our lives are to be lives of repentance and faith, of realizing we are weak and that we need His strength, of understanding that we naturally fall, tend to wander and close our eyes to the light.
He is good. May we seek to follow, and by His strength and mercy, conquer.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
Abraham
Offspring Benefits
Genesis 12:7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Hebrews 10:34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
Abraham as an 75 year old old man left his home, his land and his family, based on the message God provided him, that is a command to leave his home, family and country, in order to make him a great nation, give him a great name, and make him a blessing to all.
In the initial promise, it may safely be assumed that Abraham would have children, but the initial communication from the Lord did not specifically define any land that they would possess. Yes, the Lord told him that He should go to the land He would show him, but not until Abraham had committed, leaving family and friends behind, did the Lord mention the land as a possession of his offspring.
Abraham was on the move without a specific promise of a land as a benefit for his offspring, as a possession for his seed. Not until they came into the land of Canaan, did the Lord provide the promise of the land for his children.
He had the promise of a benefit for his children. Turns out it took centuries for the promise to be fulfilled, but a promise is not dependent on time, for a promise given 2,000 years is as valid as a promise given yesterday. For the promise is dependent on the promise maker, and our promise maker is faithful.
As Abraham, Jesus was provided promises of benefit for His offspring, a possession that is an abiding possession, based in the One who led the way. It is not a piece of real estate, but a real peace with God, and of God, a state of love and joy that far exceeds any benefit Abraham’s offspring was promised.
God the Father made promises to our “Abraham”, and by His faithful acts, and through the faithfulness of God, our possession is secure, and is waiting for us to enter into, to enjoy and to walk in.
May we find greater and greater joy in realizing the faithfulness of our God and His many mercies
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
88
COVENANT FOR THE PEOPLE
Isaiah 42:6 “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
Many times, in our self centered viewing of the Word, we do not see the Lord Jesus when God speaks of His Servant, as we see in this passage. Many may think this passage is referring to the nation of Israel, and reconfirming their mission to the gentiles, their calling.
The message was relevant for the nation at the time, for they were going into difficult times and needed to be reassured of their status before God. This is surely a blessing that Isaiah provides for the nation, yet if we consider the Christ centered message of the Word, it is obvious that the Lord is referring to Jesus in this passage.
Other passages refer to Him as a light to the nations, and as a Righteous Branch, or a Righteous Servant, but this post is going to consider Him as “a covenant for the people”.
To be a covenant is to be a pledge, or an alliance, even a treaty. Jesus has been given us as a treaty, a peace offering, a unilateral pledge of peace, if we will simply understand and trust Him.
I would like to emphasize that the Lord gave Jesus as a peace treaty, not as a negotiation or as a threatening offering, but that He gave Jesus. A gift.
Secondly, who did the Lord give Jesus, the covenant, the treaty to? The people. The people, in this verse are not active, but are the recipients of the peace treaty.
A gift to the people. A treaty, or an alliance offered to the people, without stipulation or caveat.
This verse is a clear expression of grace toward the people, toward those who were in covenant (the Jewish nation) and to those outside of the covenant – the Gentile nations. You may want to restrict “the people” in this verse to only those under the Mosaic covenant, and you have the freedom to do so, but as we enter the New Testament, we know that the covenant is for “the people”, for those who have blood in their veins and breath in their lungs.
And with this breath, we can praise the Lord for His tremendous Gift of Grace in Jesus!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
87
CORNERSTONE
Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Jesus is referring to Psalm 118:22 when He speaks of the cornerstone being rejected by the builders.
This is a stinging prophecy Jesus is applying to the first century Jewish leadership. Although He speaks of Psalm 118, He also could have brought Isaiah 28:16 to the attention of the leadership.
Isaiah 28:16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
Of course this passage doesn’t speak of rejection. May I suggest, this is the emphasis of Jesus using Psalm 118 when addressing those who were seeking His death.
Not only was it their responsibility not recognizing the Messiah, and that in rejecting the chief cornerstone, they rejected the very stone the building relies on, but Jesus also declares the Lord is in the midst of this.
God will use the wrath of man, the rejection of these leaders, to do a marvelous thing, a supernatural salvation, in front of their very eyes.
He is the cornerstone, the key to the church, the first of all stones to be laid, the sure foundation and the only One to provide the salvation promised.
As Psalm 118:24, the very next verse in the Great Hallel, states
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
The day the Lord takes the rejected stone, and makes Him the cornerstone – this is the day that we are to rejoice in.
The day of salvation, of His work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
The Lord’s doing is truly marvelous! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
Revelation 2:18-26 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,
This is a difficult passage! My first question is …
Who is the subject of this rebuke?
I am going to add my understanding to the verses on this passage below, to try to make sense of the intended audience, and then from that exercise, make some conclusions. Hopefully it brings some clarity and not confusion!
20 But I have this against you (Thyatirian Church Body), that you (Thyatirian Church Body) tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants (Thyatirian Church Individuals) to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her (Jezebel) time to repent, but she (Jezebel) refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her (Jezebel) onto a sickbed, and those (Thyratirian Church Individuals) who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they (Thyatirian Church Indiviuals) repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children (Jezebel’s followers) dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you (Thyatirian Church Individuals) according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira (Thyatirian Church Individuals), who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.
As I have went through this passage trying to identify who Jesus is specifically calling out to, my issue becomes two fold. Is he speaking to the body of believers, or to individuals within the body?
Body
Is he talking to the church as a body alone, and as the church body, speaking of their survival as a witness in the city of Thyatira?
This approach is the way I approached the passage in my days when I clung to the OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) teaching. I referred to verse 22 as a passage that spoke of a Great Tribulation coming upon the church in the end days, and was able to save my OSAS thinking, delegating those who follow this Jezebel to a small group within a church – not believers – in the last few years prior to eternity.
As you may know, this is not my thinking now, for why would the Lord speak to the first century church in Thyatira of a small group of people 2,000 years in the future?
Individuals
Or is he talking to the church, addressing individuals within the church, informing them that as they follow Jezebel, they are not following Him?
This makes more sense, though it is scarier for the individual if you are following the prophetess Jezebel. Those in verse 22 are responsible to repent of Jezebels works, responsible to change their thinking, their faith and their allegiance to this prophetess.
Note that verse 23 speaks of Jezebel’s children. May I suggest that those, in the church, who have fully given over to her teaching, are now classified as Jezebel’s children.
The very next verse, Jesus continues with .. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, (helping me understand that the audience is still the church in Thyatira) … this verse connects these children of Jezebel as a some part of the church of Thyatira. And the judgement upon these children is final!
Jesus will strike these children dead.
I find it interesting to say the least that a few translations refer to this death as a plague or pestilence.
‘And I will kill her children with plague, NASB
‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, LSB
‘I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, NET
‘And I will kill her children (followers) with pestilence [thoroughly annihilating them], AMP
No matter how you understand this last phrase, it surely is not associated with those who are actively seeking and following after the Savior.
If you are listening to any teacher that advocates any other god than the True God, a teacher that is alluring you away from Jesus and towards a spiritually adulterous faith, advocating sexual immorality in the believers life, and providing “grace” to eat foods sacrificed to idols – telling me of Jezebel’s advocating participation in idol worship, this is dangerous.
No matter how you understand this passage, whether you are simply loosing out on rewards (OSAS thinking) or walking towards death, take the Lord’s warning seriously, test your teacher’s doctrine and way of life, compare those you follow with the Word of God.
If those you follow are not of the Word, immediately run as far as you can from them. Cling to the Word and trust in the Savior only.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
Abraham
Foreigner
Genesis 23:4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
John 1:11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
In our last post on Abraham we considered his accepted status as a a sojourner, or a tempory inhabitant of the land.
In this post lest us consider Abraham as a foreigner. One who is not like those he lives amongst. Someone who is different than the general public, than the masses.
This surely was Abrahams condition, being a monotheist in a land of polytheism, a stranger wandering about. It may have seemed to those he rubbed shoulders with that he may be running from something, or trying to hide from something. Being a foreigner, brings a suspicious eye from the populace.
He was so different!
This also is so true of our Savior, for though he arrived amongst those of His own, He was looked upon with suspicious eyes, seeing that He was different, so different that the average Israelite. As he revealed who He was for those who would accept it, His differences, when compared with the common Joe only increased!
Both Abraham and Jesus were foreigners amongst their neighbors, but how much more for Jesus!
Upon arriving on this globe, Jesus also lived a life of a temporary inhabitant, though He possessed all things, and would eclipse all authorities and powers through His ministry and sacrifice.
He has established a new nation. Don’t be a foreigner!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
86
CONSUMING FIRE
Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
A consuming fire. Moses wrote this by inspiration in relation to the topic of idolatry in the life of the faithful Israelite. Moses recounts to the faithful, in verse 15, that the nation “saw no form” when God spoke to them at Horeb.
There was no reason to resort to idolatry, for they had no form to duplicate. Of course they had the influence of their national neighbors, and of course a darkened heart that would expose itself as they sought to obey the law. These times of idolatry were inevitable without the faith that God was looking for.
Out of an idolatrous life, God would appear to be the consuming fire Moses warns them of.
The author of Hebrews resorts to this phrase, describing our God in relation to our refusing to hear Him who speaks (Hebrews 12:25).
In both of these verses, for the faithful Israelite and for the faithful believer, God is described as a consuming fire. Once in relation to idolatry, and once in relation to refusing to hear Him. Might I suggest that idolatry, evil as it is in many forms, has one effect on the believer. A decision to elevate one authority over another.
In this context, when a believer falls into idolatry, he is considering that which he worships (the idol) to be more authoritative than God Himself.
This is a logical thought toward idolatry.
The fuller and more powerful thought regarding idolatry comes down to one thing.
Who ya gonna love?
Who will you choose to love? In the culture I live in, 21st century America, there are multitudes of idols seeking my attention. I would hope my reader would agree that this culture is no friend to the sole worship of our God.
It is a battle of the mind to decide to worship Him. This is the warfare we sometimes do not recognize being in the midst of. Let us remember that our allegiance, our loyalty, our attention and our devotion is to be directed to the Lord Himself.
It is also important to recognize this does not demand we generate a warm fuzzy feeling all the time, for even when we are not “feeling it”, to express our love and gratitude to Him, and to act in obedience to Him because we want to no matter the feelings – that my friend is a very real expression of rejecting idolatry.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
85
CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL
Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
The Consolation of Israel.
Consider Simeon. He was a righteous and devout man, and my assumption has always been that he was a priest, but when I read the passage above there is no indication he was of the priestly line.
He was, I suppose, a simple man who followed the Lord, and was given an opportunity to see his salvation, to hold his salvation, and to speak of his salvation’s mission to the nation of Israel and the gentiles.
But let us not forget that the Gentiles Simeon spoke of included the very people who were oppressing the people of Israel. Simeon’s waiting for Jesus, the Consolation of Israel, was in the midst of living under oppression. And yet Simeon had the foresight to describe Jesus, the Consolation of Israel, as the One would be a light of revelation to the oppressors, those gentiles that dominated the people of God.
Even before Jesus could speak, His life was described by Simeon as the One who would provide for His enemies a light for the Gentiles.
I can’t help but think that Simeon had recently, by the providence of God, read from the scroll of Isaiah, where the Lord speaks of the Servant of the Lord, our Messiah.
Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Simeon saw the writing on the wall, and though the physical nation of Israel was under oppression, a new nation would erupt due to the light extending to the nations, and that salvation would reach the ends of the earth.
For God had much bigger dreams for His creation than many had considered, and for that we should be eternally grateful.
We have a Consolation that provides light to those who oppress, to those who are enemies. Are we mimicking the Great Consolation?
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
We all know this parable, or at least I think we do. I know that when I come to this passage, I tend to feel a bit sheepish toward it in that I am not a world evangelist, or the leader of a million person church.
But let us be sure that we all have levels of faith, and this passage speaks of life, (not faith) and the fruit that is the evidence of life.
It seems obvious that verse twelve speaks of the one who hears but is not impacted by the Word, one who is the victim of the devil’s thievery. No salvation for this one.
This situation seems obvious.
It also seems obvious that verse fifteen speaks of the fully mature believer, holding fast to the message, and refusing to let go, exercising a good and honest heart, which over an extended period of time develops mature fruit, which is the evidence of new life.
That seems obvious.
When we get to verses 13 and 14, the obviousness of the condition of the one being described becomes a little less obvious.
Let’s consider verse 14, for Jesus speaks of a life being choked, and that any fruit from this life does not come to maturity. He mentions fruit with this group and I understand that to indicate there is life resident in this group. A stunted life to be sure, a life that is less than hoped for, that may be a disappointment to the gardener, but a life none the less.
I know I have approached this passage with the verses out of order but it is verse 13 that is of interest to me and serves my purposes with this topic. Verse 13 actually speaks of one receiving the message with joy. Of course the debate over what it means to receive has caused much discussion, as to whether life had been received or simply a message, but this isn’t the main point I would draw your attention to in this passage.
The main point is the reference to a falling away that Jesus speaks of. I naturally assumed the Greek word would be related to, or would be the basis of our term “apostacy”, but I was wrong.
The Greek word used here when Jesus says “falling away” is ἀφίστημι aphístēmi, and it has multiple descriptions associated with it. Luke seemed to like this term, for he used it more than any other writer in the New Testament.
It speaks of deserting, withdrawing, leaving, shunning, fleeing, removing…. One shade of meaning coming out of this term is to “actively instigate to revolt”.
This is so interesting to me, for it helps me understand that conditional security isn’t a teaching that should be applied to one who has had a lapse in faith, or is struggling with faith – (which in my opinion is the essence of faith), but it speaks of a settled, active refusal to follow after, to reject that which was once precious as being refuse, that which is to be abandoned.
Note that this condition is not related to the victim of the devil (vs 12), or those who are distracted by cares and pleasures (vs 14) and it goes without saying that it does not apply to the victorious believer in vs 15.
This decision is made by those that “believe for a while” and then refuse, reject and run away.
My friends, stay active in your faith, for times of testing will come and may provide you opportunity to reject the Savior. Cling to Him at your every opportunity, so that when hard times come, it will only be “natural” to seek His aid.
Does this message not seem to be the obvious intent of the Word? Is that not an obvious benefit to us and an obvious blessing to others?
Obviously!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you would like to receive daily posts from Considering the Bible, click on the “Follow” link below
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
Abraham
Sojourner
Genesis 23:4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
Matthew 8:20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
When Abraham was called out of his native land, he immediately became a sojourner, a temporary inhabitant. As he ventured through the land that would eventually provide his inhabitants nationhood, Abraham considered himself, even at the end of his travels, to be a “newcomer” in the area, one who did not exercise any rights over the land as yet. The promises were sure, but Abraham lived as having no rights.
Upon arriving on this globe, Jesus also lived a life of a temporary inhabitant, though He possessed all things, and would eclipse all authorities and powers through His ministry and sacrifice.
He was a temporary inhabitant, but now the Eternal King! May His name be praised!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
84
COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE LORD
Joshua 5:14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
Moses assistant became a great leader, leading the infant nation into many battles, finding victory after victory, until he had secured the extent of the national boundaries for the fledgling country. A truly amazing man, but in our verse here, we find one of Joshua’s greatest character reveals.
He was a mighty general, a terror to those who opposed him, because of his relation to the True Commander of the army of the Lord. Joshua had approached this unknown man, and immediately took to determine his stance before the nation of Israel.
Are you for us, or for our adversaries?
The theophany’s answer was amazing. He did not answer Joshua’s direct question, but described Himself as the Commander of the Lord’s army. He would not align Himself simply with either the nation of Israel or their adversaries.
Yes – Israel was the chosen nation to enter the promised land, and yes, God’s will would be to provide success to the armies of the Israelites as they conquered the land.
But here in this verse, the Lord describes Himself, not as the commander of the armies of the nation of Israel, or of any other nation, be they friend or foe, but of the otherworldly forces He led. He is not some national god that is competing with some other national god, warring and fighting to gain prominence.
He is the True God, over all and will not be relegated to a lower position, simply standing by to support the goals of a portion of His creation, against another portion of His creation. How ludicrous to think that of Him.
This concept, that the Lord is above our national interests, and that it up to us to decide to follow Him, and not for Him to align with our current desires, is repeated over and over again throughout the Old and New Testament.
The first time this idea became very clear to me was in Exodus 23:20-22. See The Lord’s Enemy for some additional thoughts on this topic
No matter, when we come to the Lord, we are to consider His will, and not how He is to conform to our wishes or goals. Joshua immediately took the correction, and we would be wise to follow his example.
After all, centuries later, we can hear the Master telling a woman at the well, that He is not a Messiah of the Jews only but of the entire world. She also sought to claim God as her national god, or at least questioned the truth, and Jesus would have nothing of it. He clearly described salvation as not being only for the nation of Israel, but for all who worship Him in spirit and truth.
He is the Commander of the Lord’s Army!
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
83
CLUSTER OF HENNA BLOSSOMS
Song of Songs 1:14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of Engedi.
In the Song of Songs, Solomon writes of the passion between a farm girl and the mighty King of Israel. Often the love between the two is described in words of beauty and grace, speaking of their unrelenting desire for each other.
In this verse, the farm girl is describing her love as a “cluster of henna blossoms”. At first glance, I thought this may describe a beautiful flower, a flower that provided a scent that was irresistible, a flower that was favored above all other flowers.
All of that may be true, but when I did a bit of research I found the Hebrew word translated as henna blossoms is כֹּפֶרkôpher, ko’-fer, and is primarily describing a cover, and by extension describes a redemption price, a ransom, even a sum of money.
Early in the Old Testament, this term was used to describe the pitch that covered the ark.
Genesis 6:14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.
In our verse today, the farm girl refers to the King as her redemption, the ransom she needs for her life, her protection from danger and as a covering to keep her safe.
So much more than simply a favored flower, but the very protection only the King could provide her, for she speaks of the Kings redemption as for her, that is .. to me He is a cluster of henna blossoms.
This is her estimation of her lover. All the world might think something else of the King, but she knew He was her hope and life.
She represents the ones who have trusted the Messiah for their hope and life. May we constantly be of the same desire as this lowly farm girl.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
82
CLOUD OF THE LORD
Exodus 40:38 For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
What blessings can we find in our current name we are looking at today? What truths may we take from this verse that will elevate and honor the name of the Lord?
This verse associates a cloud with the Lord, which was very common in the Old Testament, not only during the exodus and wanderings, but also during the days of Solomon’s temple.
For our verse today, we read that during the day, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle. In many depictions, the cloud appears to be a large, expanding pillar of smoke over the tabernacle, specifically over the holy of holies. Similarly, the fire is depicted as being in the same general configuration.
This may be true but I would like to offer my reader an alternative depiction of the cloud. You see, this particular text says the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle, and the fire was in the tabernacle at night.
In my imagination, which sometimes runs amok, I imagine the cloud was actually enveloping the tabernacle, actually covering the tabernacle. One of the effects of this situation may be the hiding of the tabernacle from view.
Why might I suggest that? Often in the Word, clouds are used to veil something. A passage depicting that action may be found in Exodus 24:15-16
Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
Later, when the tabernacle had been constructed, we find that a few verses prior to our verse, the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and that Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting.
Exodus 40:34-35
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Yes, there are descriptions of the cloud being a pillar when the Israelites are being led to a destination, but when the camp had settled in an area, it seems the cloud took on a different “form”, that the cloud covered the tabernacle.
This understanding brings a different perspective for myself, for instead of the cloud simply designating the location of the presence of God, the cloud may actually be revealing the holiness and righteousness of God.
Let me explain.
In Psalm 97, the psalmist speaks of a cloud and thick darkness in the context of how unapproachable God is.
Psalm 97:2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Later in the Psalms, the psalmist speaks of a cloud covering the tabernacle, and fire providing light in the night.
Psalm 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.
This passage recounts our verse above, and provides two subsequent verses where God provided answers to prayer, or should I say demands of the people. The Lord provides for them according to their desires.
Psalm 105:40-41 They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.
In my understanding, the Cloud of the Lord speaks of His righteousness, His holiness and His justice, even in the midst of His very presence with His people. In the presence of a people who would not conform to His will, and yet He stayed with them, caring and exhibiting His gracious love and mercy to them.
We truly do not deserve our merciful God, and we would do well to remember His “otherness”, how He is not like us, but so much more.
As Paul stated in one of His letters to Timothy, God
…alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
81
CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD
Romans 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is our last description of God, referring primarily to the Christ, His Anointed One, in our list of Names of God. Later on, we shall come across the name “Christ” in additional descriptions of our God, but we will wait until they occur for discussion on them.
For our current consideration, we have “Christ Jesus the Lord”.
This name combines the human name of the Christ, along with the reference of the Lord, designating Jesus as the Master.
We spoke of the use of “Lord” combined with Christ in our last post, and with this post we have the added clarification of who the Christ is.
Jesus, the lowly preacher from Bethlehem, associated with Nazareth, and considered a troublemaker and false prophet, even the illegitimate son of Mary – He it is that is the Christ.
He was not the typical teacher. Many would listen and walk away befuddled, or challenged by the message like they had not been challenged before. Even when describing Him amongst His peers, those who were rabbi’s and teachers of the law, He did not fit into any conventional party line.
As a matter of fact, His teaching often offended those steeped in the laws and teachings of the ancients, and caused many times of heated questions being thrown at Him by his fellow rabbis.
But that is just the point. They were not fellow rabbis, for He was (and is) Christ Jesus, the Anointed One, the One chosen of God to provide grace and truth to those most in need. They were not His peers, but His students, yet they knew it not, and would not submit to the Christ, since God’s choice was Jesus.
But Jesus was not their choice!
Yet the truth stands and God’s choice, His Anointed is Jesus. The Master. The teacher and instructor for those who will recognize Him.
Christ Jesus the Lord.
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.
I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.
SEEING JESUS IN
Absalom
Suspended between heaven and earth
2 Samuel 18:9 And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
John 8:28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
Back in the fourth installment of the Absalom series, we discussed how Absalom was hung on a tree, being a shadow of the Messiah.
This post will focus on the spatial location of the men as they hung on a tree. To be specific, both men hung between heaven and earth. The significance for Absalom hanging between heaven and earth seems to be somewhat strange. Why would the author bring this phrase into the story line? That is an unknown in my mind, other than for the author to show Absalom’s utter helplessness, that he had no where to find support from, or that he belonged neither on earth or in heaven. Pure conjecture on my part regarding Absalom.
Regarding Jesus, the image of Him suspended between heaven and earth is much more obvious to me. The only support He had was the nails through His body, and His determination to complete His mission while on earth. He was (and is) the perfect God man, representing both earth and heaven. He was (and is) the only One who bridged the gap between heaven and earth for us while on He hung on the bloody cross.
He sacrificed Himself for the likes of Absalom and myself. He is so good and He is calling out to you, even today.
Consider Him, hanging between heaven and earth in order for you to know the true God and His Son Jesus Christ.
May His name be praised today.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.
Considering the Bible 