Jeremiah 48
Moab receives no more praise verse 1- 5
Against Moab thus says the LORD of hosts
the God of Israel
Woe to Nebo – for it is spoiled
Kiriathaim is confounded and taken
Misgab is confounded and dismayed
There shall be no more praise of Moab
in Heshbon they have devised evil against it
Come – let us cut it off from being a nation
ALSO you shall be cut down – O Madmen
the sword shall pursue you
A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim
spoiling and great destruction
Moab is destroyed her little ones have caused
a cry to be heard for in the going up of Luhith
continual weeping shall go up
for in the going down of Horonaim
the enemies have heard
a cry of destruction
Moab trusted in wealth and false gods verse 6- 7
Flee – save your lives – and be like the heath in the wilderness
for BECAUSE you have trusted
in your works and in your treasures
you shall also be taken and Chemosh
shall go forth into captivity
with his priests and his princes together
Moab is spoiled by the Babylonians verse 8- 10
And the spoiler shall come upon every city
and no city shall escape
the valley also shall perish
the plain shall be destroyed
as the LORD has spoken
Give wings unto Moab – that it may flee and get away
for the cities thereof shall be desolate
without any to dwell therein
Cursed be he that does the work of the LORD deceitfully
and cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood
Moab illustrated as aged wine verse 11- 13
Moab has been at ease from his youth
and he has settled on his lees
and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel
neither has not gone into captivity
THEREFORE his taste remained in him
and his scent is not changed
THEREFORE – BEHOLD – the days come – says the LORD
that I will send unto him wanderers
that shall cause him to wander
and shall empty his vessels
and break their bottles
Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh
as the house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el
their confidence
Moab is judged by the LORD verse 14- 17
How say you
We are mighty and strong men for the war?
Moab is spoiled – and gone up out of her cities
and his chosen young men are gone down
to the slaughter says the King
whose name is The LORD of hosts
The calamity of Moab is near to come
and his affliction haste fast
All you that are about him – bemoan him
and all you that know his name
say
How is the strong staff broken
and the beautiful rod
Moabite city of Dibon destroyed verse 18- 19
You daughter that does inhabit Dibon
come down from your glory
and sit in thirst for the spoiler of Moab
shall come upon you
and he shall destroy your strongholds
O inhabitant of Aroer – stand by the way – and espy
ask him that flees – and her that escapes
and say
What is done?
Moabite cities listed to be destroyed verse 20- 25
Moab is confounded – for it is broken down
howl and cry tell you it in Arnon
that Moab is spoiled
and judgment is come upon
the plain country upon
Upon Holon – Jahazah – Mephaath – Dibon – Nebo
Beth – diblathaim -Kiriathaim – Beth-gamul
Beth- meon – Kerioth – Bozrah
and all the cities of the land of Moab
far and near
The horn of Moab is cut off – and his arm is broken
says the LORD
Moab rebelled against the LORD verse 26- 27
Make you him drunken
for he magnified himself against the LORD
Moab also shall wallow in his vomit
and he also shall be in derision
For was not Israel a derision unto you?
Was he found among thieves?
for since you spoke of him
you skipped for joy
Moabites full of pride verse 28- 31
O you that dwell in Moab – leave the cities – and dwell in the rock
and be like the dove that makes her nest in the sides
of the hole’s mouth
We have heard the pride of Moab (he is exceeding proud)
his loftiness – his arrogancy – his pride
and the haughtiness of his heart
I know his wrath – says the LORD
BUT it shall not be so – his lies shall not so effect it
THEREFORE will I howl for Moab
and I will cry out for all Moab
MINE heart shall mourn
for the men of Kirheres
Moabite produce is destroyed verse 32- 33
O vine of Sibmah
I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer
your plants are gone over the sea
they reach even to the sea of Jazer
the spoiler is fallen
upon your summer fruits
and upon your vintage
And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field
and from the land of Moab
and I have caused wine
to fail from the winepresses
none shall tread with shouting
their shouting shall be no shouting
Moab shall be full of terror verse 34
From the cry of Heshbon – even unto Elealeh – even unto Jahaz
have they uttered their voice
from Zoar even unto Horonaim
as a heifer of three years old
for the waters also of Nimrim
shall be desolate
Moab illustrated as a jar verse 35- 39
MOREOVER I will cause to cease in Moab – says the LORD
him that offers in the high places
him that burns incense to his gods
THEREFORE MINE heart shall sound for Moab like pipes
and MINE heart shall sound like pipes for men of Kir-heres
BECAUSE the riches that he has gotten are perished
For every head shall be bald – and every beard clipped
upon all the hands shall be cuttings
upon the loins sackcloth
There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab
and in the streets thereof
for I have broken Moab
like a vessel wherein is no pleasure
says the LORD
They shall howl – saying
How is it broken down
How has Moab turned the back with shame
so shall Moab be a derision
and a dismaying to all them about him
LORD states reason for destruction of Moab verse 40- 42
For thus says the LORD
BEHOLD – he shall fly as an eagle
and shall spread his wings over Moab
Kerioth is taken – and the strongholds are surprised
and the mighty men’s hearts in Moab at that day
shall be as the heart of a woman
in her pangs
And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people
BECAUSE he has magnified himself
against the LORD
LORD states there is no escape of judgment verse 43- 45
Fear – and the pit – and the snare – shall be upon you
O inhabitant of Moab – says the LORD
He that flees from the fear shall fall into the pit
he that gets up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare
for I will bring upon it – even upon Moab
the year of their visitation –says the LORD
They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon
because of the force
BUT a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon
and a flame from the midst of Sihon
and shall devour the corner of Moab
and the crown of the head of the
tumultuous ones
Moabite land will be restored verse 46- 47
Woe be to you – O Moab – the people of Chemosh perish
for your sons are taken captives
and your daughters captives
YET I will bring again the captivity of Moab
in the latter days says the LORD
Thus far is the judgment of Moab
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 For because you have trusted in your works and in your treasures, you shall also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. (982 “trusted” [batach] means to be confident, unsuspecting, to cause to rely, to have a strong confidence or reliance upon someone or something, or lead to believe.)
DEVOTION: Those who are not followers of the LORD trust in someone or something other than the LORD. This is a false trust because whatever they trust in will let them down.
Here we find that this nation that has hurt the children of Israel was trusting or relying on something other then the LORD. Their false gods or false trust was not going to help them in a time of trouble that was coming.
Too often even those who claim to be followers of the LORD start relying on other things like their health or money or other people instead of putting their full confidence in the LORD and turning to HIM every day.
This nation was not one that knew the LORD but they probably heard about the God of the children of Israel but didn’t think to find out more or to ask what the difference was between their false gods and the genuine God of Israel.
Today we find that there are people who even go to a Bible believing church but they still trust in themselves or someone else besides the LORD. It is sad but true. As you talk with them you gather that they are trusting in their money or influence to help them in the future instead of the LORD alone.
We all have to ask ourselves the question: Who are we trusting in to help us through all the difficult times we have in this life? Where are we going to spend eternity after we die?
CHALLENGE: Are you asking the right questions regarding your daily life and your relationship to Jesus Christ? If this has not entered your thinking then you need to start thinking these thoughts before it is too late!
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: 11 Moab hath been at ease form his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. (8105 “lees” [shemer] means dregs, to lead a quiet and tranquil life, aged wine or settlings.)
DEVOTION: Here we have a group of people who are descendants of Lot that have never gone into captivity. If you remember that they continually fought against the children of Israel which meant that they were magnifying themselves against the LORD.
They had lived at ease for so long that they thought no one or nothing could touch them. They were like wine that had never been moved from one container to another.
In the making of wine the grapes were crushed and placed in containers. They were to sit in those containers for just the right amount of time for all the refuse or sediment or dreg to settle on the bottom. Once this took place they were to be moved to another container before the refuse at the bottom took the sweetness of the wine away and turned it into a syrupy taste. This process took about forty days for the wine to ferment.
The children of Moab had settled on their sediment for too long. They were syrupy. They didn’t taste good in the mouth of the LORD because of their dependence on the false god Chemosh.
They apparently knew who the LORD was but didn’t honor HIM. Their rebellion brought judgment.
We can follow the example of the Moabites by magnifying ourselves over the LORD. We can tend to think that we can do without the LORD. We settle for living a life that is opposite of the way the LORD wants us to live. If we settle on the dregs HE has to judge us for our rebellion.
CHALLENGE: Continual growth in the LORD is necessary. We can’t settle on our past accomplishments. We have to move forward. There is no retirement age with the LORD. HE can stir us up at any age.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 29 We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart. (1347 “pride” [ga’own] means exaltation, arrogance, majesty, pomp, or swelling.
DEVOTION: The children of Moab were descendants of Lot. They were cousins to Israel but they were the enemy of Israel. Abraham brought his brother’s son Lot with him to the Promised Land. Lot picked the best of the land which was near the city of Sodom. God destroyed the cities of the plain including Sodom. Lot and his two daughters fled into a cave. One of the daughters had a son by Lot named Moab.
Two nations came of those descendants of Lot. Now we have one of these nations worshiping false gods in this chapter. They are also full of arrogance toward the ONE TRUE GOD. They depended on their works and wealth. They thought they could mistreat Israel and God would do nothing about it. They were mistreating their own relatives. God judged them for their relationship to Israel and HIMSELF.
One of the problems with every individual that comes into this world is that they can get an exalted opinion of themselves. Some people fight this opinion but others keep it all of their lives.
At the end of the chapter the LORD promises that HE will bring back the captivity of Moab in the latter days. They will be around for the end times. It is thought this is going to happen during the Millennial reign of Christ.
However, the LORD is telling Jeremiah that in the present they are going into captivity.
HE gives many reasons in this chapter but this verse seems to sum it up. They are full of themselves. They are arrogant. They are haughty. They are full of pomp. They are lofty.
When we look at the church today, do we see some of these tracts? When we look at some Christians, do we see some of these tracts?
We are to have a learning attitude. We need to be willing to listen to the LORD. If we think that we can do something ourselves, we are sadly mistaken. We have to be totally dependent on the LORD. HE is able to give us strength to face any challenge that comes our way. Praise HIS name.
CHALLENGE: Dependence is necessary for proper growth in the LORD. Our attitude affects our relationship to the LORD. Strive for the right attitude in our service to the KING!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 42 And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he has magnified himself against the LORD. (1431 “magnified” [gadal] means greater, stronger, more important, boast, lifted high, to speak arrogantly, to speak proudly, or to act arrogantly.)
DEVOTION: The Bible teaches that pride comes before the fall. Here is a nation that has given the children of Israel a hard time most of their existence. They were near relatives as Lot was the founder of the race through his daughter. They have been fighting almost from the beginning. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt they gave them a hard time.
Now the children of Israel are being judged for their sin. They are going into captivity. The nation of Moab thought that they were safe but the LORD sent Jeremiah to inform them that HE was going to judge them at the same time.
However, they didn’t believe Jeremiah’s warning. They thought that they could be arrogant and the LORD was not going to deal with them. They were wrong. This is true of any nation that tries to be arrogant or boast that they don’t need the God of the Bible. We have many leaders in our nation who are thinking this thought. It is wrong thinking. Once we leave God out of our daily lives HE will show us that HE is still the creator of the world.
One day our nation is going to have to hear the judgment of God because of all that is happening in our nation. We have shed too much innocent blood in the form of babies that have been used for personal gain rather than loved by parents.
Judgment is the only way that some people will believe that there is a Creator of our world that needs to be worshiped by all. HE is longsuffering but don’t look at it as if HE doesn’t exist. HE does.
CHALLENGE: We as a group of believers need to show the world that we are genuine believers in what the Bible teaches before it is too late!!! We don’t want to see HIS wrath on our nation!!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 8, 10, 12, 15, 25, 26, 30, 35, 38, 40, 42- 44, 47
LORD of hosts verse 1, 15
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 1
God of Israel verse 1
Judgment of God on Moab verse 1- 47
Lord has spoken verse 8
Work of the LORD verse 10
I will send to him (Moab) wanderers verse 12
King verse 15
Spoiler of Moab verse 18
I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer verse 32
I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses
none shall tread with shouting verse 33
I will cause to cease in Moab – him that offers
in the high places, and him that burns
incense to his gods verse 35
I have broke Moab like a vessel wherein is
no pleasure verse 38
Behold (Moab) shall fly as an eagle and
spread his wings over Moab verse 40
I will bring upon Moab, the year of their
visitation verse 44
I will bring again the captivity of Moab
in the latter days verse 47
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Moab (descendants of Lot) verse 1- 47
Wings to Moab
Settled on his lees
Shall be ashamed of Chemosh
Is spoiled
His chosen young men are gone down
to the slaughter
Calamity of Moab
his affliction hastens fast
Bemoaned
Wallow in his vomit
Shall be in derision
Leave the cities and dwell in the rock
Be like the dove that makes her nest
in the sides of the hole’s mouth
His loftiness
His arrogancy
His pride
Haughtiness of his heart
His wrath
His lies
Joy and gladness is taken from the
plentiful field
Is in derision and a dismaying to all
Shall be destroyed form being a people
Devour the corners of Moab and the
crown of the head of the
tumultuous ones
Judgment of Moab
City of Nebo verse 1, 22
Kiriathaim verse 1
Misgah verse 1
Heshbon verse 2, 34, 45
shadow of
Madmen verse 2
Horonaim verse 3
Little ones have caused a cry to be heard verse 4
Luhith verse 5
Horonaim verse 5
Enemies verse 5
Chemoth verse 7, 46
Priests of Chemoth verse 7
Princes verse 7
Spoiler verse 8
Perish verse 8
Cursed verse 10
Dibon verse 18, 22
Aroer verse 19
Arnon verse 20
Holon verse 21
Jahazah verse 21
Mephaath verse 21
Beth-meon verse 23
Kerioth verse 24, 41
Bozrah verse 24
Cities of the land of Moab -far and near verse 24
Horn of Moab verse 25
Pride of Moab verse 29
Kir-heres verse 31
Vine of Sibmah verse 32
Elealeh verse 34
Jahaz verse 34
Zoar verse 34
Horonaim verse 34
Kir-heres verse 36
Riches shall perish verse 36
Every head shall be bald verse 37
Every beard clipped verse 37
Lamentation on all the housetops of Moab verse 38
Flame from the midst of Sihon verse 45
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Result of sin:
spoiled, confounded, dismayed verse 1
Evil verse 2
Madman verse 2
Trusted in works verse 7
Trusted in treasures verse 7, 36
Worshiped false god: Chemosh verse 7, 13, 35, 46
Work of the LORD deceitfully verse 10
Settled on lees verse 11
Israel worshiping golden calf: Beth-el verse 13
Confidence in false gods verse 13, 35
Drunken verse 26
Magnified themselves against the LORD verse 26, 42
Thieves verse 27
Pride verse 29
Loftiness verse 29
Arrogancy verse 29
Haughtiness verse 29
Lies verse 30
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins
Joy verse 27, 33
Gladness verse 33
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Israel verse 1, 13, 27
Shall be ashamed of Bethel their confidence verse 13
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Latter days verse 47
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QUOTES regarding passage
48:45–47. Jeremiah ended his section on Moab by freely quoting an old song from Heshbon (cf. Num. 21:27–29). The fugitives who had escaped the destruction stood by helpless because God’s fire of judgment had gone out into all Moab to burn those who had been boasters. Now the nation was destroyed, with her sons and daughters in captivity. Historically the people of Moab lost their national identity when they were overrun by the Arabians from the East (cf. Ezek. 25:10). Yet God still offered hope to Moab. He vowed to restore the fortunes of Moab in days to come. The use of “days to come” would imply that this restoration will occur during the millennial reign of Christ (cf. Deut. 4:30; Jer. 49:39; Dan. 2:28; 10:14). (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Jeremiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1196–1197). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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After writing a long chapter on judgment, Jeremiah ended with a promise: “Yet will I bring again the Captivity [restore the fortunes] of Moab in the latter days” (Jer. 48:47). This statement refers to the future Kingdom Age when Jesus Christ will reign. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Decisive (p. 169). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Moab’s precarious position compares to a creature about to be the victim of an eagle’s swoop (48:40–47). So overpowering is the enemy that warriors will seem weak. Those trying to escape will be caught one way or another. (Martens, E. A. (1995). Jeremiah. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 548). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
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48:47 I will restore. God will allow a remnant of Moab to return to the land (cf. 12:14–17; 46:26; 48:47; 49:6, 39), through their descendants in the messianic era (“the latter days”). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Je 48:47). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 47. Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter day, saith the Lord, &c.] Some think this is added, not so much for the sake of Moab as of the Jews, to assure them of their return from captivity, as had been promised them, since this would be the case even of Moab. It had a literal accomplishment under Cyrus, as is thought, when they were restored to their land; and certain it is they were a people in the times of Alexander, or King Jannæus, who subdued them, as Josephus relates: and it had a spiritual one in the times of the Messiah, in the conversion of some of these people, as very probably in the first times of the Gospel; so it will have in the latter day; see Isa. 11:14. Kimchi interprets it of the days of the Messiah. For though that people are no more, yet there are a people which inhabit their country, who will, at least many of them, be converted, when the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in; and it is no unusual thing in Scripture for the present inhabitants of many countries to be called after those who formerly inhabited them, as the Turks are often called Assyrians. Thus far is the judgment of Moab; that is, either so long, unto the latter days, will the judgment of Moab continue. So the Targum, “hitherto to execute vengeance of judgment on Moab;” or rather, thus far is the prophecy concerning the destruction of Moab; this is the conclusion of it; here it ends, being a long one. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 663). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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48:47 Bring back means “restore the fortunes of.” Moab would see its people restored to their homeland. Their crops and vineyards would once again be productive. Moab, Judah, and Israel returned home in 538 b.c., during the reign of Cyrus. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 941). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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That means your Bible is a full utility kit for everything you need to live with confidence in this chaotic world. (p. 70
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They tend to miss the verse that came right before it, telling them to work out their own salvation “with fear and trembling,” (2:12). That doesn’t sound relaxing to me. (p. 71) (Dr. David Jeremiah – Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World)
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Gambling at Calvary
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” (Psalm 22:18)
The 22nd Psalm is justly famous as a remarkable prophetic preview of the sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus on the cross, written by David approximately 1,000 years before it was fulfilled. It describes in accurate detail the sufferings of the Lord and the actions of the sneering spectators as they watched Him die.
One of the most heartless acts of the Roman soldiers carrying out the crucifixion was the indignity of stripping Him of the garments He was wearing and then dividing them among themselves, even gambling to determine who would get His seamless vesture. The significance of this cruel scene is indicated by the fact that it is one of the very few specific events in the life of Christ recorded in all four gospels.
We must not forget that the Lord Jesus Christ once had been arrayed, as it were, in beautiful garments that “smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces” (Psalm 45:8). But He who was “equal with God” chose to be “made in the likeness of men” that He might eventually suffer “even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8) in order to save our unworthy souls. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
He who had created the heavens, when He came to Earth, had to say that “the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). And His few remaining possessions were scavenged by His executioners as He died. Yet through His great sacrifice, He has provided “everlasting habitations” for us (Luke 16:9) and “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Indeed, we do know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ! (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Jesus heals a man born blind, stirring up controversy.
INSIGHT
While Jesus certainly has compassion on those to whom He ministers, His miracles are done not only to relieve human suffering but also to establish His credentials. He claims to be the Bread of Life. To validate that message, He feeds the 5000.
In chapter 9, Jesus says that the man’s blindness is not because of sin but for the purpose of manifesting the work of God in him. The same was true with Lazarus. His death was not final but was for the purpose of bringing glory to the Son of God. Jesus raises Lazarus and then says that the Son is glorified. (QuietWalk)
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THE CROSS IS PROCLAMATION
…to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins…. Romans 3:25
The cross, thank God, is not only exposition. The cross is also proclamation, a mighty declaration. I like the word that the apostle uses there in Romans 3, and especially the way in which he repeats it. He likes it himself obviously. “Whom God hath set forth,” he says “to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins…to declare, I say…” (Romans 3:25-26). Have you got it, have you heard it, were you listening? says the apostle. Wake up, you sleepy listeners. “…to declare, I say….” Have you heard the declaration? Have you heard the mighty proclamation? What does this blood declare to me?
Let me sum it up in another word that this same apostle used in 2 Corinthians 5:19,21. This is the declaration: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them….For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” What does all this mean? Let me put it in modern terms. The cross tells me that this is the declaration. This, it says, is God’s way of dealing with the problem of man’s sin. It has already said that there is a problem. It is a terrible one; it is the greatest problem of all time and of the whole cosmos. There is nothing greater than this. There is the exposition of the problem. Then comes the mighty declaration. This, it says, is God’s answer.
Now our Lord had been saying that in His teaching, but they could not understand it. They were blinded, even His own disciples. They were thinking as Jews, in terms of a kingdom on earth. Man will always materialize the great and glorious blessings of God’s kingdom.
A Thought to Ponder: The cross, thank God, is not only exposition. The cross is also proclamation, a mighty declaration. (From The Cross, p. 161, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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