PSALM 72
David wanted his son to judge righteously verse 1- 5
Give the king YOUR judgments – O God
and YOUR righteousness to the king’s son
He shall judge YOUR people with righteousness
and YOUR poor with judgment
the mountains shall bring peace to the people
and the little hills by righteousness
He shall judge the poor of the people
he shall save the children of the needy
and shall break in pieces the oppressor
they shall fear YOU as long as the sun and moon endure
throughout all generations
David wanted his son to have a prosperous reign verse 6- 11
He shall come down like rain on the mown grass
as showers that water the earth
In his days shall the righteous flourish
and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea
and from the river to the ends of the earth
they that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him
and his enemies shall lick the dust
the kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents
the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts
yea – all kings shall fall down before him
all nations shall serve him
David wanted his son to encourage the downtrodden verse 12- 14
For he shall deliver the needy when he cried
the poor also – and him that hath no helper
He shall spare the poor and needy
and shall save the souls of the needy
He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence
and precious shall their blood be in his sight
David wanted his son to be praised verse 15- 17
And he shall live – and to him shall be given the gold of Sheba
PRAYER also shall be made for him continually
and daily shall he be praised
There shall be a handful of corn in the earth on the top of the mountains
the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon
and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth
His name shall endure for ever
his name shall be continued as long as the sun
and men shall be blessed in him
all nations shall call him blessed
David wanted the earth to be filled with glory of LORD verse 18- 19
Blessed be the LORD God – the God of Israel
WHO only does wondrous things
Blessed be HIS glorious name for ever
and let the whole earth be filled with HIS glory
Amen and Amen
End of prayers of David [end of book two of Psalms] verse 20
The PRAYERS of David the son of Jesse are ended
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 “Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (King – 4428 מֶלֶךְ, מֶלֶךְ [melek /meh·lek/] n m. From 4427; TWOT 1199a; GK 4889 and 4890; 2523 occurrences; AV translates as “king” 2518 times, “royal” twice, “Hammelech” once, “Malcham” once, and “Moloch” once. 1 king. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: Good government is an important element in the lives of the people. When government acts and conducts itself properly all enjoy the benefits of it. In this case Solomon wrote that the king needed God’s judgments and righteousness. If a ruler will administrate accordingly the people and the land will prosper and be productive.
Solomon wrote of the blessings that God bestows through His anointed ruler. Because the Lord had appointed the king and because he ruled righteously Solomon expected his reign to be far reaching. He asked God to bless his reign with peace and prosperity because he protects the oppressed. [Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ps 71:22.]
Also it speaks of the millennial reign of the Messiah. The psalm describes the blessings that flow from the righteousness of God’s theocratic ruler. [The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 846.]
As governments struggle to serve their constituents and gain respect, equity and prosperity it would behoove leaders to meditate on the principles that Solomon is espousing here. Principles like righteousness and justice do not go out of style regardless of the political leadership structure.
CHALLENGE: Observe carefully, speak up when injustice is committed and be a participant in the political process regardless of what level it is. Remember, “The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1 (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 In his day shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures. (6524 “flourish” [parach] means to sprout, to become apparent, to develop, to bud, to burst forth, or used of the flourishing and prosperous condition of a person or nation.)
DEVOTION: There are many authors who use this to describe the day when Christ returns to reign on this earth. It is a day when the righteous will flourish. It is a day when HE will bless all those who worship HIM.
Righteousness will be in the hearts of those who are following HIM. It will be a time when the law of the LORD will be written on the hearts of those who follow HIM. They will know what they are supposed to do and will do it.
Solomon began his kingship understanding what the LORD wanted of him and he did it. It was when this task was done that things turned in the wrong direction. He started right and ended wrong. It seems to be a human trait that is all believers. We need to make sure that we keep short accounts with the LORD.
We need to keep our prayer and Bible study times a priority in our daily life. We need to make sure that we are thinking more of helping others than just getting ahead ourselves. We need to be sharing the truth of the Word of God with others, so that, they can join us in eternity.
Sometime we get sidetracked by our needs and forget that we are here to help others. This Psalm might be talking about the time of Solomon or it might be talking about the time of Christ’s return to reign on the earth.
CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to endure until we leave this world or until the LORD comes for us. Be prepared.
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: 12 For he shall deliver the needy when he cries; the poor also, and him that has no helper. (5337 “deliver” [natsal] means to shield form danger, injury, destruction or damage, to rescue, to take away, snatch away, or to deliver from sin and guilt.)
DEVOTION: We have the conclusion of the second book of the Psalms. Most of these were written by David king of Israel. It is thought that he is talking about his son, Solomon who would take over after him or Christ who is coming much later.
The LORD is concerned with those who are crying out to HIM for help. HE is willing to send help most of the time in human form. It is our responsibility to pray for those who are in need and if possible give them what they need either personally or through the church.
We have to be careful today as there are people who go from church to church asking for handouts who are not in genuine need. We have to make sure that we are using the resources the LORD gives us for the benefit of those who have genuine needs.
Our prayers need to go to the LORD for wisdom in this area. Also if we are in genuine need we have to present it first to the LORD and wait on HIM to see how HE provides for our needs.
HE is still in the miracle working business even today. HE is not powerless. HE wants us to be concerned with those who are genuine need and ask HIM for wisdom on how to provide for that need.
Sometimes it means paying a bill or buying food rather than just giving them money. It is not easy to understand that there are people who have genuine needs and yet once they are giving money they use it for other things.
Christ is the genuine deliverer. HE is the one who hears the cried and helps us have wisdom in this important area of our world.
In this Psalm it is the king that the LORD uses to help the poor and needy in HIS kingdom of Israel.
CHALLENGE: Our hearts should be active in helping those who have genuine needs that we can fill. If nothing else we can encourage them with prayer and share their needs with others who can supply their need.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. (6381 “wondrous” [pala’] means to separate, distinguish, hard, hidden, things too high, marvelous works, or miracles.)
DEVOTION: Prayer for our children is important. David is praying for his son, Solomon, as he takes over the nation. He also prayed for those who come after Solomon. We have to pray for not only our children and their spouses but also for our grandchildren.
What should we pray for? First, we should pray for their salvation. Second, we should pray for their friends. Third, we should pray for their future spouse. This should be a daily prayer.
David ends the second book of the psalms with this prayer for his son, Solomon. Solomon collects or remembers the prayer. In this prayer, the fact that the LORD does miracles is recorded. The one miracle that David is asking the LORD to do is give his son righteous judgment.
The LORD is the judge of all the earth. When a kingdom has a king who is righteous, he cares for the little people. Because he cares for the poor and needy, he will have a good reputation for many generations. People remember when a nation is righteous.
People remember when judges judge righteously. When we look around our world, we need to remember that the LORD can still have nations that judge righteously. We should be praying that our nation would elect righteous judges. We need to pray that God will have rulers that will appoint righteous judges. The nation that mistreats the poor and needy will be judged of the LORD.
We can still pray for miracles in our day. A miracle would be having the nations of the world having righteous leaders and judges. Are you praying for the leaders of your state or provinces? We can start at the bottom and work our way to the top.
CHALLENGE: We need to remember all the miracles that the LORD has done in our life. The first one is our salvation. HE has provided and protected us on many occasions. Once we remember, we need to share our testimony with others. They need to hear how the LORD is working even today.
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:18 “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things.” (“Wondrous,” 6381 פָּלָא [palaʾ] 1 to be marvelous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action. 1a (Niphal). 1a1 to be beyond one’s power, be difficult to do. 1a2 to be difficult to understand. 1a3 to be wonderful, be extraordinary. 1a3a marvelous (participle). [Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software]).
DEVOTION: God is a God of wonder. David praises God for this attribute in this regal psalm dedicated to Solomon. This means that we cannot always understand His ways, and that He is able to intervene in the world in ways which we do not understand. Jesus inspired wonder as He performed miracles on earth.
We have lost our ability to be awe-struck. Even the word “awesome” now has become so overused as to have lost all meaning. Yet we know that in all the instances where people were able to see God in the Bible, they fell down on their faces before Him because His greatness and awesomeness.
Not only that, but God shows His awesomeness by His creation and the providence by which He sustains the creation. We can look into a new baby’s face, the stars in the sky at night, and a tsunami, and we are reminded that there is someone far greater than us who is over all the created order. That should inspire us in our worship of Him.
One of the ways, then, that we show our appreciation for who God is can be by spending time reflecting on His nature and character. He wants us to see Him not just as immanent but also as transcendent.
CHALLENGE: Pause and reflect on the greatness of God. In what ways has He shown you His wonderful character? Take a moment to respond to this and worship Him for His awesomeness. (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
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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)
Prayer for righteous judge verse 1- 20
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)
Judgments verse 1
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Judgments of God verse 1
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 18
Righteousness verse 1
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 18
LORD God verse 18
God of Israel verse 18
Does wondrous things verse 18
Glory of the LORD fills the whole earth verse 19
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)
Enemies verse 9
Kings of Tarshish and the isles
shall bring him presents verse 10
Kings of Sheba and Seba give gifts verse 10, 15
All nations verse 11, 17
Lebanon verse 16
Whole earth verse 19
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Oppressor verse 4
Deceit verse 14
Violence verse 14
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Righteousness verse 1, 2
Peace verse 3, 7
Save verse 4, 13
Fear of the LORD verse 5
Righteous verse 7
Deliverance verse 12
Redeem verse 14
Precious verse 14
Prayer verse 15, 20
Praise verse 15
Blessed verse 17
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon – author of Psalm verse 1- 20
King needs God’s judgments
King needs God righteousness
Judge people with righteousness
and HIS poor with judgment
Peace to the people
Judge by righteousness
Break in pieces the oppressor
Dominion from sea to sea
Gifts from foreign nations
Deliver the needy
Help the poor
Help him who has no helper
Redeem their soul from deceit and violence
Given gold of Sheba
Prayer make for him continually
Name endure forever
Men shall be blessed of HIM
People of God verse 2
Poor of the people verse 4
Children of the needy verse 4
Prayers of David verse 20
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Solomon is connected with this psalm and 127. If the inscription is translated “of Solomon, then he was the author and wrote of himself in the third person. This would make it a prayer for God’s help as he sought to rule over the people of Israel. But if the inscription is translated “for Solomon,” David may have been the author (v. 20), and the psalm would be a prayer for the people to use to ask God’s blessing upon their new king. If Solomon did write the psalm, then it had to be in the early years of his reign, for in his later years, he turned from the Lord (1 Kings 11; Prov. 14:34). But beyond both David and Solomon is the Son of David and the one “greater than Solomon” (Matt. 12:42), Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel. The psalm is quoted nowhere in the New Testament as referring to Jesus, but certainly it describes the elements that will make up the promised kingdom when Jesus returns. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., pp. 233–234). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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The closing benediction (vv. 18–19) is not a part of the psalm proper but forms the conclusion to Book II of the book of Psalms (see 41:13; 89:52; 106:48). A fitting conclusion it is, for it focuses on the glory of the Lord. Solomon’s kingdom had its share of glory, but the glory did not last. When Jesus reigns on earth, the glory of God will be revealed as never before (Num. 14:21; Isa. 6:3; 11:9; 40:5; Hab. 2:14).
Isaac Watts used Psalm 72 as the basis for his great hymn “Jesus Shall Reign.” Read it—or sing it—and never stop praying, “Thy kingdom come!” (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., p. 236). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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72:20 are ended. Asaph’s psalms immediately follow after this (Pss 73–83), though David did author some of the psalms included later in the collection (e.g., Pss 86, 101, 103). This closes Book II (Pss 42–72) of the Psalms. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ps 72:20). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 20. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.] The Septuagint version renders it, the hymns. This psalm is thought by some to be the last that was written by David, though put in this place; and it is certain that the psalms are not always placed in the order of time in which they were written: this being, as is supposed, made by him in his old age, when Solomon his son was appointed and set upon his throne by his order; on account of which he composed it, with a view to the Messiah, the antitype of Solomon. Or, as others, this is the last of the psalms, which were put together and digested in order by David himself; the rest that follow being collected by Hezekiah or the Levites. Aben Ezra mentions it as the sense of some of their interpreters, “then shall be fulfilled the prayers of the son of Jesse;” that is, as R. Joseph Kimchi explains it, when those consolations are completed, then the prayers of David the son of Jesse shall be fulfilled. The sense is, when all the things spoken of in this psalm, concerning the Messiah and his kingdom, should be accomplished, then the prayers of David, and so of every good man, his hearty wishes and desires, will then be answered, and have their full effect, and not till then. This verse seems to be written not by David, for the psalm itself ends with Amen and Amen; but by some collector of the Psalms: it is not in the Arabic version, in the room of which is Hallelujah: and in the Syriac version it is, the end of the second book. The first book of Psalms ends with the 41st Psalm. The whole is divided into five parts by the Jews; observed by Origen and Hilariusy, and others. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 829). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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20. “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” What more could he ask? He has climbed the summit of the mount of God; he desires nothing more. With this upon his lip, he is content to die. He strips himself of his own royalty and becomes only the “son of Jesse,” thrice happy to subside into nothing before the crowned Messiah. Before his believing eye the reign of Jesus, like the sun, filled all around with light, and the holy soul of the man after God’s own heart exulted in it, and sung his “Nunc dimittis:” “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!” We, too, will cease from all petitioning if it be granted to us to see the day of the Lord. Our blissful spirits will then have nothing further to do but for ever to praise the Lord our God. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 56-87 (Vol. 3, p. 232). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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18–20. No wonder the Prophet, after such a review as this Psalm records, of the person and glories of Christ, should break out in such an acclamation of praise to Jehovah Elohim, the God in covenant, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Who but must bless God for Christ, and bless God in Christ, that duly contemplates these rich and unspeakable mercies? Reader! shall not you and I join in the devout anthem? Yes! if we know Christ, and have learned to know our original want of Christ, when in a state of nature; and now our all-sufficient security and blessedness in Christ, if in a state of grace. Here every redeemed soul will join issue, and cry aloud, Blessed be God for Jesus Christ! Blessed be the Lord God for salvation! Let everything in heaven and in earth bless and praise God for his unspeakable mercy in Jesus. Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! Let all say Amen, and Amen will I say. And let all set their seal to it of God’s truth and mercy, Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are answered, and so ended as being fulfilled. Similar to this expression are the words of Christ upon another occasion; the things concerning me (said Jesus) have an end, that is, a design; Luke, 22:37. And every true believer in Christ, like David, would wish to close all with a hearty Amen, that this kingdom of Christ may come, and all the blessed ends of his salvation be accomplished. Amen. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Job–Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 394). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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“The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” Or as one version renders that: “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are accomplished.” When this psalm is fulfilled all prophecy concerning Israel will indeed be accomplished. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Psalms 1–88: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 1, Ps 72:20). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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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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Break Point
At the risk of falling into the current debate over whether Christians should tone down the language and imagery when it comes to their faith, the Bible presents the Incarnation as an act of War against Satan, sin, and death.
In fact, the Incarnation is at the center of the larger story of the conflict between good and evil; a battle for a world never fully lost by God but recaptured in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. This part of the Christmas story is missing from the 24-hour holiday music stations, most Christmas plays and pageants, and many Christmas Eve sermons.
Still, at this time of year, there is a source that confronts our culture with the whole Gospel, offering some of the finest Christian teaching ever produced by redeemed Image Bearers. Christmas offers us the amazing opportunity to not only immerse ourselves in these deep Christian truths, but also present them to others.
I’m talking about Christmas carols, which offer a level of incredible clarity and depth that is so rare. As an example, consider the “Wexford Carol.”
Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born
You get a sense of the rescue mission that was the Incarnation in the traditional English carol, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
In the haunting beauty of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” the coming of Christ is presented in the context of God’s Old Testament promises.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave.
And few hymns offer a Christology as rich as “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” which, if Wikipedia is to be believed, is the brainchild not only of the great hymn-writer Charles Wesley but also, in part, the great revivalist, George Whitefield.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
hail the incarnate deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace,
hail the sun of Righteousness Light
life to all he brings, ris’n healing in his wings
Christ the highest heaven adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord
Come desire of nations come, fix in us thy humble home
Come desire of nations come, fix in us thy humble home
And, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” describes the hope of how this cosmic battle will eventually turn out.
And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song Of Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep, The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men”peace on earth, good will to men”
Till, ringing singing, on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, Of peace on earth, good will to men!
These songs, and others, tell the fullness of the Christian story: a world that belongs to God, our lost plight due to sin, our captivity to Satan’s schemes, the working of God through the ages, His promises revealed in the long path of redemption which God worked through the Patriarchs, prophets, and kings, in fulfillment of promises given so long ago; the wonders of the Incarnation, the fear and hope of Mary and Joseph, and the realization and glory of angelic hosts proclaiming their king, and ours.
Each year these hymns remind us that God did not leave us in our broken state, but came and lived among us so that He might die for us. We have in these songs the whole gospel of God.
And, as comforting and instructive as they are to our own hearts, at what other time of the year do otherwise disinterested friends, neighbors, and family members find themselves humming along with theology? What greater opportunity will we have to share the Christ than at a time when our listeners are already hearing its truths every day?
As a colleague once observed to me, Christmas is a moment to emulate the witness of Philip to the Ethiopian. The world around us knows their need. They might hide it under vain pleasures and false narratives, but they also know that things are not quite right. What they need is to hear how things might be made right in Christ Jesus.
Let’s take this opportunity, singing our way through Christmas, to share the joy that has been given to us that this joy may spread to others.
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Revelation 2
Jesus sends prophetic messages to four churches.
INSIGHT
Jesus commends the church of Ephesus for the good work that they have done. Nevertheless, He commands them to repent and return to their “first love” (v. 4). Unless they seek forgiveness, they will experience the chastening of God. In the face of impending persecution, Jesus offers words of encouragement and hope to the church in Smyrna (v. 10). Addressing the church in Pergamos, our Lord warns the people not to tolerate evil. The same message is sent to the church in Thyatira. Unless they repent, Jesus warns that He will judge them quickly and severely. (Quiet Walk)
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SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 John 5:18
Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15)—the very thing John says in this verse. Surely, then, we are confronted here by that statement. It is the same thing of which Jude reminds us: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (24). That is it!
This is the thing we find so constantly in our hymns—the celebration of the fact that the God who has kept and held His people in the past is still our God.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
William Williams
Augustus Toplady’s confidence, too, is that Christ is his keeper; He looks after him.
A sovereign Protector I have,
Unseen, yet forever at hand,
Unchangeably faithful to save,
Almighty to rule and command.
He smiles, and his comforts abound;
His grace as the dew shall descend,
And walls of salvation surround
The soul He delights to defend.
A Thought to Ponder
The God who has kept and held His people in the past is still our God.
(From Life in God, pp. 149-150, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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How They’ll Know
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26
“The Gathering” in northern Thailand is an interdenominational, international church. On a recent Sunday, believers in Jesus from Korea, Ghana, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, the US, the Philippines, and other countries came together in a humble, thread-worn hotel conference room. They sang “In Christ Alone” and “I Am a Child of God,” lyrics that were especially poignant in that setting.
No one brings people together like Jesus does. He’s been doing it from the start. In the first century, Antioch contained eighteen different ethnic groups, each living in its own part of the city. When believers first came to Antioch, they spread the word about Jesus “only among Jews” (Acts 11:19). That wasn’t God’s plan for the church, however. Others soon came who “began to speak to Greeks [gentiles] also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus,” and “a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (vv. 20–21). People in the city noticed that Jesus was healing centuries of animosity between Jews and Greeks, and they declared this multi-ethnic church should be called “Christians,” or “little Christs” (v. 26).
It can be challenging for us to reach across ethnic, social, and economic boundaries to embrace those different from us. But this difficulty is our opportunity. If it wasn’t hard, we wouldn’t need Jesus to do it. And few would notice we’re following Him.
(By Mike Wittmer, Our Daily Bread Ministries)
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It’s been said well that hope is better than optimism because it takes courage to have hope. Hope allows us to stare into the face of death and not lose heart. No optimism today, but courageous hope remans Shared by Nathan Wagner (MI)
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Why Did Christ Die?
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
This passage is often considered the defining passage of the gospel, stating the great truth that Christ died for our sins, then was buried (thus stressing that His resurrection was a physical resurrection, not just spiritual), and then rose again. As such, it is interesting that verse 1 which introduces it (“I declare unto you the gospel”) contains the central mention of the more than 100 times the Greek word for “gospel” occurs in the New Testament.
However, it does not say why Christ died for our sins. It was not just to pay for our salvation and make us happy. There are, in fact, numerous references to His substitutionary death that do give us further insight into just why Christ died for us and our salvation.
For example, “he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). And consider Galatians 1:4, in which Paul tells us that Christ “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world.”
Peter’s testimony and explanation was that the Lord Jesus “his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). John said: “[God] loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11).
There are many other verses to the same affect. Christ did not die merely to save our souls but to empower us to live in a way that would glorify God right here on Earth. HMM (The Institute for Creation Research)
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BORN AGAIN
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God….Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:3,5
When our Lord says, “Ye must be born again,” He throws down the gauntlet. He says in effect, “It is all right; I know what you are going to say, but you need not say it–it is all wrong–you must be born again.” “Verily, verily”–“truly, truly.” Whenever He uses that formula He is always saying something of unusual seriousness and of deep import. He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This is the crucial phrase, the key phrase of Christianity: “born again”! Some people say it should be translated “born from above.” Others say it should be translated “born anew.” I think that they are probably nearest to the truth who say that undoubtedly our Lord was speaking to Nicodemus in Aramaic, that the Greek is a translation from the Aramaic, and that then our English is a translation from the Greek. But the original was probably Aramaic, and there it means “except a man has another birth, he will never see the kingdom of God.” It is the same thing. “Born again,” “another birth,” “born from above,” “born of the Spirit”–take any of the terms you like.
This is the great New Testament doctrine, and what it means, negatively, is that Christianity is not just an addition to something you already have. Christianity, in other words, is not something that you and I, as we are, can take up; all that is contradicted here….we need an entirely new start.
A Thought to Ponder: This is the crucial phrase, the key phrase of Christianity: “born again”! (From The Kingdom of God, pp. 193-194, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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