The story of Noah and famous his ark is not the familiar floating zoo scene portrayed in church nursery murals complete with smiling animals. It is actually a picture of the enormity of man’s sin which spreads everywhere and corrupts everything and is eclipsed only by God’s sovereign grace. It is summarized in this startling passage:
“The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:5-8 ESV)
Let this scripture sink in. The worldview that presents man being inherently good is nowhere to be seen. How is it like our modern world?
One thing that we have learned about David from our time in the Psalms is that he often suffered. Quite often even those close to him became his enemies who yearned for his destruction and death. David does not tell us the exact circumstances he faces as he pens this poem. Whatever the cause, his despair is emotional, spiritual, and physical. His suffering makes him fear that God will join in and punish him further.
Yet, he knows that the answer is to appeal to God’s steadfast love. And he does. David the giant killer humbly reveals that he cries himself to sleep like a little baby. Yet, by the end of this poem, after he has had opportunity to pour out his heart, he is fully confident that God has heard the sound of his weeping, heard his pleas, and accepted his prayers. May you have this same assurance tonight.
In both Psalm 4 and Psalm 5, David declares that he is able to peacefully sleep knowing that he is under God’s care and protection. In Psalm 5, he wakes up, again aware of His need for his Lord.
David has confidence that God will answer his morning prayer because of his confidence in God’s heart of justice and righteousness. He knows God will always do what is right. David has so much opposition from his enemies that he cries out for God to make them pay for their rebellion against God! (Aren’t you glad the Bible deals with our real, sometimes raw emotions?)
David could fall into despair as he dwells on his opponents transgressions, but as he reminds himself of God’s constant care he finds himself once again crying out with these beautiful words, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”
As you begin a new year, make sure you start out on a firm foundation.
The first Psalm provides an introduction to a hymnbook which leads us into a life of worship. It begins reminding us that the Law (Torah), which describes God’s covenant relationship with His people, is crucial for a life of true worship and flourishing. It sets before us two paths which are really two ways we can live. Which will we follow? God’s path, or the path of the wicked? You will hear voices today trying to get you to follow one path or the other.
Note that God’s path is one of delight and blessing. May I encourage you to follow that path, found in His Word, in 2021.
Psalm 1 contrasts the two ways we can live our lives. We can either submit to God or rebel against Him. In Psalm 2, we see how all men, even the leaders of this world, choose the way of rebellion and stand against God’s rightful authority. While these earthly kings boast in their apparent power, God views the whole scene from His heavenly throne, laughing at man’s true powerlessness.
King David and his royal descendants were to model to those rebellious leaders and to the whole world what a life of submission to God looked like, although they, too, became full of themselves and failed in this task. One of David’s descendants though, would claim the throne and set up God’s proper rule and reign among the rebellious kingdoms of men. The choice then is given, serve the true King in holy fear and rejoice in His kingship, or continue in stubborn rebellion and experience the King’s wrath. The psalmist wisely admonishes all readers to choose the way of the true King, saying, “Blessed are those who take refuge in Him.” May we heed that advice today.
Psalm three is the first with a title. It is one of the many Davidic Psalm. The title also reminds us that David lived a very hard life. At one point, even the son he loved tried to kill him.
But David’s family trouble is not the only opposition he faced. In verse one he cries out that “Many are rising against me.” This multitude of opponents mocked him by saying, “There is no salvation for him in God.”
How alone David must have felt. How helpless. No wonder he cried out to God in desperation. Yet, in the midst of this overwhelming circumstance, David is able to lay down and sleep. How can he do this? For many of us, any little bit of despair keeps us up all night.
David was able to rest in the midst of conflict because he remembered how God delivered and protected him in the past. And what God did before, He can do again! What did David have to fear with God at his side. No wonder he doesn’t listen to the mocking voices of his enemies, but instead again cries out to God for salvation.
Are you facing obstacles that seem insurmountable? Do you feel like there is no way out of your problems? Remember, “Salvation belongs to the Lord.” Cry out to Him today.
Genesis 1 gives an opening statement that is the foundation of the beginning of our world. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Before anything, God was. In the first chapter, God creates everything, including the crown of His creation, mankind. It is a world where God takes unorganized chaos and through works of division and filling creates a place for mankind, made in His image, to rule as His representatives over His world. There was no sin, no suffering, no sickness, or no sadness. There was just God’s shalom, His peace that resulted in perfect harmony. No wonder God described it as “very good.”
Point to ponder: How does this picture of the world God created prepare us for the future world God has planned for us?
Genesis 1 showed us the power of Almighty God as He created our wonderful world. The first few verses of Chapter 2 end that section by reporting that when God’s work of creation was done, He took a “sabbath,” not because He was tired, but because His work was complete. Chapter 2 then begins a complementary creation narrative, this time focusing on a more personal account of God creating mankind.
Throughout chapter 1, the name for “God” used by the narrator was the more general name for the Creator. In chapter 2, we are introduced to another name – “LORD God.” “LORD” translates the Hebrew, “Yahweh,” the personal name God gave when describing Himself to His covenant people. While chapter 1 gives us a magnificent account of the creation of generic mankind, chapter 2 focuses more on a personal creation of the first man and woman by a personal God.
What a beautiful picture is presented of a loving God carefully shaping the first man from the ground. This unique sculpture came to life as Yahweh breathed life into him. Man began his new life in the exquisite garden of Eden. He was blessed with the noble task of working the garden as God’s caretaker. Among the trees in the Edenic paradise were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which both play significant roles throughout the rest of the biblical story. The one prohibition given to the man was to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The garden was filled not only with plants, but also animals, which Adam named, displaying his authority over other created beings. Yet, the only thing “not good” in the garden was the fact that the man was alone. God put the man to sleep and performed the first surgery, taking a rib from his patient and using it to start the creation of Adam’s ‘helper,” the first woman. How wonderful that this beautiful chapter ends with the first marriage in all of history between this first man and the woman taken from his side. At the end of chapter 2, everything was perfect!
Genesis 1-2 presented us with a loving Creator birthing all that we now enjoy in this universe we call home. We see God’s power and might as he fashioned a world that He said was “very good.” Mankind was blessed with being His representative in this new world. God further blessed man by giving him the gift of a marriage partner, so together they could be all that God created them to be.
Chapter 3 shows us that even in paradise, man was tempted to make a choice to live independent of the God who blessed Him. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they were telling God they wanted to decide what was good and evil for themselves, rather than living by God’s rule and reign over them. Man’s rejection of God led to paradise being filled with sin, suffering, and death. This was not the life a loving God wanted for His creation.
Yet, in the midst of God’s word to the fallen about the cursed consequence of mankind’s rejection of God’s authority, He also gives mankind a special promise that a son of Eve would completely conquer the Tempter. There was hope for the fallen because a special Son would come. His name is Jesus!
In Genesis 4, man’s rejection of God and the curses that follow are fully displayed in the story of one brother murdering another brother because of jealousy. Cain did not heed the warning, “The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.’” Genesis 4:6–7.
The list at the end of the chapter shows that Cain’s descendants intensify and multiply the rebellion, anger, and hatred that entered our world when sin corrupted all that God had made. How tragic to see man’s broken relationship with God that resulted in such broken relationships with each other.
There is hope, though. We are told that another brother, Seth, is born in place of the murdered Abel. It is then when we read these beautiful words, “At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.” May we call upon His name today!
Psalm 4 was written by David during a turbulent and troubling time in his life. David is aware of the opposition that godly (literally “those under God’s steadfast love”) people face, but displays incredible trust and confidence in his Lord in the midst of such difficulty. As he did in Psalm 3, he ends this song with a proclamation that he will sleep in peace because he trusts in God. How many of us can say that as we lay our head on the pillow tonight?
One statement stands out to me as I read this today: “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.”
Are you angry by what you see in our world today? In your anger, do not respond sinfully. But how? To start, why not take some time to ponder your situation? Why do you feel as you do? In your pondering, why not pray to the Lord as to how you should respond? Before you go to social media to vent or before you call the person who hurt you to blast them, think about what will happen if you react in such a way. Don’t think that the world won’t be put right if you don’t immediately share all you are currently feeling. Selah – pause, reflect. Be silent. Trust God. He can handle this much better than you.
If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons. Leviticus 1:14
As I was meditating on Leviticus chapter one this morning, I was overcome with thanksgiving when I read verse 14. You might think that strange, especially since the next verse instructs the priest to wring the bird’s head off and drain its blood. (Priests had a very bloody job in the Old Testament.)
What makes this verse encouraging is its context. At the end of Exodus, Moses acted as overseer to make sure the tabernacle of God was completed according to the Lord’s precise instructions. Now completed, before God would meet with His people in the tent, God instructed them to establish a system of sacrifices. There was no way for a sinful people to approach a holy God without sacrifice. (Check out this great video to see why this was necessary and why Jesus was that sacrifice for us – https://youtu.be/NN_gw3Q6PkI.) The first sacrifice mentioned was the burnt offering.
Burnt offerings were given by a worshipper to declare total commitment and complete dedication to God. (What a wonderful way to begin worship!) Verses 3-9 describe the proper way to sacrifice a bull, and verses 10-13 show how the same process can take place with the substitution of a sheep or goat. There was one problem with this picture.
Only relatively wealthy people had enough money to purchase a bull or sheep. Even those who raised such animals could scarcely afford to remove one from the herd or flock to simply burn it up. What if a poor person wanted to show his loving dedication to his Creator? Was he left out when his others met to worship God?
God does not just want a relationship with those of high economic standing. In fact, quite often the independent self-reliance of the wealthy keeps them from admitting they even need a God to lean on. God has a special place in His heart for the poor and lowly, so much so that when He decided to enter humanity, He did so by becoming part of a poor shepherd’s family. So God prescribes the remedy if a poor person wanted to worship. They could substitute what they could afford – a turtledove or pigeon. There was hope for all the poor people who were part of the worshipping throng.
In relation to the peoples of the world, my family and I are quite wealthy. We have food, shelter, access to medical care, and transportation. Many around the globe cannot claim those privileges. Yet, compared to our fellow Americans, we would be considered poor. We have endured homelessness and at times been completely dependant upon the generosity of others to survive. I am not complaining at all. We have been humbled and through it been overwhelmed by God’s generous love poured out on us through His people.
My homebound wife has not been able to work since early in our marriage. While the small churches I served always gave us an extremely generous salary, it wasn’t quite enough for a family of five. Adding a mountain of medical debt to this situation often brought my heart to despair. Today, I am in my ninth month being unable to work because of physical issues. That’s nine months without a paycheck.
Just writing those words brings shame to my heart. I often confess to God my inability to provide for the precious family He has given me. I feel like a failure in so many ways. I don’t feel worthy to share Jesus with my neighbors, who may wonder why I am such a loser. I avoid fellow pastors whom I considered friends because of their successful leadership and my own defeat. I am tempted to run from God, who obviously must not want to be seen with someone like me. Right?
Until I remember that God asks for turtledoves and pigeons. He makes a way for people like me to worship Him. In fact, He invites people like me to worship. He delights to be with me and calls me His own. When this truth sinks into my thick skull, instead of running away from Him, I run towards Him as fast as I can to be embraced by His powerful, comforting arms.
Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. Psalms 113:5-8 ESV
The fickle children of Israel quickly traded in the true and living God who delivered them from slavery for a golden calf formed from their own hands. Before we are too critical, let us remember the multitude of times that we substitute gods of our own making for the God who truly delivers. We all seem to prefer gods we can control over the God before whom we must bow.
Moses and God had the type of relationship where “the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex. 33:11). May we all have this type of relationship with Him! God confided in His friend, expressing His deserved anger: “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you” (Ex. 32:9-10).
Rather than enjoying God’s new, Moses-centered plan, Moses spoke to his Friend, reminding Him of the covenant promises that He made to the nation He called to be His own, and asked Him what the Egyptians would think of a God who delivered His people from slavery to let them perish in the desert. “And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.”
The relationship between God and His rebellious people was still fractured. The LORD said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (Ex. 33:1-3).
God was promising the people the benefits of their deliverance from slavery with one stipulation – God, the Deliverer, would not be with them. He was offering the Hebrew people His presents, but not His presence. God would be true to His promises and give the Jewish people what He promised them, but because of their rebellious hearts, a righteous, holy God could not dwell with them.
I think many people today would love this deal. Get the blessings of God without having to be accountable to God? Enjoy the stuff without having to listen to His commands? Many would jump at the chance.
But Moses understood that this life having the stuff of God without the presence of God is really no life at all, because God does not just give us life, He IS our life. Here is Moses’ response: “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I, and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16).
Moses knew that what makes the people of God the people of God is not the blessing God gives to His people, it is having God, Himself. Do we understand this?
Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? (Zechariah 7:5-6 ESV)
Every time I read this Scripture I am reminded to ask the Holy Spirit to show me what my motives are as I work, worship, and just plain live. Why do I do what I do? This question is especially applicable to my religious life, as it was to the Jewish people addressed here. Why do I sing songs of praise, to honor God, or to make myself feel a certain way? Why do I do “up front” ministry, to get everyone gathered to focus on Jesus, or to see me? I can do these things – good things – with selfish motives. When I do, I rob God of His glory.
In the original Hebrew, the “for me” is repeated. “Was it for me that you fasted – for me?” What a haunting echo. Why do I do what I do? One question helps when asking this question. What would I do if no one said anything to me about my up-front ministry? About my singing? (Actually, I really hope no one ever listens to me sing.) About my religious activity? If I was never noticed, never thanked, never complimented, would I still do what I do? People who are doing things for themselves rather than Jesus tend to give up if their actions don’t gain the personal attention they seek.
I am not saying that we should not thank others for what they are doing. Thank them! Encourage them! It is sinful if you don’t. What I am not saying is that it is your job to keep others humble by your silence about what they do. What I am saying is, “What is your response when people are silent to you?”
Rob Reimer, in his wonderful book, Soul Care, writes, “Envy starts with the question, ‘What about me?’ and ends with the accusation, ‘God isn’t fair.'”
Do you struggle with this self-centered question that then leads to the ultimate false accusation? Note how envy is completely selfish. It is all about what you think you deserve and how unfair God is to you because you feel He should give you more (or at least “different”). You look at how God is blessing others and you think you deserve better than they are receiving.
Of course, the key to being set free from envy is to understand God’s amazing grace. Grace is God’s “unmerited favor.” It is when He doesn’t give you what you deserve (separation from Himself because of your sin), but instead lavishes upon you blessings you would never deserve (life forever with Him). This is the Christian gospel – the God of this universe who should punish all of us because of our rebellion and sin, instead becomes a man like us to live the perfect life we could never live and die the death we deserved to die. “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
When we truly understand what we deserve, and what God offers instead (based on what Jesus has done for us), envy disappears. We no longer demand justice from God. Instead, we thank Him that He doesn’t give us what we deserve.
The Scriptures tell us a lot about envy:
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Proverbs 14:30 ESV. How many of you have experienced this?
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant… 1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV. Note how this passage about God’s self-giving love implies that envy is anything but self-giving.
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:19-23 ESV. Again, the life of selfish men is contrasted with the life of God, which is completely self-giving. Which category is “envy” in?
Here are a few tips to help you deal with envy:
Be thankful! Always be thankful to God. Express your thanksgiving aloud. Thank Him for all He does for you.
Be thankful – for the things you see in other’s lives that make you envious. Thank God, again aloud, for how He is blessing them.
Pray for more of God’s blessings to be given to those you are envious of. If we are to pray for enemies, and bless those who persecute us, certainly we can bless those we are envious of. In our own selfishness we struggle with this, but as we are filled by the Spirit, His fruit and His life will enable us to be and do what we could never be and do on our own.
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Mark 11:12-14, 20-22 ESV
Earlier, we explored the story of Jesus cleansing the temple during the “passion week.” An interesting story story takes place before and after that account. It takes place on the mountain ridge road overseeing the Kidron Valley, which Jesus walked many times that last week as He entered Jerusalem during the day but stayed on mountain at night. In addition to the Mount of Olives, this ridge was also home to two villages. Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Bethphage was very close to Bethany. Interestingly, both of these villages mean “house of figs.” Bethany refers to figs that are ready to eat. Bethphage refers to figs that are not yet ripe.
As Jesus was walking from Bethany into Jerusalem on the Monday after “Palm Sunday,” He became hungry and noticed a fig tree. He saw that it had leaves, but found no fruit. Even though Mark explains, “it was not the season for figs,” Jesus curses the tree by saying, “May no one ever eat from you again.”
On the next day, Jesus and His disciples again passed by that tree. The disciples noticed that the tree was “withered away to its roots.” Did Jesus unfairly judge the tree? Did He in anger kill the tree because He was hungry?
This story makes sense when we understand that fig trees in this part of the world begin to have early, somewhat smaller figs that would grow from the previous year’s sprouts each spring. These early figs and leaves would fall off, giving way to another set of leaves and figs, which would come in abundance (usually after August) and would then be harvested. The smaller figs were not much good for harvest, but were sometimes used to give the poor some sustenance as they traveled. This tree had its spring leaves suggesting it had these early figs, but was fruitless. Jesus cursed the tree for its hypocrisy. It looked like it was fruitful, but was not.
The fig tree in the Scriptures was often a symbol for Israel. During Jesus’ day the Jewish people claimed to be living for God, but in fact were living lives of hypocrisy. Their lives bore no spiritual fruit, even though they “looked good” on the outside. Luke tells us that at this same time, Jesus wept over the people of Jerusalem, mourning their lack of spiritual life and prophesying about their upcoming destruction.
I pray that my own life is not all leaves but no fruit! May we not be hypocrites, but bear fruit for God’s glory.
And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city. (Mark 11:15-19 ESV)
Every year during the Passover feast, thousands of Jews traveled to Jerusalem to offer the sacrifice of a Passover Lamb, along with other sacrifices, at the Jewish temple. They were joined by God-fearers – Gentiles who while not Jewish, worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Rather than bring the animals for sacrifice the many miles they had to journey, these pilgrims often found it more convenient to purchase animals in Jerusalem. It just so happened that the high priestly family had a bazaar set up in the Court of the Gentiles at the temple, where they would sell you preapproved animals. They also had “booths of approval” set up where they would see if the animals the worshippers brought with them on their journey were “good enough” for sacrifice, and just in case they weren’t, they could point you to their booth of preapproved sacrifices. The high priestly family also was aware of the many coming from far-off lands who had images of graven images like the bust of Caesar on their coins. Knowing that these were blasphemous and could never be used in the temple courts, they conveniently set up tables for currency exchange. Of course, these “services” were provided with substantial fees attached.
Imagine a Jewish family entering the temple courts after a long, exhausting journey, intent on celebrating the deliverance God gives His people, and they were greeted by this. What would they think the worship of God looked like? Picture the Gentile family who travelled mile-after-mile at great expense, knowing they would only get as close to God’s throne as the outer Court of the Gentiles, but did so anyway because their hearts were intent on communing with the true God. How could they meet with God surrounded by those intent on making money off God’s holy Name?
No wonder the gospel writers share the story of Jesus rightly and angrily shaking things up! The temple was supposed to be a place where people could meet with God (a “house of prayer for all the nations”). The priests, those who were supposed to help people draw near to God, set up a system that filled their pockets but actually kept people from meeting God! My prayer has always been, “Lord, may what I do in your Name (and may what my church sets up as our system of worship) NEVER keep people from you, but always help people find you.”
Remember, John the Baptist proclaimed that Jesus was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus is the Lamb, preapproved by the Father as being perfect and suitable as a sacrifice that frees us from death. Him we proclaim this Easter season! May we never do things or set up religious systems that benefit us in some way, but keep others from God. May our homes and churches truly be “houses of prayer” where people of all nations can come to meet with Him.
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. – Isaiah 55:1-7
Four times in the first verse of Isaiah 55 alone, the Creator of the Univese invites His fallen creation to “come” to Him so they can enjoy a relationship with Him, free of charge. God, Himself has paid the price necessary for the relationship to be restored (see Isaiah 53). Even though no better offer could ever be extended or received, man in his foolishness still spends all of his resources trying to purchase things that he thinks will fill his empty heart, which God alone can fill. Oh, that we would listen to the invitation to come! It is in God that we find that which delights and satisfies. Only in Him can we find an eternal covenant of blessing and steadfast love. Why don’t we come? Why don’t we run to HIm to accept such an offer? Could it be that we do not want to forsake our wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts? Could it be that we love our fallen selves and our sin more than the One who offers comassion and pardon? How foolish can we be!
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:1-6 ESV)
This beautiful fourth “Servant Song” in Isaiah is sometimes called the “fifth gospel.” We once again see the Servant who suffers on behalf of others. This prophetic picture of Jesus Christ portrays Him as a Man with no physical beauty that would draw us to Him, yet we know Him as the Creator and Giver of all things beautiful. He was despised, rejected, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and makes a way for us to experience none of those things. He was pierced and crushed for our transgressions and iniquities, even though He committed none Himself. He took our chastisement so we could experience His peace. He was wounded so we could be healed. We were the wandering sheep, He was the obedient Son, yet He took all our waywardness, rebellion, and iniquity (and all the consequences) upon Himself. What love!
Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.” And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him—for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength—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.” (Isaiah 49:1-6 ESV)
Yesterday, we began to explore the idea of Jesus being the “Servant” in Isaiah who delivers the oppressed not with sword and political might, but through humble service. Today, we will continue to look at the “Servant” by exploring another of the “servant songs” of this prophetic book.
What God has to say in today’s passage is so great, the whole world needs to hear (verse 1). The LORD called His Servant from before His physical birth to bring deliverance to the suffering, not with a physical sword wielded by a warrior, but with the sword of His mouth – His words. While the Servant brings a greater deliverance than can even be imagined, the nation Israel, doesn’t see it and doesn’t accept it. Yet, God knows this deliverance being offered is so incredible, it is made available not only to the nation, Israel, but to all the nations (peoples) of the world! This deliverance is offered by another Israel, the Man, the Servant, who was rejected by the nation, Israel. Praise God that one day the people of Israel will have their eyes opened to the truth of who Jesus really is. Until then, the question is, “Have the eyes of your heart been opened to see who He is?”
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. 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: “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, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:1-9 ESV)
In the previous chapters of Isaiah, the people of Israel are told repeatedly that they turn to the wrongs things for justice, righteousness, and even life itself. They turned to idols that could never save. But now, in this first “servant song” in Isaiah, we see where they should have been turning – to the “Servant” of God.
This doesn’t make sense. To usher justice into the world, don’t we need someone in power to raise a mighty army to thwart the oppressors? Shouldn’t we get a charismatic leader who can rally the people into some major protest movement to get the common folk to rise as one against their foe? In other “servant songs” that follow in Isaiah (49, 50, 52, 53, 61) we see that this “Servant” brings deliverance by suffering. He represents the people by His sacrificial service, which ends in His own suffering and death. His death is not a martyr’s death that brings people into the cause. Typically, people follow a martyr because they see that now that he is dead, someone else must rise and take up the mantle the martyr left behind. No, the Suffering Servant in Isaiah dies a death where the death itself brings deliverance to the oppressed. Remember that on the cross, Jesus was not just an example to follow or a martyr that needed someone to keep his movement going. He died a death that defeated all enemies, including the greatest enemies of all – sin and death.
For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! (Psalm 72:12-19 ESV)
This “last of the prayers of David” (72:20) is the type of prayer/blessing used when a king would begin to lead his people. This makes sense, with the superscription of the Psalm being “of Solomon.” David’s prayer and dream for his son and successor was that he would not only receive justice, but extend it to his subjects as he ruled in righteousness (72:1-2). Like today, the people of David’s day looked to their “politicians” and leaders to rule in such a way that would be a blessing to the people. The people often looked to the king for deliverance and protection to the weak, since he had the appearance of being strong.
Solomon did not live up to these prayers and the desires of his father. No earthly king can. Some leaders are better than others, and their godly lives can be a blessing to others, but ultimately putting our trust in fallible men is misguided. Only one king can live up to these hopes and dreams and bring true blessing, deliverance, and protection to his followers – King Jesus. No wonder this Psalm looks past the reign of Solomon as it praises the ultimate King with these words: May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!
O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil—though you men lie among the sheepfolds—the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold. When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon. O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the LORD will dwell forever? The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. (Psalm 68:7-18 ESV)
God delivered His people in the past, as is seen in the deliverance of His people from centuries of slavery in Egypt. God delivers His people in the present, as is seen in the experience of David as He writes about the victory God gives over his enemies. God delivers so fully that the deliverance of God’s people will culminate in that future day when God brings His people home to His holy mountain.
This is my testimony since I met Jesus. He delivered me from all my past sin and the guilt and shame those sins carry. He deliverers me today as the many enemies I face (and yes, deliverance in this life does not mean I no longer have enemies today) are just obstacles that remind me to trust wholeheartedly in my deliverer. And I look forward to that day, when I will see my Deliverer face-to-face and will no longer need to look at the enemies of my past and my present anymore.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. (Psalm 22:1-11 ESV)
All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. (Psalm 22:29-31 ESV)
These words were written by David to describe his own experience 1000 plus years before Jesus, but when Jesus died on the cross, He quoted the first verse as His own. The rest of the Psalm proclaims the faithfulness of God. God delivered David’s forefathers who trusted in Him. He rescued those who cried out to Him. Those who trusted were not put to shame.
What is amazing is that on the cross, Father God did not deliver His Son. He did not rescue. On the cross, Jesus suffered the ultimate shame. Jesus’ words truly described His experience – on the cross, full of my sin, Jesus was momentarily abandoned by the Father. He became the “curse” for His people, which made a way for me to be “redeemed” from the curse of the law. Because He was forsaken during that awful moment, I will never be forsaken by the Father for all eternity. Because Jesus cried those words of abandonment, I can proclaim God’s faithfulness and righteousness to all generations.
But you, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me! For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me. I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust. My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads. Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD, have done it! Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak! With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death. (Psalm 109:21-31 ESV)
The psalmist describes himself as “poor and needy”, with a “stricken heart”, “gone like a shadow at evening”, “shaken off like a locust”. Because of his awful circumstance, even his body is in agony. While the exact source of his suffering is not known, he is journeying through this pain with the added difficulty of having accusers “wag their heads” at him. Instead of trying to help him and bless him, they speak nothing but curses toward him. While the psalmist wants relief from his suffering, he also wants his troublers to “get theirs.” This poor man wants relief – and justice!
God is always just, and always deals with evil. God is always merciful, and hears the cries of the suffering and pours our His compassion. How can God do both? Don’t even those crying out for mercy deserve God’s justice to be dealt out to them, for their own sins and mistreatment of others? Who among us can claim to always be the victim, and never the perpetrator? When we ask God to bring justice, don’t we really mean we want others to get what they deserve while we get what we don’t deserve – God’s compassion?
Jesus was the only Man ever to be perfect in how He treated people. He was the only “perfect” victim. Yet, as he suffered upon the cross, He did so to satisfy God’s justice toward sinful man by taking the judgment they deserved upon Himself. In doing so, He also offered God’s compassion, deliverance, and salvation to those who were suffering. For those of us forgiven by His grace and recipients of His blessing, may we “give thanks to the LORD” and “praise him in the midst of the throng.” Why not do so today?
Behold, the Lamb of God! 