Selwyn continues to discuss the meaning of Jehovah Jireh, ‘The Lord will Provide’. He then shows how God provided salvation for His people through the cross.
Much of the Old Testament, points to Jesus and the cross. The first half of Psalm 22, provides a good description of the suffering Servant; and the last half, the author gives praise to our Almighty King.
Psalm 22: 22-31 (NLT): ”I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.”
I think that what Selwyn has written is wonderful, but others will only see poetical and imaginery language. What do you hear?
“Let us travel back through the centuries for a moment and stand at the foot of the cross. Who was it on that first Good Friday who saw clearly into the heart of God? Was it Peter? No. Was it any of the other disciples? No. It was the dying thief (Luke 23:40-43). Out of the great crowd who had gathered around the cross, he saw into the very heart of reality. And the moment he did so, he passed from perdition to paradise. He knew little about God, but when he saw the self-giving love of Christ being poured out on those timbers of torture he knew everything. Through the cross he saw God’s heart. Then, by a leap of faith, he took hold of God’s provision. One moment hell yawned beneath his feet. Another moment and heaven shone before his eyes. The cross threw back the curtains, letting him see the heart of God. And the result? A robber (who deserved death) and the Saviour walked hand in hand into paradise.”
Consequently, I think the prayer (slightly amended) for today, is also excellent: “O God, I tremble to think that though I may know much about You, unless I have met You at the cross I can never truly know You. Today, I bow down before You – seeing into your heart as You hang on your cross, in sincere acknowledgement that You really are my Saviour, my Lord and my God. Amen.”
What’s your response – will you be like one of the crowd; who, on that day walked away, never accepting what God was offering to each and everyone of us? Or, will you be like the robber, justly sentenced to death - who sees into the heart of God and accepts His provision for eternal life? Jesus removed the barrier between God and man - we can now seek and find a relationship with God – the curtain, separating us from God has been ripped apart, by God’s own sacrifice; and, we now – by faith – can have entry into God’s presence. It’s hard to understand why people walk away from this offer of eternal life – from a loving God, who provides. What’s your view?
Hand in hand to heaven
Selwyn continues to discuss the meaning of Jehovah Jireh, ‘The Lord will Provide’. He then shows how God provided salvation for His people through the cross.
Much of the Old Testament, points to Jesus and the cross. The first half of Psalm 22, provides a good description of the suffering Servant; and the last half, the author gives praise to our Almighty King.
Psalm 22: 22-31 (NLT): ”I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.”
I think that what Selwyn has written is wonderful, but others will only see poetical and imaginery language. What do you hear?
“Let us travel back through the centuries for a moment and stand at the foot of the cross. Who was it on that first Good Friday who saw clearly into the heart of God? Was it Peter? No. Was it any of the other disciples? No. It was the dying thief (Luke 23:40-43). Out of the great crowd who had gathered around the cross, he saw into the very heart of reality. And the moment he did so, he passed from perdition to paradise. He knew little about God, but when he saw the self-giving love of Christ being poured out on those timbers of torture he knew everything. Through the cross he saw God’s heart. Then, by a leap of faith, he took hold of God’s provision. One moment hell yawned beneath his feet. Another moment and heaven shone before his eyes. The cross threw back the curtains, letting him see the heart of God. And the result? A robber (who deserved death) and the Saviour walked hand in hand into paradise.”
Consequently, I think the prayer (slightly amended) for today, is also excellent: “O God, I tremble to think that though I may know much about You, unless I have met You at the cross I can never truly know You. Today, I bow down before You – seeing into your heart as You hang on your cross, in sincere acknowledgement that You really are my Saviour, my Lord and my God. Amen.”
What’s your response – will you be like one of the crowd; who, on that day walked away, never accepting what God was offering to each and everyone of us? Or, will you be like the robber, justly sentenced to death - who sees into the heart of God and accepts His provision for eternal life? Jesus removed the barrier between God and man - we can now seek and find a relationship with God – the curtain, separating us from God has been ripped apart, by God’s own sacrifice; and, we now – by faith – can have entry into God’s presence. It’s hard to understand why people walk away from this offer of eternal life – from a loving God, who provides. What’s your view?