As a youngster, I grew up learning some of the songs written by my mom's oldest brother, who was an elder and an evangelist. One song he wrote for Christmas goes like this:
"크리스마스 축하하러 가는 길에
사랑하는 나의 친구 셋을 만나서
회개하고 예수 믿기 결심하니
기쁜 중에 더욱 기뻐 춤을 춥니다.
오늘 날은 우리 구주 나신 날,
기쁘고도 즐겁고도 참말 좋은 날,
얼씨구 좋구나, 참말 좋구나,
닐 닐 니일 닐 닐닐닐..."
which may be translated as:
"On my way to celebrate Christmas,
I met three of my dearest friends,
Who repented and decided to believe in Jesus,
Giving me joy upon joy and making me dance.
Today marks the birth of our Saviour,
Today is a day of joy, delight, pure bliss,
How joyful, how blessed is today,
Lal, lal, la-al, lal, lal, lal, lal ..."
I think the song captures the true meaning of Christmas really well, The main message of Christmas is as sung by the heavenly host on the First Noel:
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
This good news of peace is referring to the peace that the believers get to enjoy with God -- peace that represents reconciliation between God and men, who are no longer separated from God because of their sin (Romans 5:1-11, Colossians 1:22). Jesus came to the world as a man, so that He can pay the price of sin and tear down the wall between God and His people. With His death, the curtain of the temple was torn in half from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), so that a new and living way was opened up for us to approach God (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Thus the true message of Christmas is our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. With Christmas, the work of God, which is to believe in the One He sent (John 6:29), was begun.
Our job is to carry this message of peace and reconciliation to those who have not yet heard it. We are to be peace-makers.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Heavenly Joy
As was customary on Fridays, I went to the church to attend the youth group Friday evening Bible study. My class of senior high school girls had for the most part gone on a short-term mission trip to Peru and I was not sure if anybody would come. But I prepared for a Bible study and went to the church.
To my surprise, there was one student. It was a new girl, who had recently come over from Korea to study in the States. She did not speak English well, but was willing to study the Bible with me one-on-one. When we began the study, it became immediately obvious that she hadn't done this before. She did not know where the Gospel of John was in the Bible. She freely admitted that she did not know. I abandoned the original study plan and decided that we needed to talk about something more fundamental and more important to her.
We read from Psalm 19. We talked about how God has revealed Himself to man -- in His creation and in His Word. We talked about man's sin and alienation from God, about God's redemptive works through Jesus Christ, and how one can be saved by believing in Jesus. Then I asked her if she would be willing to ask God for forgiveness of her sins on account of Jesus. She said yes -- that was the most joyful sound I heard in a long time. We prayed together, with me giving her the words to say and her repeating after me. But it was her prayer of confessing her belief in the Lord Jesus and in her own redemption through Him. I am absolutely sure that God heard her prayer and has accepted her into His family. We then read John 3:16 and I Corinthians 15 and talked about eternal life and our hope of resurrection. She seemed to absorb all of that like a sponge and with childlike trust.
Though I have been a Christian all my life, I have not been diligent about sharing my faith with others. The last person I brought to Jesus was my deskmate in junior high. More than 35 years have passed since then, until today I had one more chance with someone who walked into the church on her own and, with no persuasion from me, was moved by the Holy Spirit to accept the Lord as her Redeemer.
Lord, all praises and honor are lifted up to you. You alone are holy and mighty. You love us so much and have done this great work of redeeming the girl. Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah. In Jesus' name, Amen.
To my surprise, there was one student. It was a new girl, who had recently come over from Korea to study in the States. She did not speak English well, but was willing to study the Bible with me one-on-one. When we began the study, it became immediately obvious that she hadn't done this before. She did not know where the Gospel of John was in the Bible. She freely admitted that she did not know. I abandoned the original study plan and decided that we needed to talk about something more fundamental and more important to her.
We read from Psalm 19. We talked about how God has revealed Himself to man -- in His creation and in His Word. We talked about man's sin and alienation from God, about God's redemptive works through Jesus Christ, and how one can be saved by believing in Jesus. Then I asked her if she would be willing to ask God for forgiveness of her sins on account of Jesus. She said yes -- that was the most joyful sound I heard in a long time. We prayed together, with me giving her the words to say and her repeating after me. But it was her prayer of confessing her belief in the Lord Jesus and in her own redemption through Him. I am absolutely sure that God heard her prayer and has accepted her into His family. We then read John 3:16 and I Corinthians 15 and talked about eternal life and our hope of resurrection. She seemed to absorb all of that like a sponge and with childlike trust.
Though I have been a Christian all my life, I have not been diligent about sharing my faith with others. The last person I brought to Jesus was my deskmate in junior high. More than 35 years have passed since then, until today I had one more chance with someone who walked into the church on her own and, with no persuasion from me, was moved by the Holy Spirit to accept the Lord as her Redeemer.
Lord, all praises and honor are lifted up to you. You alone are holy and mighty. You love us so much and have done this great work of redeeming the girl. Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Rejoice in the Lord Always
In the Old Testament days, there were festivals during which all Israelites were to present themselves before the Lord "at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His name" and rejoice (Deuteronomy 16:1-17) -- the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Now the Lord dwells within us as the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19) and we are commanded to "rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). Rejoice always, not just at times of festivals.
It is important to note that this commandment to rejoice in the Lord always was written in Paul's epistle to the church at Philippi. In Acts 16, we read about Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi by false accusations of the owners of a fortune-telling slave girl that Paul and Silas liberated from the evil spirits. While in prison, they prayed and SANG HYMNS to the Lord. An earthquake followed and the prison doors all opened up. When the jailer tried to commit suicide, he was stopped by Paul and Silas and was then introduced to the gospel, he and his household. Thus began the church at Philippi. The Macedonian church at Philippi suffered from "extreme poverty" and "the most severe trial", but with overflowing joy, they gave richly and generously to support Paul's mission (II Corinthians 8:1-5). In writing to this remarkable church, Paul was in prison again in Rome (Philippians 1:12-14). Writing in the direst situations to a church suffering greatly from a trial and poverty, Paul admonishes to "rejoice in the Lord always." In fact, the word "joy" or "rejoice" is mentioned no less than 13 times in the epistle. Likewise, the Thessalonian church received the gospel message with joy despite a severe suffering (I Thessalonians 1:6).
In fact, our Lord Jesus commanded us to rejoice in times of persecution and false accusation on account of His name (Matthew 5:11-12). Paul's message to the other churches was the same -- to rejoice in times of suffering (Romans 5:3, Colossians 1:24), as was the message of other apostles (James 1:2, I Peter 1:6, 4:13). We are to rejoice, even when we face hardships and trials.
This is possible, because our joy does not depend on the circumstances we find ourselves in. Our joy is from within. Our joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit (I Thessalonians 1:6), a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The joy given by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is not like the joy of the world, which is transient and is here one time and then is gone the next. It is like a spring of water that wells up within us, so that whoever drinks it will never thirst (John 4:13-14), since the Holy Spirit is the living water that flows from within (John 7:37-39).
"I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain in my soul, Hallelujah!
I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain in my soul."
(youtube version in Korean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGt2X_1OQd0)
It is important to note that this commandment to rejoice in the Lord always was written in Paul's epistle to the church at Philippi. In Acts 16, we read about Paul and Silas being imprisoned in Philippi by false accusations of the owners of a fortune-telling slave girl that Paul and Silas liberated from the evil spirits. While in prison, they prayed and SANG HYMNS to the Lord. An earthquake followed and the prison doors all opened up. When the jailer tried to commit suicide, he was stopped by Paul and Silas and was then introduced to the gospel, he and his household. Thus began the church at Philippi. The Macedonian church at Philippi suffered from "extreme poverty" and "the most severe trial", but with overflowing joy, they gave richly and generously to support Paul's mission (II Corinthians 8:1-5). In writing to this remarkable church, Paul was in prison again in Rome (Philippians 1:12-14). Writing in the direst situations to a church suffering greatly from a trial and poverty, Paul admonishes to "rejoice in the Lord always." In fact, the word "joy" or "rejoice" is mentioned no less than 13 times in the epistle. Likewise, the Thessalonian church received the gospel message with joy despite a severe suffering (I Thessalonians 1:6).
In fact, our Lord Jesus commanded us to rejoice in times of persecution and false accusation on account of His name (Matthew 5:11-12). Paul's message to the other churches was the same -- to rejoice in times of suffering (Romans 5:3, Colossians 1:24), as was the message of other apostles (James 1:2, I Peter 1:6, 4:13). We are to rejoice, even when we face hardships and trials.
This is possible, because our joy does not depend on the circumstances we find ourselves in. Our joy is from within. Our joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit (I Thessalonians 1:6), a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The joy given by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is not like the joy of the world, which is transient and is here one time and then is gone the next. It is like a spring of water that wells up within us, so that whoever drinks it will never thirst (John 4:13-14), since the Holy Spirit is the living water that flows from within (John 7:37-39).
"I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain in my soul, Hallelujah!
I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain.
I've got joy like a fountain in my soul."
(youtube version in Korean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGt2X_1OQd0)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Song of ascents
Last Sunday, I came to the emergency room with a chest pain, which was a harbinger of a relatively massive heart attack. I had a STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) in the territory of the heart supplied by the left anterior descending artery. Even though my wife drove me to the hospital without a prior call to the hospital, there was a team of people who worked expeditiously as if they were waiting for me to come in. They placed stents in the artery to open up the blockage and a balloon pump to ease the work of my heart. Working through these good people, God saved me and extended my life.
For a while, I could not even sit up. I laid helplessly and could only entrust those around me. Even though I wanted to, I could not go to the church to worship and praise the Lord.
From Psalm 120 on, there are several psalms that are labeled as Songs of Ascents. Jerusalem is sitting on a mountain plateau and surrounded by valleys and (dry) river beds. So to go to the temple, one had to ascend or climb up. The songs of ascents are songs sung as one went up to the temple.
Having been in bed against my wishes and unable to ascend to the place of worship, I can appreciate all the more how precious the hour of worship is in the company of fellow believers. There is nothing more valuable than to know the Lord intimately and praise His holy Name.
My Father, my Lord.
You have given me a breath to sing your praises;
therefore, I will sing your mercy, grace, and salvation.
You have given me eyes to see and shed tears;
therefore, I will shed your tears of mercy and long to see you and the world from your perspective.
You have given me ears to hear;
therefore, I will hear the words of blessing and accept them with faith and obedience.
You have given me a mouth to speak;
therefore, I will use it to utter and actively share my faith, so that I may have a full understanding of every good thing I have in Christ (Philemon 1:6).
You have given me a mind to think;
therefore, I will seek to think your thoughts.
You have given me a heart, a new heart;
therefore, I want to feel your feelings and cry out to you, you who turn your ears to me (Psalm 116:2).
In Christ, you have made me a new creation. Let me now live a life as a new creation. Fill me with your presence. I want to be ever so intimate with you. Amen.
For a while, I could not even sit up. I laid helplessly and could only entrust those around me. Even though I wanted to, I could not go to the church to worship and praise the Lord.
From Psalm 120 on, there are several psalms that are labeled as Songs of Ascents. Jerusalem is sitting on a mountain plateau and surrounded by valleys and (dry) river beds. So to go to the temple, one had to ascend or climb up. The songs of ascents are songs sung as one went up to the temple.
Having been in bed against my wishes and unable to ascend to the place of worship, I can appreciate all the more how precious the hour of worship is in the company of fellow believers. There is nothing more valuable than to know the Lord intimately and praise His holy Name.
My Father, my Lord.
You have given me a breath to sing your praises;
therefore, I will sing your mercy, grace, and salvation.
You have given me eyes to see and shed tears;
therefore, I will shed your tears of mercy and long to see you and the world from your perspective.
You have given me ears to hear;
therefore, I will hear the words of blessing and accept them with faith and obedience.
You have given me a mouth to speak;
therefore, I will use it to utter and actively share my faith, so that I may have a full understanding of every good thing I have in Christ (Philemon 1:6).
You have given me a mind to think;
therefore, I will seek to think your thoughts.
You have given me a heart, a new heart;
therefore, I want to feel your feelings and cry out to you, you who turn your ears to me (Psalm 116:2).
In Christ, you have made me a new creation. Let me now live a life as a new creation. Fill me with your presence. I want to be ever so intimate with you. Amen.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Open wide your mouth ... (Psalm 81:10)
Last night I attended what was (for me) an unusual Good Friday service. Certainly the message was about the death of Christ. On the cross, Jesus declared "It is finished (τετελεσται)" (John 19:30). Jesus accomplished all that is necessary not only for my salvation, but also for my freedom from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1). It is time for me to repent of my sins and live a life full of the Holy Spirit. The service was unusual in that it ended with the congregation praying individually, freely and audibly until each was satisfied with the grace from the Lord, without there being a set ending.
As I prayed in response to the message, my prayers were two-fold.
First, I prayed for forgiveness of my sins, as I recollected them -- the sins that I had not hitherto confessed. This was not to repent again of the same sins that I had previously confessed. For Jesus declared as He washed His disciples' feet, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean." (John 13:10). Then I went on to pray for the sins of my family, my town and city, my nation (USA), and my people (Koreans of North and South Korea).
Second, I prayed for my total transformation. I wanted to be after God's heart, pleasing Him, just as David was. I prayed that my eyes will be focused on the kingdom of heaven and, when looking at the world, be filled with God's tears; that Jesus' heart will be transplanted into me, so that I may feel the same way as He does; that whatever I see, hear, smell, think, and do may be in accordance with His will; that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation will fill me, so that I may know the hope of my calling, the riches of my inheritance, and the power that raised Jesus from death. I prayed to be filled with the character of the Holy Spirit, armed with the full armor of God, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and empowered with the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is it to have God's tears in my eyes and feel the same way as Jesus? I remembered that in Romans 8:34, it is written that Jesus sitting at the right hand of God is interceding for us. The Spirit Himself also intercedes for us, with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26) If I am to feel the same way as Jesus, I should be grieving and praying for all the peoples and nations going down the path of destruction and damnation, without knowing the true Savior, Jesus Christ. In praying intercessory prayers, I wanted to embrace not only the city of Columbus, the state of Ohio, or the nation of the United States, but also the world and the people in it. I was opening my mouth wide, in the sense of Psalm 81:10.
Praise the Lord, for His mercy is endless and enduring.
Praise the Lord, for He has awakened me to pray in the morning.
Praise the Lord, for He reminds me to pray in the evening.
Praise the Lord, for He is not ashamed to call me His own and fill me with His Spirit of revelation and wisdom.
Praise the Lord, for He gives me a heart to grieve for the dying souls.
Praise the Lord, for He gives me a heart to offer up prayers of intercession.
Praise Him on earth! Praise Him in the highest! Amen.
As I prayed in response to the message, my prayers were two-fold.
First, I prayed for forgiveness of my sins, as I recollected them -- the sins that I had not hitherto confessed. This was not to repent again of the same sins that I had previously confessed. For Jesus declared as He washed His disciples' feet, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean." (John 13:10). Then I went on to pray for the sins of my family, my town and city, my nation (USA), and my people (Koreans of North and South Korea).
Second, I prayed for my total transformation. I wanted to be after God's heart, pleasing Him, just as David was. I prayed that my eyes will be focused on the kingdom of heaven and, when looking at the world, be filled with God's tears; that Jesus' heart will be transplanted into me, so that I may feel the same way as He does; that whatever I see, hear, smell, think, and do may be in accordance with His will; that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation will fill me, so that I may know the hope of my calling, the riches of my inheritance, and the power that raised Jesus from death. I prayed to be filled with the character of the Holy Spirit, armed with the full armor of God, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and empowered with the power of the Holy Spirit.
What is it to have God's tears in my eyes and feel the same way as Jesus? I remembered that in Romans 8:34, it is written that Jesus sitting at the right hand of God is interceding for us. The Spirit Himself also intercedes for us, with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26) If I am to feel the same way as Jesus, I should be grieving and praying for all the peoples and nations going down the path of destruction and damnation, without knowing the true Savior, Jesus Christ. In praying intercessory prayers, I wanted to embrace not only the city of Columbus, the state of Ohio, or the nation of the United States, but also the world and the people in it. I was opening my mouth wide, in the sense of Psalm 81:10.
Praise the Lord, for His mercy is endless and enduring.
Praise the Lord, for He has awakened me to pray in the morning.
Praise the Lord, for He reminds me to pray in the evening.
Praise the Lord, for He is not ashamed to call me His own and fill me with His Spirit of revelation and wisdom.
Praise the Lord, for He gives me a heart to grieve for the dying souls.
Praise the Lord, for He gives me a heart to offer up prayers of intercession.
Praise Him on earth! Praise Him in the highest! Amen.
Friday, February 19, 2010
The precious blood of Christ
[Bible verses]
I Peter 1:19-20
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
I John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Hebrews 13:12
And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
John 6:54
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
[My reflections]
Haggling in the market used to be a common scene in local markets when I was growing up in Korea. A lady may go to a clothing store and argue vehemently how one can charge such a high price for such a low quality dress. She is just saying things so that she can get as low a price as possible. But once she buys it and wears it, she wears it as if it were the most expensive, highest quality product imported from Italy or some such country known for high-quality clothing. If she had to pay a truly high price, she would be all the more proud of her dress.
When God our Father redeemed us, I don't think He was going for bargains at all. He chose to pay the full price by letting His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross. As Jesus died, He said, "it is finished" (John 19:30), meaning "it is paid in full." With Jesus' blood that is more precious than all the world, all the creation, God chose to redeem our lives.
Because God paid such a high price to redeem us, there is no way that He is going to let go of us. Our redemption is totally assured and is at no risk of being lost, because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). In fact, He put a seal on us, marking us as His own, and the seal is the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of our redemption and inheritance in the kingdom of God (Ephesians 1:14). All the rich glories of the heavenly kingdom have been assured to be given to us as inheritance, because of the precious blood of Jesus.
"O Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this I see -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
FOr my pardon this my plea -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! thus I sing -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
All my praise for this I bring -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other found I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus." (Robert Lowry, 1876)
I Peter 1:19-20
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
I John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Hebrews 13:12
And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
John 6:54
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
[My reflections]
Haggling in the market used to be a common scene in local markets when I was growing up in Korea. A lady may go to a clothing store and argue vehemently how one can charge such a high price for such a low quality dress. She is just saying things so that she can get as low a price as possible. But once she buys it and wears it, she wears it as if it were the most expensive, highest quality product imported from Italy or some such country known for high-quality clothing. If she had to pay a truly high price, she would be all the more proud of her dress.
When God our Father redeemed us, I don't think He was going for bargains at all. He chose to pay the full price by letting His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross. As Jesus died, He said, "it is finished" (John 19:30), meaning "it is paid in full." With Jesus' blood that is more precious than all the world, all the creation, God chose to redeem our lives.
Because God paid such a high price to redeem us, there is no way that He is going to let go of us. Our redemption is totally assured and is at no risk of being lost, because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). In fact, He put a seal on us, marking us as His own, and the seal is the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of our redemption and inheritance in the kingdom of God (Ephesians 1:14). All the rich glories of the heavenly kingdom have been assured to be given to us as inheritance, because of the precious blood of Jesus.
"O Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this I see -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
FOr my pardon this my plea -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! thus I sing -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
All my praise for this I bring -- Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other found I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus." (Robert Lowry, 1876)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
God's tears?
The anthem that the choir will sing this Sunday has the following phrase:
아버지 당신의 마음이 있는 곳에 나의 마음이 있기를 원해요
아버지 당신의 눈물이 고인 곳에 나의 눈물이 고이길 원해요
Roughly translated, the phrase goes like this:
Father, where your heart is, I want my heart to be as well.
Father, where your tears are welling up, I want my tears to well up as well.
My initial reaction as I was singing this song in practice was one of being taken back. Does our Father God shed tears? Even figuratively, I could not recall any recording of that. I was not sure if there is any Bible reference on God the Father either shedding tears or weeping.
The closest reference to God the Father weeping that I could find was in Micah 1. In speaking of the sin and judgement of Samaria and Jerusalem, the Lord says "I will wail and weep" because "her wound is incurable; it has come to Judah." (verses 8 & 9) Because of their sin, God must pour out His wrath and judgment on Samaria and Judgment, but at the same time He is weeping about it. Even though the Lord is merciful and "patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9), He is also just and has a predetermined day of judgment for those unrelenting, unrepenting souls. He will judge the quick and the dead, as we affirm in the Apostle's creed.
In the same vein, Jesus also wept in Luke 19, verses 41-44. As Jesus was entering Jerusalem, He looked ahead to the days when not one stone will be left on another and the city will be utterly destroyed. As He spoke of the destruction of the city, Jesus wept visibly. He lamented that the city would be destroyed "because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
If I am singing a prayer that where Father's tears are welling up, I want my tears to well up as well, I am singing of my heartache and my lamentation that many of my fellow human beings are going down the path of destruction. I am singing of my prayer that I will look toward them with compassion, that I will take my footsteps to deliver a message of repentance and redemption to them, and that I lay myself down to be used as a tool of God the Father to fulfill His will in any way He sees fit.
Father, my heart goes out to my brethren in North Korea. Father, as newborns are suffocated and buried alive when born to mothers of concentration camps, as children and elderly die of starvation, as the misguided soldiers worship a man as their god -- as the whole nation is going down a path of destruction, I think you are wailing and weeping. Extend your mercy to that desolate land. Let redemption and freedom come to that patch of a peninsula. Bless the NK Reconstruction initiave of WCNF. Let me keep my vow for NKRF. In Jesus' name. Amen.
아버지 당신의 마음이 있는 곳에 나의 마음이 있기를 원해요
아버지 당신의 눈물이 고인 곳에 나의 눈물이 고이길 원해요
Roughly translated, the phrase goes like this:
Father, where your heart is, I want my heart to be as well.
Father, where your tears are welling up, I want my tears to well up as well.
My initial reaction as I was singing this song in practice was one of being taken back. Does our Father God shed tears? Even figuratively, I could not recall any recording of that. I was not sure if there is any Bible reference on God the Father either shedding tears or weeping.
The closest reference to God the Father weeping that I could find was in Micah 1. In speaking of the sin and judgement of Samaria and Jerusalem, the Lord says "I will wail and weep" because "her wound is incurable; it has come to Judah." (verses 8 & 9) Because of their sin, God must pour out His wrath and judgment on Samaria and Judgment, but at the same time He is weeping about it. Even though the Lord is merciful and "patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9), He is also just and has a predetermined day of judgment for those unrelenting, unrepenting souls. He will judge the quick and the dead, as we affirm in the Apostle's creed.
In the same vein, Jesus also wept in Luke 19, verses 41-44. As Jesus was entering Jerusalem, He looked ahead to the days when not one stone will be left on another and the city will be utterly destroyed. As He spoke of the destruction of the city, Jesus wept visibly. He lamented that the city would be destroyed "because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
If I am singing a prayer that where Father's tears are welling up, I want my tears to well up as well, I am singing of my heartache and my lamentation that many of my fellow human beings are going down the path of destruction. I am singing of my prayer that I will look toward them with compassion, that I will take my footsteps to deliver a message of repentance and redemption to them, and that I lay myself down to be used as a tool of God the Father to fulfill His will in any way He sees fit.
Father, my heart goes out to my brethren in North Korea. Father, as newborns are suffocated and buried alive when born to mothers of concentration camps, as children and elderly die of starvation, as the misguided soldiers worship a man as their god -- as the whole nation is going down a path of destruction, I think you are wailing and weeping. Extend your mercy to that desolate land. Let redemption and freedom come to that patch of a peninsula. Bless the NK Reconstruction initiave of WCNF. Let me keep my vow for NKRF. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Praising the mighty acts of the Lord, Psalm 106
[Bible verses]
Psalm 106
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare His praise?
Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.
Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them,
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.
We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
Yet He saved them for His name's sake, to make His mighty power known.
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.
He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy He redeemed them.
The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.
But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.
In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test.
So He gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram.
Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
So He said He would destroy them— had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him to keep His wrath from destroying them.
Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.
So He swore to them with uplifted hand that He would make them fall in the desert,
make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
they provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.
But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.
This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.
By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips.
They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them,
but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.
Therefore the LORD was angry with His people and abhorred His inheritance.
He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them.
Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.
Many times He delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
But He took note of their distress when He heard their cry;
for their sake He remembered His covenant and out of His great love He relented.
He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.
[My reflections]
In this psalm, the psalmist is singing of the "mighty acts of the Lord." This psalm has been lyricized and is often sung by choirs. What are the mighty acts that the psalm is singing about? Without knowing them, one may not be able to sing from the heart.
Of the 48 verses of the psalm, more than 30 verses have been devoted to confess the sins, wrong-doings and wickedness of Israel. The Israelites did not remember how God performed miracles to lead them out of Egypt and rebelled against Him by the Red Sea (v 7). In the desert, they gave in to their craving and put God to the test (v 14). They envied Moses and Aaron, consecrated to the Lord (v 16). They worshiped a golden calf and forgot their true savior, the Lord (v 19-21). They despised the land promised by the Lord and did not trust Him (v 24). They yielded to the gods of pleasure and lust and sinned against the true God (v 28). They rebelled against the Spirit of God (v 33). Instead of destroying the heathen nations as they were commanded to do, they mingled with them and adopted their customs (v 34-36). Yet, in spite of all these, God forgave them time and again for His name's sake and saved them.
The very description of the Israelites is the same description applicable to us, is it not? Although we are utterly unworthy, God forgave us and saved us, with the price of the blood of His own Son (Romans 5:8). Despite having received such an awesome love, do we not time and again doubt the goodness, kindness and mercy of the Lord and habitually exhibit mistrust and unbelief? Instead of fixing our eyes on the kingdom of heaven, do we not take pleasure in the vanities of this world -- cravings of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and boastings of the world (I John 2:16)? Yes, yes, yes, we do all these. Yet, the Lord God still loves us to the end (Romans 8:38-39) and disciplines us as His children (Hebrews 12:5-6), so that we may be on the path of righteousness.
Herein are the mighty acts of the Lord: that despite all our shortcomings, He still loves us and will never forsake us. Herein lies His great love: with patience that considers a thousand years like a day (II Peter 3:8), He waits for us -- like the father waiting for his prodigal son to return (Luke 15:20). My prayer is that, as the psalmist prayed in v 5 of this psalm, I will be among those who join in witnessing and experiencing these mighty acts of the Lord and in praising the joy of being His nation, His people, His children.
Psalm 106
Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare His praise?
Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.
Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them,
that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise.
We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
Yet He saved them for His name's sake, to make His mighty power known.
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.
He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy He redeemed them.
The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.
Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.
But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.
In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test.
So He gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD.
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram.
Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.
At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
So He said He would destroy them— had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach before Him to keep His wrath from destroying them.
Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe His promise.
They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.
So He swore to them with uplifted hand that He would make them fall in the desert,
make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
they provoked the LORD to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.
But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.
This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.
By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips.
They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them,
but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.
They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.
Therefore the LORD was angry with His people and abhorred His inheritance.
He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them.
Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.
Many times He delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
But He took note of their distress when He heard their cry;
for their sake He remembered His covenant and out of His great love He relented.
He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.
Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.
[My reflections]
In this psalm, the psalmist is singing of the "mighty acts of the Lord." This psalm has been lyricized and is often sung by choirs. What are the mighty acts that the psalm is singing about? Without knowing them, one may not be able to sing from the heart.
Of the 48 verses of the psalm, more than 30 verses have been devoted to confess the sins, wrong-doings and wickedness of Israel. The Israelites did not remember how God performed miracles to lead them out of Egypt and rebelled against Him by the Red Sea (v 7). In the desert, they gave in to their craving and put God to the test (v 14). They envied Moses and Aaron, consecrated to the Lord (v 16). They worshiped a golden calf and forgot their true savior, the Lord (v 19-21). They despised the land promised by the Lord and did not trust Him (v 24). They yielded to the gods of pleasure and lust and sinned against the true God (v 28). They rebelled against the Spirit of God (v 33). Instead of destroying the heathen nations as they were commanded to do, they mingled with them and adopted their customs (v 34-36). Yet, in spite of all these, God forgave them time and again for His name's sake and saved them.
The very description of the Israelites is the same description applicable to us, is it not? Although we are utterly unworthy, God forgave us and saved us, with the price of the blood of His own Son (Romans 5:8). Despite having received such an awesome love, do we not time and again doubt the goodness, kindness and mercy of the Lord and habitually exhibit mistrust and unbelief? Instead of fixing our eyes on the kingdom of heaven, do we not take pleasure in the vanities of this world -- cravings of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and boastings of the world (I John 2:16)? Yes, yes, yes, we do all these. Yet, the Lord God still loves us to the end (Romans 8:38-39) and disciplines us as His children (Hebrews 12:5-6), so that we may be on the path of righteousness.
Herein are the mighty acts of the Lord: that despite all our shortcomings, He still loves us and will never forsake us. Herein lies His great love: with patience that considers a thousand years like a day (II Peter 3:8), He waits for us -- like the father waiting for his prodigal son to return (Luke 15:20). My prayer is that, as the psalmist prayed in v 5 of this psalm, I will be among those who join in witnessing and experiencing these mighty acts of the Lord and in praising the joy of being His nation, His people, His children.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Trumpets
[Bible verses]
Psalm 47:5
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
Psalm 98:6
With trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
Psalm 150:3
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
Isaiah 27:13
And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
I Chronicles 16:6
and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
Leviticus 23:24
"Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.'"
[My reflections]
There are several musical instruments that are frequently mentioned in the Bible. Among these are trumpets, horns, harps, lyres and cymbals. Of these, trumpets are mentioned 116 times in the Bible and certainly play an important role. They were to be blown by selected priests (Numbers 10:8, I Chronicles 15:24, 16:6,42, Nehemiah 12:35). And on the first day of the seventh month Tishrei or Rosh Hashanah, which is the New Year's Day for the Israelites, trumpets were blown to signal the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets. According to the Hebrew tradition, this day marks the sixth day of Creation, when mankind was created.
There are several meanings to blowing of the trumpets. First, trumpets signal the coming down of the Lord God (Exodus 19:16,19, 20:18). As the Lord came down to Israel, trumpets were sounded to gather the people of Israel and have them march out (Numbers 10). So, when Israel went out to a war, they would blow the trumpets so that they would go out with the Lord (Joshua 6, Judges 3:27, 6:34, 7:19-22, I Samuel 13:3). Second, trumpets were blown to praise the Lord. In the psalms above or in such places as I Chronicles 13:8, II Chronicles 5:12-13, 7:6, 29:26-27, we can see how the Israelites used the trumpets to sing and celebrate the great mercy and enduring love of the Lord. Third, trumpets signify a warning and a call to repentance. The trumpet is the watchman's tool (Ezekiel 33:3-6, Joel 2;1) to tell the people of the imminent wrath and judgment of the Lord. In the last days, blowing of the trumpets by the angels is followed by the seven woes (Revelations 8 & 9). As one hears the loud blowing of the trumpet, he needs to repent of his sins before the wrath of the Lord is poured on him (Isaiah 58:1, Joel 2:15). So the tenth day of the Feast of Trumpets was kept as the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 25:9). Fourth, the trumpet will sound with the Second Coming of the Lord (Matthew 24:31). With the sound of the trumpet, we will be resurrected in glory (I Corinthians 15:51-52, I Thessalonians 4:16). And the eternal kingdom of the Lord Jesus will be established and we will live there with Him for ever (Revelations 11:15).
When I sing praises to the Lord, I hope to sing at the height of my voice, like the trumpet sounds. The Lord is exalted and glorified among our praises.
Psalm 47:5
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
Psalm 98:6
With trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
Psalm 150:3
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
Isaiah 27:13
And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
I Chronicles 16:6
and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.
Leviticus 23:24
"Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.'"
[My reflections]
There are several musical instruments that are frequently mentioned in the Bible. Among these are trumpets, horns, harps, lyres and cymbals. Of these, trumpets are mentioned 116 times in the Bible and certainly play an important role. They were to be blown by selected priests (Numbers 10:8, I Chronicles 15:24, 16:6,42, Nehemiah 12:35). And on the first day of the seventh month Tishrei or Rosh Hashanah, which is the New Year's Day for the Israelites, trumpets were blown to signal the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets. According to the Hebrew tradition, this day marks the sixth day of Creation, when mankind was created.
There are several meanings to blowing of the trumpets. First, trumpets signal the coming down of the Lord God (Exodus 19:16,19, 20:18). As the Lord came down to Israel, trumpets were sounded to gather the people of Israel and have them march out (Numbers 10). So, when Israel went out to a war, they would blow the trumpets so that they would go out with the Lord (Joshua 6, Judges 3:27, 6:34, 7:19-22, I Samuel 13:3). Second, trumpets were blown to praise the Lord. In the psalms above or in such places as I Chronicles 13:8, II Chronicles 5:12-13, 7:6, 29:26-27, we can see how the Israelites used the trumpets to sing and celebrate the great mercy and enduring love of the Lord. Third, trumpets signify a warning and a call to repentance. The trumpet is the watchman's tool (Ezekiel 33:3-6, Joel 2;1) to tell the people of the imminent wrath and judgment of the Lord. In the last days, blowing of the trumpets by the angels is followed by the seven woes (Revelations 8 & 9). As one hears the loud blowing of the trumpet, he needs to repent of his sins before the wrath of the Lord is poured on him (Isaiah 58:1, Joel 2:15). So the tenth day of the Feast of Trumpets was kept as the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 25:9). Fourth, the trumpet will sound with the Second Coming of the Lord (Matthew 24:31). With the sound of the trumpet, we will be resurrected in glory (I Corinthians 15:51-52, I Thessalonians 4:16). And the eternal kingdom of the Lord Jesus will be established and we will live there with Him for ever (Revelations 11:15).
When I sing praises to the Lord, I hope to sing at the height of my voice, like the trumpet sounds. The Lord is exalted and glorified among our praises.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
How to Sing of our Love of the Lord
[Bible Verses]
Mark 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
II Samuel 7:2-16
he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
" 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.' "
[My reflections]
If I were to pick two people who expressed their love of the Lord the best, I would pick, in the New Testament, the woman who broke her alabaster jar of very expensive perfume to pour it on Jesus' body and, in the Old Testament, David, a man after the heart of the Lord(I Samuel 13:14) who looks at what is inside a man's heart (I Samuel 16:7). David's expression of love reached its peak with his desire to build the Lord's holy temple. Upon hearing this, the Lord promised that He would build David a house that will endure forever. A common thread in these two people's love of the Lord is that their love was expressed on the body of the Lord. Their love was expressed on the body of the Incarnate Lord or on the temple, symbolizing the body of Christ. With such expression of love, both the woman and David received blessings beyond measure.
We can similarly express our love of the Lord, by loving our brothers and sisters in the Lord, who make up the church, the body of Christ. The Lord said that whatever we do to the least of the brethren is the same as doing it to the Lord (Matthew 25:40). And He gave us the new commandment to love one another (John 13:34-35, I John 4:21). If we are not reconciled with our brethren, the Lord would not accept our worship (Matthew 5:23-24). If we do not love our brethren and if we say we love God, then we are being liars (I John 4:20).
How often we sing of our love of the Lord! If our praises are to be pleasing to the Lord, then we must first begin with loving our brothers and sisters.
Mark 14:3-9
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
II Samuel 7:2-16
he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent."
Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you."
That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
" 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.' "
[My reflections]
If I were to pick two people who expressed their love of the Lord the best, I would pick, in the New Testament, the woman who broke her alabaster jar of very expensive perfume to pour it on Jesus' body and, in the Old Testament, David, a man after the heart of the Lord(I Samuel 13:14) who looks at what is inside a man's heart (I Samuel 16:7). David's expression of love reached its peak with his desire to build the Lord's holy temple. Upon hearing this, the Lord promised that He would build David a house that will endure forever. A common thread in these two people's love of the Lord is that their love was expressed on the body of the Lord. Their love was expressed on the body of the Incarnate Lord or on the temple, symbolizing the body of Christ. With such expression of love, both the woman and David received blessings beyond measure.
We can similarly express our love of the Lord, by loving our brothers and sisters in the Lord, who make up the church, the body of Christ. The Lord said that whatever we do to the least of the brethren is the same as doing it to the Lord (Matthew 25:40). And He gave us the new commandment to love one another (John 13:34-35, I John 4:21). If we are not reconciled with our brethren, the Lord would not accept our worship (Matthew 5:23-24). If we do not love our brethren and if we say we love God, then we are being liars (I John 4:20).
How often we sing of our love of the Lord! If our praises are to be pleasing to the Lord, then we must first begin with loving our brothers and sisters.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
From the valley of the shadow of death to the valley of praise
[Bible Verses]
II Chronicles 20
v1. After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
v2. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).
v18. Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
v19. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
v20. Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."
v21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
"Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever."
v22. As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
v23. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
v24. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.
v25. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
v26. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
[My reflections]
In the book "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, there is a place called the Valley of the Shadow of Death that the character named Christian must pass through. This is not a place that Christian could circumvent or go around. Our Lord, who leads us to the still waters and green pastures, does not let us avoid the valley of the shadow of death, but stays with us as we pass through the valley (Psalm 23:4). In the valley, His rod and staff comfort us.
When encountering difficulties and troubles, our forefathers in faith opted to lift up praises to the Lord! In the verses above, Judah was invaded by an alliance of three nations, Moab, Ammon and Edom. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah felt powerless against the enemy armies, but they trusted the Lord and appointed a choir to sing the splendor of the Lord's holiness and march ahead of the army of Israel. The enemy armies ended up killing one another and all that the Israelites had to do was to plunder afterwards. The people of Judah then assembled in the Valley of Beracah or Valley of Praise to sing praises to the Lord.
Likewise, after Job lost all his possessions and was abandoned even by his wife, he continued to praise the Lord, who gives and takes away (Job 1:21). Paul and Silas, who were unjustly flogged and imprisoned in Philippi, continued to pray and sing hymns (Acts 16:25). And, of course, our Lord Jesus, on the night before his crucifixion, before he went to Gethsemane to pray, He sang a hymn (Matthew 26:30).
To be able to praise in the face of difficulties, troubles, and sufferings, we must acknowledge and trust the Lord completely. Our praise is evidence of faith in the saving works of the Lord. Our Lord is sufficiently strong to protect us from anything (Romans 8:38,39) and will give us the ultimate victory. Then the Valley of the Shadow of Death will turn to the Valley of Beracah or the Valley of Praise for us.
II Chronicles 20
v1. After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
v2. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).
v18. Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
v19. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
v20. Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."
v21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
"Give thanks to the LORD,
for his love endures forever."
v22. As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
v23. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
v24. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.
v25. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
v26. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
[My reflections]
In the book "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, there is a place called the Valley of the Shadow of Death that the character named Christian must pass through. This is not a place that Christian could circumvent or go around. Our Lord, who leads us to the still waters and green pastures, does not let us avoid the valley of the shadow of death, but stays with us as we pass through the valley (Psalm 23:4). In the valley, His rod and staff comfort us.
When encountering difficulties and troubles, our forefathers in faith opted to lift up praises to the Lord! In the verses above, Judah was invaded by an alliance of three nations, Moab, Ammon and Edom. King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah felt powerless against the enemy armies, but they trusted the Lord and appointed a choir to sing the splendor of the Lord's holiness and march ahead of the army of Israel. The enemy armies ended up killing one another and all that the Israelites had to do was to plunder afterwards. The people of Judah then assembled in the Valley of Beracah or Valley of Praise to sing praises to the Lord.
Likewise, after Job lost all his possessions and was abandoned even by his wife, he continued to praise the Lord, who gives and takes away (Job 1:21). Paul and Silas, who were unjustly flogged and imprisoned in Philippi, continued to pray and sing hymns (Acts 16:25). And, of course, our Lord Jesus, on the night before his crucifixion, before he went to Gethsemane to pray, He sang a hymn (Matthew 26:30).
To be able to praise in the face of difficulties, troubles, and sufferings, we must acknowledge and trust the Lord completely. Our praise is evidence of faith in the saving works of the Lord. Our Lord is sufficiently strong to protect us from anything (Romans 8:38,39) and will give us the ultimate victory. Then the Valley of the Shadow of Death will turn to the Valley of Beracah or the Valley of Praise for us.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Lord of Resurrection
[Bible Verses]
Matthew 28:5,6
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
Psalm 16:9,10
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
Romans 1:4
and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 11:25,26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Romans 6:5
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
I Corinthians 15:20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
I Corinthians 15:52,53
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
[My Reflections]
When Jesus was on this earth, He performed many miracles. The greatest miracle of all was that after He died on the cross and was buried, He rose again on the third day. So Paul said that by this, Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4). This was also the reason why the apostles were not afraid of death in proclaiming that the Lord has risen. Resurrection was the center piece of the gospel message (Acts 1:22, 4:2,33, 17:18,32, 24:21).
Indeed Jesus' resurrection is wonderful. The reason why it is significant to us is that we also have the hope of the same resurrection on account of Jesus. Jesus became the firstfruits of resurrection (I Corinthians 15:23); next will be those who belong to Him, when He comes again. Our perishable body will disappear with death, but we will be raised with an imperishable body. What is dishonorable will go away and we will be raised in honor; what is weak will go away and we will be raised in power (I Corinthians 15:43). When we are resurrected, we will have the likeness of the man from heaven (I Corinthians 15:49). That is, God's image, God's likeness will be restored in us.
Taking one step further, we are already a new creation even in this world (II Corinthians 5:17). We are born again, born anew, born from above as children of God, with God's likeness, God's image. The possibility of tasting the glory and power of resurrection is already with us. Such a possibility is realized when we display the character of God in our lives. I pray that we will be able to lift up our praises and be triumphant with the hope of resurrection. In faith, we are convinced of the certainty of this hope (Hebrews 11:1).
Matthew 28:5,6
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
Psalm 16:9,10
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
Romans 1:4
and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 11:25,26
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Romans 6:5
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
I Corinthians 15:20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
I Corinthians 15:52,53
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
[My Reflections]
When Jesus was on this earth, He performed many miracles. The greatest miracle of all was that after He died on the cross and was buried, He rose again on the third day. So Paul said that by this, Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4). This was also the reason why the apostles were not afraid of death in proclaiming that the Lord has risen. Resurrection was the center piece of the gospel message (Acts 1:22, 4:2,33, 17:18,32, 24:21).
Indeed Jesus' resurrection is wonderful. The reason why it is significant to us is that we also have the hope of the same resurrection on account of Jesus. Jesus became the firstfruits of resurrection (I Corinthians 15:23); next will be those who belong to Him, when He comes again. Our perishable body will disappear with death, but we will be raised with an imperishable body. What is dishonorable will go away and we will be raised in honor; what is weak will go away and we will be raised in power (I Corinthians 15:43). When we are resurrected, we will have the likeness of the man from heaven (I Corinthians 15:49). That is, God's image, God's likeness will be restored in us.
Taking one step further, we are already a new creation even in this world (II Corinthians 5:17). We are born again, born anew, born from above as children of God, with God's likeness, God's image. The possibility of tasting the glory and power of resurrection is already with us. Such a possibility is realized when we display the character of God in our lives. I pray that we will be able to lift up our praises and be triumphant with the hope of resurrection. In faith, we are convinced of the certainty of this hope (Hebrews 11:1).
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Hosanna
[Bible verses]
Mark 11:9-10
Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
Psalm 118:25-26
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
Leviticus 23:39-42
So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths.
Zechariah 14:16
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
[My reflections]
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey, it was just a few days before he was to die on the cross. People spread their cloaks on the road and greeted Jesus with palm branches and other branches (John 12:13) and shounted "Hosanna." "Hosanna" or "Hoshana" in Hebrew means "Save us", but since Jesus' triumphal entry, the term has also been used as a cry of praise, like "Hallelujah."
The scene of people waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna is usually recreated during the Feast of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Booths), one of the three Feasts of Israel along with the Passover and the Feast of Weeks. It was not a scene usually seen before the Passover, as was the time of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. During the 8 days of the Feast of Tabernacles, people praise the Lord with the words of Psalm 118:25. The Feast of Tabernacles has several meanings. First, it is an occasion to remind the Israelites of their days in the wilderness when they stayed in booths (Leviticus 23:43). Second, the tabernacle that symbolized the Lord dwelling among Israel in the wilderness also symbolizes God Incarnate, Immanuel, Jesus Christ who came to dwell among us (John 1:14, Matthew 1:23). Third, the Feast of Tabernacles foresees the day when all the nations and peoples will submit to the power of the Lord and the eternal kingdom of God is established (Zechariah 14:16-21). I think the cry of Hosanna at the time of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is most akin to the third meaning. The cry represented the yearning and passion of the people for the eternal kingdom of David's descendant Messiah. However, they did not know how Jesus was to establish that kingdom, since they were anticipating a political kingdom, rather than a spiritual kingdom.
In the present days, when we praise Hosanna, what meaning do we intend to convey? Different people may have different ideas. At the least, however, our praise of Hosanna should include our acknowledgement that Jesus is our savior and the ruler of the eternal kingdom of God. Jesus, reign in me.
Mark 11:9-10
Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
Psalm 118:25-26
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
Leviticus 23:39-42
So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths.
Zechariah 14:16
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
[My reflections]
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey, it was just a few days before he was to die on the cross. People spread their cloaks on the road and greeted Jesus with palm branches and other branches (John 12:13) and shounted "Hosanna." "Hosanna" or "Hoshana" in Hebrew means "Save us", but since Jesus' triumphal entry, the term has also been used as a cry of praise, like "Hallelujah."
The scene of people waving palm branches and shouting Hosanna is usually recreated during the Feast of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Booths), one of the three Feasts of Israel along with the Passover and the Feast of Weeks. It was not a scene usually seen before the Passover, as was the time of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. During the 8 days of the Feast of Tabernacles, people praise the Lord with the words of Psalm 118:25. The Feast of Tabernacles has several meanings. First, it is an occasion to remind the Israelites of their days in the wilderness when they stayed in booths (Leviticus 23:43). Second, the tabernacle that symbolized the Lord dwelling among Israel in the wilderness also symbolizes God Incarnate, Immanuel, Jesus Christ who came to dwell among us (John 1:14, Matthew 1:23). Third, the Feast of Tabernacles foresees the day when all the nations and peoples will submit to the power of the Lord and the eternal kingdom of God is established (Zechariah 14:16-21). I think the cry of Hosanna at the time of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem is most akin to the third meaning. The cry represented the yearning and passion of the people for the eternal kingdom of David's descendant Messiah. However, they did not know how Jesus was to establish that kingdom, since they were anticipating a political kingdom, rather than a spiritual kingdom.
In the present days, when we praise Hosanna, what meaning do we intend to convey? Different people may have different ideas. At the least, however, our praise of Hosanna should include our acknowledgement that Jesus is our savior and the ruler of the eternal kingdom of God. Jesus, reign in me.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Kyrie, eleison (κύριε ελέησον)
[Bible verses]
Psalm 40:11
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
Psalm 41:4
I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you."
Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Luke 18:13
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
[My reflections]
The phrase "Kyrie, eleison (κύριε ελέησον)" is often used in many liturgical songs. It is commonly translated as a plea or a prayer: "Lord, have mercy (on me)." However, the phrase may be more appropriately translated as a praise of thanks saying "Lord, you are being merciful (to me)." To say "Kyrie, eleison (κύριε ελέησον)" is not only to pray for the Lord's mercy, but also to demonstrate conviction that the Lord has already been merciful and is continuing to be merciful to me.
When can we pray and praise with "Kyrie, eleison (κύριε ελέησον)"? First, of course, we can pray and praise that way, when we realize that we are sinners and we are in need of forgiveness, just like the psalmist (Psalm 41:4, 51:1) and just like the tax collector in Jesus' parable (Luke 18:13). As we pray that way, we also show conviction that the Lord has already forgiven us and that is why we are able to approach Him with a prayer and praise. Second, we can pray and praise that way, when we are troubled, unjustly treated, contempted and/or mocked by the world (Psalm 57:1, 123:3). We can pray and praise that way at any time, under any circumstances. And in doing so, we do it with the conviction that the Lord is already merciful and hears us.
When God extends His mercy to us, He does so freely without a price (Isaiah 55:1). But there is something that He requests of us who have received His mercy. It is that we, who have received His mercy, should also be merciful to others (Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7, 12:7, 18:33). He wants us to be merciful so much that He wants it even more than our worship (Matthew 12:7, Hosea 6:6).
"Lord, I am a sinner. I lift up my praise and thanks to you, for you have been merciful to me and extended your grace to me. Let me be merciful to others, just as you have been to me. In Jesus' name. Amen."
Psalm 40:11
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
Psalm 41:4
I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me;
heal me, for I have sinned against you."
Psalm 51:1
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Luke 18:13
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
[My reflections]
The phrase "Kyrie, eleison (κύριε ελέησον)" is often used in many liturgical songs. It is commonly translated as a plea or a prayer: "Lord, have mercy (on me)." However, the phrase may be more appropriately translated as a praise of thanks saying "Lord, you are being merciful (to me)." To say "Kyrie, eleison (κύριε ελέησον)" is not only to pray for the Lord's mercy, but also to demonstrate conviction that the Lord has already been merciful and is continuing to be merciful to me.
When can we pray and praise with "Kyrie, eleison (κύριε ελέησον)"? First, of course, we can pray and praise that way, when we realize that we are sinners and we are in need of forgiveness, just like the psalmist (Psalm 41:4, 51:1) and just like the tax collector in Jesus' parable (Luke 18:13). As we pray that way, we also show conviction that the Lord has already forgiven us and that is why we are able to approach Him with a prayer and praise. Second, we can pray and praise that way, when we are troubled, unjustly treated, contempted and/or mocked by the world (Psalm 57:1, 123:3). We can pray and praise that way at any time, under any circumstances. And in doing so, we do it with the conviction that the Lord is already merciful and hears us.
When God extends His mercy to us, He does so freely without a price (Isaiah 55:1). But there is something that He requests of us who have received His mercy. It is that we, who have received His mercy, should also be merciful to others (Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7, 12:7, 18:33). He wants us to be merciful so much that He wants it even more than our worship (Matthew 12:7, Hosea 6:6).
"Lord, I am a sinner. I lift up my praise and thanks to you, for you have been merciful to me and extended your grace to me. Let me be merciful to others, just as you have been to me. In Jesus' name. Amen."
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Crown of Thorns
[Bible Verses]
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Philippians 2:6-7
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
Matthew 27:29
and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.
[My reflections]
More than any other king or man, Solomon enjoyed splendor and glory that had no rivals. In chapters 4-10 of I Kings, we can read about some of the splendor he enjoyed. As an example of his riches, the weight of the gold that he received each year was 666 talents, not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from Arabian kings and governors of the land (I Kings 10:14). 666 talents are estimated to be about 25 tons. There was so much gold that silver was considered to be of little value in Solomon's days (I Kings 10:21). To get an idea of how much gold this was, we can compare to how much kings on the losing side had to pay in war reparations. When the king of Assyria agreed to leave Jerusalem, he exacted from Hezekiah 30 talents of gold and 300 talents of silver (II Kings 18:14). When Pharaoh Neco put Jehoahaz in chains, he levied merely one talent of gold and 100 talents of silver (II Kings 23:33). But Solomon's annual income was 666 talents of gold, not including a lot of other revenues.
Yet Jesus said that all the splendor of Solomon cannot be compared to how God clothes the lilies of the filed (Matthew 6:29-39). Much more splendid than the splendor of Solomon is, of course, the glory that Jesus Himself has and is. He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3).
That same Jesus is the Jesus who did not avoid the shameful crown of thorns, but died on the cross. Why did He do that? Why did He have to take the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and humble Himself to obey to the point of death, even death on the cross? Why else but to crown us with honor and glory and to give us the crown of life (James 1:12, Revelations 2:10) and the crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8)?
Knowing this, Moses gladly accepted disgrace for the sake of Christ instead of the treasures of Egypt and looked ahead to his heavenly reward (Hebrews 11:26). Knowing this, we should likewise welcome any dishonor or persecution on account of Jesus Christ. And when we see Him in heaven, we will lay down our crowns before His throne and praise Him, along with the 24 elders (Revelations 4:10-11). Looking forward to that day, we can praise Him even now.
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Philippians 2:6-7
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
Matthew 27:29
and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.
[My reflections]
More than any other king or man, Solomon enjoyed splendor and glory that had no rivals. In chapters 4-10 of I Kings, we can read about some of the splendor he enjoyed. As an example of his riches, the weight of the gold that he received each year was 666 talents, not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from Arabian kings and governors of the land (I Kings 10:14). 666 talents are estimated to be about 25 tons. There was so much gold that silver was considered to be of little value in Solomon's days (I Kings 10:21). To get an idea of how much gold this was, we can compare to how much kings on the losing side had to pay in war reparations. When the king of Assyria agreed to leave Jerusalem, he exacted from Hezekiah 30 talents of gold and 300 talents of silver (II Kings 18:14). When Pharaoh Neco put Jehoahaz in chains, he levied merely one talent of gold and 100 talents of silver (II Kings 23:33). But Solomon's annual income was 666 talents of gold, not including a lot of other revenues.
Yet Jesus said that all the splendor of Solomon cannot be compared to how God clothes the lilies of the filed (Matthew 6:29-39). Much more splendid than the splendor of Solomon is, of course, the glory that Jesus Himself has and is. He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3).
That same Jesus is the Jesus who did not avoid the shameful crown of thorns, but died on the cross. Why did He do that? Why did He have to take the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and humble Himself to obey to the point of death, even death on the cross? Why else but to crown us with honor and glory and to give us the crown of life (James 1:12, Revelations 2:10) and the crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8)?
Knowing this, Moses gladly accepted disgrace for the sake of Christ instead of the treasures of Egypt and looked ahead to his heavenly reward (Hebrews 11:26). Knowing this, we should likewise welcome any dishonor or persecution on account of Jesus Christ. And when we see Him in heaven, we will lay down our crowns before His throne and praise Him, along with the 24 elders (Revelations 4:10-11). Looking forward to that day, we can praise Him even now.
Praise the Lord, my Rock
[Bible Verses]
II Samuel 22:1-4
David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
[My reflections]
David's life was by no means an easy one. He did not always have smooth sailing. As a shepherd boy, he had to fight with wild animals to protect his sheep. Later, he spent many days in the battlefields. For years, he was chased by Saul, who was jealous and afraid of him. Even after David became the king, he spent many troublesome days, with wars on the outside and rebellions within. Yet, through them all, he relied on the Lord and overcame the troubles. II Samuel chapters 22 and 23 have recorded the song that David sang after all the days of trouble.
In the song, David used many different expressions to exalt the Lord God. One of the expressions was that the Lord is his rock. The expression "rock" has many meanings in the Bible. First, the Rock refers to the Almighty God. There is no other Rock than the Lord (Psalm 18:31). The Rock most appropriately refers to the Second Person of God, the Son of God (I Corinthians 10:4). Second, the Rock carries the connotation of salvation and fortress, a place where one can take refuge (Psalm 40:2, 62:2-7, 94:22). Third, the Rock is the source of the living water, that is, the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 10:4, John 7:38-39). Fourth, the Rock is the foundation of the church (Matthew 16:18), a place of worship (Judges 6:20, 13:19), and individually is a foundation of a house that can be made strong with keeping of the words (Matthew 7:24-25). However, to those who do not obey, the rock is a stumbling stone (Isaiah 8:14, Romans 9:33, I Peter 2:8).
Just as David described in II Samuel 22:5, there are times when I feel as if the waves of death swirl around me and the torrents of destruction overwhelm me. Even at such times, my strong fortress where I can take refuge is my Rock, my God. My help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121) and I lift up my praises to Him.
II Samuel 22:1-4
David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
[My reflections]
David's life was by no means an easy one. He did not always have smooth sailing. As a shepherd boy, he had to fight with wild animals to protect his sheep. Later, he spent many days in the battlefields. For years, he was chased by Saul, who was jealous and afraid of him. Even after David became the king, he spent many troublesome days, with wars on the outside and rebellions within. Yet, through them all, he relied on the Lord and overcame the troubles. II Samuel chapters 22 and 23 have recorded the song that David sang after all the days of trouble.
In the song, David used many different expressions to exalt the Lord God. One of the expressions was that the Lord is his rock. The expression "rock" has many meanings in the Bible. First, the Rock refers to the Almighty God. There is no other Rock than the Lord (Psalm 18:31). The Rock most appropriately refers to the Second Person of God, the Son of God (I Corinthians 10:4). Second, the Rock carries the connotation of salvation and fortress, a place where one can take refuge (Psalm 40:2, 62:2-7, 94:22). Third, the Rock is the source of the living water, that is, the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 10:4, John 7:38-39). Fourth, the Rock is the foundation of the church (Matthew 16:18), a place of worship (Judges 6:20, 13:19), and individually is a foundation of a house that can be made strong with keeping of the words (Matthew 7:24-25). However, to those who do not obey, the rock is a stumbling stone (Isaiah 8:14, Romans 9:33, I Peter 2:8).
Just as David described in II Samuel 22:5, there are times when I feel as if the waves of death swirl around me and the torrents of destruction overwhelm me. Even at such times, my strong fortress where I can take refuge is my Rock, my God. My help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121) and I lift up my praises to Him.
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