[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.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
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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