Early this morning (maybe it's because it's Throwback-Thursday) a praise chorus popped into my head...and just stayed there. I haven't really thought about this particular one in years.
It's a scripture-praise that was taken from Isaiah 28:16.
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold
I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone
a tried stone,
a precious corner stone,
a sure foundation:
he that believeth shall not make haste."
Do you remember it? As I recall, the music was quite like a Jewish dance tune...upbeat and stirring. It made you want to get up on your feet and at least tap your toe! At any rate, you simply cannot sing this chorus while sitting down...it begs you to get on your feet, clap your hands for joy, and let your happy be LOUD!
So, round and round it goes, and now I'm humming happily along, singing in my heart and letting the words register in my brain.
I wanted to share what some scholars have to say about this passage.
The Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition, NIV, includes this note...
"Messiah is a foundation stone in His atonement, a tested stone in His temptations, and a precious cornerstone in His relationship to His people."
Jesus is our foundation. He is the foundation of His Church. He is the
foundation of Israel, their promised and long-awaited Messiah! In short, Jesus is simply everything...everything that we will ever need in this life and the one to come, He has already provided. Isn't that wonderful?! There is nothing that we need that He is not aware of. There is nothing that we need that He would refuse us. (see Matt. 7: 7-11)
I am rejoicing in those precious promises today, as I hum along right through the cares and worries that are competing for my attention. And I am especially rejoicing in the last line of that little praise chorus...
"he that believeth shall not make haste." Now, when you extrapolate that phrase, it basically translates:
"he that trusts in God will not be dismayed/disappointed." And that little word "dismayed" means deprived of your POWER! Oh, yes, sweet friend, there is power in the name of Jesus! There is power to break every chain, in every area of our lives. There is power to elevate us up to where we belong...walking on sunshine once again!
So, there you have it. Put your trust in the foundation that holds you up, and never hurry to worry!
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
pawing the ground and snorting
Lately, I can't help but notice the level of intensity in which the enemy is operating against us. Simply put, he's on a rampage. Everybody is going through something, and there doesn't seem to be any end of it in sight. Spirits are low and faith is fading. But, I have an answer to all of that!
Times like these always remind me of Job and the terrible difficulties that he faced as he was sifted. God was proud of him; it was He who called attention of Job's fine character to Satan.
"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord,
and Satan also came with them.
The Lord said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?'
Satan answered the Lord, 'From roaming through the earth
and going back and forth in it.'
Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant,
Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and
upright, a man who fears (respects the power of...) God
and shuns evil.'"
~Job 1: 6-11, NIV
Satan responded to that rather cleverly: He basically said, "Of course He fears and honors You. You have put a hedge of protection all about him and his possessions. In fact, You have blessed him mightily. But, I'll just bet that if You remove your protection from him, if You curse Him instead, he will not praise you then!"
Now is a good time to mention that God will not curse us (we often curse ourselves, but He doesn't do it), because we are in a blood covenant relationship with Him, He will never curse us. Satan knew this and he could not have been happier when God answered his challenge regarding Job:
"The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he has in in your hands,
BUT on the man himself, do not lay a finger."
~Job 1: 12, NIV
Isn't that marvelous?! No matter what, God always has the last word...we always win!
And so began Job's trials and great trials they were. Still, God never would forsake him, not for one minute.
At times, I'm sure that Job did not feel that he could go on...there had to have been many days when he just wanted to give-in and give up! And yet, God was there all the time.
Now, fast forward to the end of the story (don't forget to read all about it in Job 42: 10-16). Toward the end of his trials, God came and talked with him, no doubt to encourage him. This is the conversation I want you to see:
"Do you give the horse his strength or give his neck a flowing mane?
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword.
The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.
In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the
trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, "Aha!"
(note: in the KJV, it actually says, "Ha, Ha!" Isn't that great?!!!)
He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout
of commanders and the battle cry."
~Job 39: 19-25, NIV
God was reminding Job that even the horse is His in battle. He is unafraid to pursue the enemy because he (the horse) knows who his commander is!
It's true...sometimes life down here is incredibly hard; it often seems unfair. But, never give up on the Commander. He owns the battle. He has the victory, and we win...we surely win.
As you face the obstacles that are flung across your path while you are being sifted, just remember that your steed is pawing the ground...ready to fight...snorting at the enemy, and bellowing, "HA! HA!" We may be riding into the fray, but we are not alone. We will never be alone. God's eternal love for us will not allow Him to leave us or forsake us.
Now, get back up in that saddle, and give the horse of victory his head. He will take you to the other side of the battle...let him run, wild and free, escaping the enemy at every turn, pawing and snorting, "HA! HA!"
Times like these always remind me of Job and the terrible difficulties that he faced as he was sifted. God was proud of him; it was He who called attention of Job's fine character to Satan.
"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord,
and Satan also came with them.
The Lord said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?'
Satan answered the Lord, 'From roaming through the earth
and going back and forth in it.'
Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant,
Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and
upright, a man who fears (respects the power of...) God
and shuns evil.'"
~Job 1: 6-11, NIV
Satan responded to that rather cleverly: He basically said, "Of course He fears and honors You. You have put a hedge of protection all about him and his possessions. In fact, You have blessed him mightily. But, I'll just bet that if You remove your protection from him, if You curse Him instead, he will not praise you then!"
Now is a good time to mention that God will not curse us (we often curse ourselves, but He doesn't do it), because we are in a blood covenant relationship with Him, He will never curse us. Satan knew this and he could not have been happier when God answered his challenge regarding Job:
"The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he has in in your hands,
BUT on the man himself, do not lay a finger."
~Job 1: 12, NIV
Isn't that marvelous?! No matter what, God always has the last word...we always win!
And so began Job's trials and great trials they were. Still, God never would forsake him, not for one minute.
At times, I'm sure that Job did not feel that he could go on...there had to have been many days when he just wanted to give-in and give up! And yet, God was there all the time.
Now, fast forward to the end of the story (don't forget to read all about it in Job 42: 10-16). Toward the end of his trials, God came and talked with him, no doubt to encourage him. This is the conversation I want you to see:
"Do you give the horse his strength or give his neck a flowing mane?
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword.
The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.
In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the
trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, "Aha!"
(note: in the KJV, it actually says, "Ha, Ha!" Isn't that great?!!!)
He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout
of commanders and the battle cry."
~Job 39: 19-25, NIV
God was reminding Job that even the horse is His in battle. He is unafraid to pursue the enemy because he (the horse) knows who his commander is!
It's true...sometimes life down here is incredibly hard; it often seems unfair. But, never give up on the Commander. He owns the battle. He has the victory, and we win...we surely win.
As you face the obstacles that are flung across your path while you are being sifted, just remember that your steed is pawing the ground...ready to fight...snorting at the enemy, and bellowing, "HA! HA!" We may be riding into the fray, but we are not alone. We will never be alone. God's eternal love for us will not allow Him to leave us or forsake us.
Now, get back up in that saddle, and give the horse of victory his head. He will take you to the other side of the battle...let him run, wild and free, escaping the enemy at every turn, pawing and snorting, "HA! HA!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)