He is Good

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble…” (Nahum 1:7)

I have always loved this verse, but over the last month it has really taken on a much deeper, fuller meaning. The Lord has proven Himself yet again to be true to His Word in that He most assuredly has been “the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3) during this time. He’s so strong, so fierce, so gentle, so loving…I’m very intrigued with complexity of this Person, and motivated know Him better…

Melchisdek

Melchisdek emerges from history in Genesis 14, then disappears as quickly as he'd come (until mentioned in the New Testament in Hebrews 7)
After Abraham defeated the coalition of kings (see blog posting "Night Fighting") he is greeted by a mysterious ruler named Melchisdek, King of Salem. Interestingly, Abraham "tithes" his spoils of victory to this King (Hebrews 7:2,4), and calls him "the lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth" (Gen 14:22) Also, in Hebrews 7 it calls him "king of Righteousness" and "king of peace".... "Without father, without mother, having neither beginning of days nor end of life abide to a high priest continually." (Heb 7:1-3) It essentially says that he has existed from eternity, from "everlasting to everlasting", and is a High Priest "continually"... And the end if the chapter it says that as High priest He "ever lives to make intercession for us". There are many wise, Godly people who would postulate different identities to this gentleman (i.e that he was only a "type" of the Christ Who would come), but I believe that this "Melchizedek" was a pre-incarnate bodily manifestation of The Lord Jesus Christ Himself . It would not have been the only time!
(Check out Genesis 18, Joshua 5 and Daniel 3:25, among others...)

In Genesis 18 we read that "the Lord visited Abraham" (verse 1), had dinner with him (verse 8), and carried on a conversation with Sarah (verses 9-15), and with Abraham (17-33).In Joshua 5 we read that Joshua has gone for a prayer walk prior to the battle of Jericho and he comes upon a "Man" (verse 13) who identifies Himself as the Captain of the Hosts of The Lord (verse 14). Then, when Joshua calls him "Lord" and bows in worship, he receives it (verses 14-15)
Psalm 24, and many other places call The Lord Jesus "the Lord of Hosts." Also, throughout the Bible, when the awe-inspiring angels are worshiped by men, they rebuke the worshiper and tell them to save their reverence for the Most High God (see Revelation 19:10, 22:9) This "Man" however, received Joshua's worship as the "Lord of Hosts"...the Most High God...the Lord Jesus Christ.

 So according to the scriptures, God has taken on human form many times throughout history. However, His most famous and anticipated trip was when He came to be an "offering for sin" and to "bear the sin of many." (Isaiah 53:12)

Praise the Lord that He "visited His people" (Luke 7:16) in order to "taste death" for all (Hebrews 2:9).

Would love additional thoughts and/or differing viewpoints to be shared.

the King

Throughout the scriptures, the mention of a great King keeps emerging from the text. “Who is this King of Glory?” the Psalmist asked (Psalm 24:6). Psalm 2 mentions an “Anointed” One Who would one day “sit upon my holy hill of Zion” (verse 6), and many others places in Psalms acknowledge One Who is the “Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.” (Psalm 84:3). Isaiah writes in chapter 6 about seeing a sight in the heavens so awe inspiring that it literally scared him almost to death. “Woe is me!” He cries out, “for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts! (Isaiah 6:5)
The prophet Zechariah also wrote about a great King Who will day “be king over all the earth.” (Zechariah 14:9), and Ezekiel wrote about a future Ruler, saying “ one king shall be king to them all.” (Ezekiel 37:22).
Many years later in his letter to young Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote of “the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God” (1 Timothy 1:17), and in Revelation chapter 19 John mentions a mighty warrior mounted on a splendid white war horse (verse 11) and leading a great host in history’s last and greatest cavalry charge (verse 14). He calls Him the “King of Kings and the Lord of Lords” (19:16)
This great King spoken of through the ages by the mouths and the pens of the prophets is none other than the Eternal God, the Creator, the Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, and our Savior Jesus the Christ.

“Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.” (Psalm 24:10)

The Virtue of Silence

Was recently looking at the Word and came across some wisdom concerning the nature of silence.
Eccleciastes 5:2 "...God is heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."
..and....Habbakuk 2:20 "The Lord is in His Holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him."

It seems that these verses point to the fact that in the right context, silence can and should be an acknowledgement that we are the created things of an Eternal, Righteous, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Merciful, Personal, Loving God. When faced with the Majesty of our Creator, I think Job's attitude was best when he said, (after hearing God's monologue on the origin of all things in Job chapters 38 and 39)
"Behold I am vile! What shall I say then? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth." (Job 40:4)
Silence can be indicative of great wisdom, and the mark of someone who has spent much time at the feet of the Almighty.

Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

Night Fighting

Concerning Genesis 14...
Abraham's capabilities are a great example for any man to emulate. For one, He "armed" his 300+ servants which he had trained (verse 14) to go rescue Lot (verse 12, 14). This means that he kept a huge armory. I remember going into our squadron armory back in the day and seeing about that many rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers. That's alot of weapons! Clearly he had prepped for a time like that. Also, the fact that he "divided himself, by night, and smote them" (verse 15) is the stuff of modern special ops units. Dividing your forces in the face of the enemy takes some serious nerve, and you have to have unbelievable communication between units to achieve what Von Clauswitz called "Unity of Command.". Also, it was night!!!! Nobody does that. Up until the 21st century and the widespread use of night vision devices on an army wide level, armies have generally attacked no earlier than dawn.
 Abraham showed that he was prepped for the "day of evil", that he was a master tactician capable of orchestrating complicated maneuvers, and that he was a man of peace who doesn't start fights... but can surely finish them!!

What an example of a strong, capable, Godly man.

God's Word

In Psalm 19:7-11 it says what Gods Word is, and what the effects that it has upon those who mine it's wisdom "as for hidden treasure."
God's Word is:
Verse.7 "perfect, converting the soul" (1 Peter 1:23 says that men are saved by "the Word of God".)

Verse.8 "right, rejoicing the heart" (Jeremiah 15:16 calls it "the joy and rejoicing of my heart")

Verse.9 "pure and enlightening" (proverbs 30:5 says "every word of God is true" and psalm 119:130 says that His word "gives understanding")

Verse.10 "clean and eternal" (In Matthew 24:35 Jesus says "my Word will never pass away.")

(Psalm 119:142,151,160 also speak of the eternal truth of Gods Word)
V.11 his word "warns" us of sin. Psalm 119:9 says that Gods Word can "cleanse our way".

Lord, thank You for Your Word which saves and sanctifies. (Ephesians 1:13)

Some Lye for Sin

Jeremiah mentions something very interesting concerning the cleansing of sin. It says "though you take unto you [lye] and much soap, yet is your iniquity marked before me saith the Lord." (2:22) It's a reminder of our sin and our wickedness and that we can do nothing to cleanse ourselves from it. Lye can take your skin off, but it won't take away sin! It makes 1 John 1:7 and those like it that much more beautiful ..."the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from sin." Praise The Lord that when we were "dead in our sins" that He "made us alive" by "the precious blood of Christ." (Colossians 2:13-14) I love this comparison and how Christ fulfills the Law and satisfies Gods wrath against sin by sacrificing His Son. A Savior like that could not have been imagined by a mortal mind.

Lord thank you for dying for my sin! I think of when Eustace was turned into a dragon in C.S. Lewis's "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Though he clawed and scraped and tore at his hideous scales with his teeth and claws, only by submitting himself to the Great Lion was he freed from his "sin." Lovely picture.
Thank you that Your blood accomplishes that which I cannot. 

On Wisdom

 2 Great examples of how to answer a question wisely on any subject.

the apostle Paul: "what saith the scripture?" (Romans 4:3)

the Lord Jesus: "what is written in the Law?" (Luke 10:26)

as we might say today when faced with a question: "What does God's Word say about it?"

Gods Word truly holds the answer to all things that "pertain to life and Godliness." (2peter1:3)

Thank you Lord for Your Words which give "wisdom", and for the "knowledge and understanding" that "go out of Your mouth."

Omnipotence and Judgment

2 Peter 3...

Attacking the historic record of the six day Creation and the great flood undermines the omnipotence of God as well as His judgment upon sin. This is why the theory of evolution is dangerous. Apart from being riddled with scientific inaccuracies, it's mans attempt to explain origins without God.

Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth. The heavens are the works of Thine Hands...they all shall wax old as doth a garment...and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same and Thy years shall have no end. (Ps 102; Hebrews 1) You spoke, and it was done; You commanded, and it stood fast. (Psalm 33:6, 9) Lord You are the Creator of all things!
O Lord and though your judgment upon sin is great and fierce I thank you that in Your fury against my iniquity You "smote" Your Only Son with a death-dealing blow, that I might live. Thank You that You raised Him from the dead, ever to sit upon His Rightful throne as heir of all things, and that I will eternally "live together with Him." 

the Rider

The Rider in Revelation 19 whose garments are "dipped in blood" (Revelation 19:13) is one of the most graphic visuals in all of scripture. This is the same Rider as the One Isaiah wrote about (chapter 63), whose exploits are recorded in Revelation 14. When He came the first time he was soaked in His own blood (Isaiah 52:13), but when He returns He'll be soaked in the blood of His enemies. This is none other than The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and soon coming King...

O Lord I anxiously await the day that You will come and "make all things new," and will destroy sin and death for all eternity. Come, Lord Jesus...

Incorruptible

So thankful today for the incorruptible blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19), that makes it possible for us to claim our incorruptible inheritance (1 Peter 1:14), be given an incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:25), and to live eternally with the Lord in an incorruptible body (1 Corinthian 15:53), to serve an incorruptible King (1 Timothy 1:17), all because of the incorruptible Word of God (1 Peter 1:23).

Thank you for Your Word which tells me of the Eternal God the Creator and warns of my great sin against Him; and for Your Word of Truth which tells me how Your fierce judgment against me was laid wholly upon Your Son the Lord Jesus.


 O how I love Thy Law! It is my meditation all the day. (Ps 119:97)