Balm for the Afflicted - Part 2

¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:  “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! ¹⁶ The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
   The Lord’s people, who are the righteous, were camped around the Tabernacle.  They defeated everyone to the Promised Land.  When the people went out in the desert, God went before them as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of smoke by day.  Their enemies were afraid of them by reputation.  Exodus 15:6 says, “Your right hand, LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, LORD, shattered the enemy.”  The Lord does great and mighty things when he is at the center your life.

¹⁷ I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
    John 3:15 says, “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  In Luke 2:10, the angels announce to the shepherds upon Jesus’ birth “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”  When the Lord changes your life, the telling of the change is your testimony about how the Lord saves.

¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
    Hebrews 12:5b-7 says “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”  Proverbs 3:11-12 says, “My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”  Although His discipline can be extremely painful, it is to our benefit and a privilege as it means we are His and are saved.

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.  ²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
    The Tabernacle was surrounded by a gate by which the righteous would enter to offer their sacrifices.  The High Priest was the only one who was able to go into the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant, Father God Almighty, existed.  It was separated by a cloth that was at least 6 inches thick.  When Jesus died on the cross, this cloth split and allowed us to directly enter the Holy of Holies and boldly enter the throne of the Most High.

²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
    Isaiah 60:18 says, “No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.”

²² The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; ²³ the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
     The stone the builders rejected which became the cornerstone is the Church built upon our faith in Jesus Christ.  Acts 4:11-12 says, “Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.””

²⁴ The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.  ²⁵ LORD, save us!  LORD, grant us success!
     Accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior allows us to have a relationship with God the Father again.  This relationship is our salvation which brings us great joy and eternal life with Him.

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.  From the house of the LORD we bless you.
In all four Gospels, the people “took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!’”  This passage identifies Jesus Christ as the King. 

²⁷ The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
    The horns on the altar represent the mercy seat.  The blood of the sacrifices in the Tabernacle was ladled over the mercy seat.  Jesus Christ’s blood shed for our sins is the ultimate sacrifice and provides us mercy.  1 Peter 1:3-4a puts it well:  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade”

²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
   What other God came down to deliver His own?  We exalt the Lord our God for His mercy and love endures forever!

²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
   When we truly understand the gift Jesus gave us, our hearts are filled with gratitude at His great love for us.

Cain and Abel

I never fully understood why Abel's sacrifice was better accepted over Cain's.  But then I read something that made me realize that it was about the Lamb and was to be another prophecy about Jesus and His church.

In Genesis 4:2-8, we learn that Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer.  When they were old enough to bring their own sacrifices, Abel brings the first of his flock and God respects the offering.  Cain brought the fruit of the ground and God did not respect nor acknowledge it.

Why?  I believe the answer is in the chapter before.  Because Adam and Eve sinned, God curses the ground.  Afterwards, God makes a blood sacrifice in order to make Adam and Eve clothes made from skins. "21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."

The offering of sacrifices to cover sin was first started in the Garden of Eden.  It was done through the shedding of blood.  Abel understood this and offered a lamb.  Cain offered a sacrifice from the cursed ground.  Abel did it God's way and Cain did it his own way.  After God did not accept the sacrifice, Cain was upset - so much so that he kills his brother in rage.

I want to point out that the sacrifice of a lamb being acceptable to the Lord God as payment of sin is used throughout the Bible.  Jesus Christ is the final "paid in full" payment of sin. John 1:29 says, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Finally, it's a warning to us.  When we do things our own way instead of God's way, we shouldn't expect God to be very pleased.  When we do things in our own strength and will, why do we think God would be pleased?  Unlike Cain, we should humble ourselves and ask God for forgiveness as He is slow to anger and His mercy overflows.

Secondly, if Jesus' blood sacrifice on the cross seems messy and unnecessary, ask God for clarity and His understanding on this matter.  If a blood sacrifice wasn't necessary, then Jesus would not have had to come to pay a price that could not be paid any other way.  The Lamb of God's blood was shed for the payment of our sins.  Jesus, himself, was without sin.  He, himself, was blameless.

Cain's sacrifice was not acceptable and in Cain's refusal to humble himself, He became cursed.  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).  Only by accepting the blood sacrifice and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, shall a person be saved.  Those that want to get to heaven any other way, like Cain, will be cursed.

Further, it warns the Church.  Adam and Eve wore the skins from God's sacrifice.  They were marked under God's care and mercy.  We, too, are marked or sealed when we believe.  Ephesians 1:13 says, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."  Those that do not believe Jesus is the Lamb of God will hate the true Church of believers just as Jesus, himself, told us the unbelievers would. 

Balm for the Afflicted - Part 1

I read Psalm 118 and was so grateful that God reminded me why I love this Psalm so much that I thought I'd share it with you.

1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: because His mercy endureth forever.
   Our heart can always be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving when we recall the God's goodness in, over and through our lives and those around us. He never gives up on us and His love never fails. His love shows us mercy over and over again.

2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
  Once we have experienced God’s unfailing mercy and his profound love for us, we want to share it with others. God wants us to share it with others also. We are His chosen people (Israel) called out among others to share the good news.

3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth forever.
  Like Aaron’s rod, our lives bloom and produce fruit through faithing and having a relationship with Him, demonstrating His mercy. “The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. (Numbers 17:8)”

4 Let them who fear the Lord say that His mercy endureth forever.
  Proverbs 9:10 puts it this way: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Those who fear the Lord more than they fear the retribution or gossip of men will know true wisdom, understanding from God’s perspective and His unfailing mercy. Tuck into your heart the remembrance that His ways are not our ways and His mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

5 I called upon the Lord out of distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.
  When you need the Lord, He will be there for you when you call out to Him for His help. There’s no need for us to figure this life out ourselves. We’re not designed to do it alone and we are His creation. When we call upon Him, He will bring us to a place where others can see His working transformation through our situation for His glory.

6 The Lord is for me; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
  Whether this is translated “The Lord is for me” or “The Lord is on my side” the meaning is the same. The Lord watches out for you, protects you and works things out for your best, even when others intend or seek to do you harm. And who is greater than the Lord?

7 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
  When the Lord takes your side through tribulation, He doesn’t do it in a secret way. He will do it in such a way that when you overcome (and you will because Jesus did overcome and is the Overcomer) but it will be obvious to those that would want to harm you that God is for you and His mercy prevails upon your life. You are signed, sealed and delivered to He who saved you - simply, you are His. The devil will back away defeated yet again.

8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
  When men give you advice, it’s much wiser to seek the counsel of the Lord. The Lord will never fail you. If the advice of your friends leaves you no peace, it is because God is not in it. God will ask you to go somewhere He will not be. In John 14:2, Jesus himself tells us He prepares a place for us. Think of it this way – you cannot follow someone who is not in the lead.

9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
  It is better to trust in the Lord than our government. Who provides for us? The Lord our God. The government does not prepare a way for us and guarantee us mercy all the days of our lives.

10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will cut them off.
   One only has to look at the story of the Jews to be reminded that God will destroy or cut off a nation that sets upon destroying His chosen people.

11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
   When trials or tribulations encircle you on all sides, He will not forget this promise even though you may not see it come to pass. Later, if even only in heaven, it will be confirmed.

12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
  The tribulation that encircles you on all sides may sting, hurt and cause your heart to swell over in pain. Those causing this tribulation will not be satisfied with their gain; they will be uncomfortable and may not realize why. God’s will always prevails.

13 Thou has thrust sore at me that I might fail: but the Lord helped me.
    Although I may appear beaten down and keep experiencing tribulation, it will not last for the Lord is on our side. If the Lord is for us, who can stand against us?

14 The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation.
    The Lord upholds us through ALL of our days including the good, hard, easy and bad days. When we keep faithing in the Lord, trusting Him, He will give us His strength to do all things He has entrusted us. And our trials and tribulations are entrusted for us to overcome by calling out to Him and remembering we are not defeated because Jesus is not defeated. We are His and He is our salvation. Although we may not feel saved – chosen to be His – our life when reviewed as the transformation that it is will show that we are.