MasterTruth

Remember God’s Word However You Can

David provides such a great example of proper focus. He always expected things from God whenever he looked at God’s word. It was his hope when he had nothing else to hang on to. In Ps. 119, he shows us how he hung onto God’s word. It really inspires me.

What better than to put some of Ps. 119 to music to remember it. Here’s a YouTube video several of us put together. It’s Ps. 119:1-4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GviOe-fniXE

 

Ps. 119:93  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.	Precepts are codes of wisdom or principles to guide our lives. I understand David’s sentiment, because when I find verses that raise me up from emotional doom, I tend to remember. Actually, I tend to put them to music so I can’t forget them. How many times has Prov. 3:5-6 quickened me? I remember the verses: Pro 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (You’ll find sheet music to that on the right under OT Musical Memory Verses.)
(94)  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.	This shows a character quality of David’s I love. He read the Bible purposefully and expectantly. (Yes, he did have some Scriptures available to him at that time.) He sought God’s precepts or codes of wisdom/principles to guide his life. Because he did that, he appealed to God to save him from whatever he was going through. Really, my best personal quiet times are when I go through the Bible looking for something. It might be a word study or a character study. In David’s case, I think he went through asking, “God, how do you want me to live?” I think that’s true, because look what he taught his son Solomon, who wrote Proverbs in Prov. 4:3-9.
(95)  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.	David held up during his people trials, how? He considered God’s testimonies. Those are the stories that show how people act and how God responds.  He could have read about Moses and the times the people rose up against him and how God was with him. That gave David hope and encouragement. An emerging lesson is that it’s important not to just read the Bible, but meditate on it and pray it back to God and trust it. Do you see why David is one of my favorite Bible characters?
(96)  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.	Perfection is hard to find, especially where humans are concerned. I wouldn’t even try to look for it (take one look at the government, for example, and there’s the end of perfection, for sure). But… God’s commandments are broad. We can look and look and we’ll have something more to look at. Reminds me of the phrase “to look around is to be depressed. To look up is to be blessed.” We look up by looking at his word. Don’t even bother looking around.

Faithfulness is What I Long For

Faithfulness is what I need. Those are some of the words of a popular worship song. Today we see God’s faithfulness in His word and in his creation. If everything else falls apart, those are two places we can go for rejuvenation. It helps that we know God as the Creator of creation. But what can be a more wonderful personal worship time than going outside in creation, looking at the sureness of what God has made, and realizing that it remains to this day and will continue to remain, because God made it? Pick your time. Day or night. And then think on the promises in his word that also remain. Day or night.

Psa 19:2  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

And by way of application…

Psa 139:12  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

Here are our four Ps. 119 verses for today:

Psa 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.	What is more faithful than God? Nothing. But equal to his faithfulness is the faithfulness of his word. On an application level, what he promised several thousand years ago still stands, and will always stand. God deposited his thoughts into the bank of his word, and it is insured forever. Here are some other equally amazing verses about the faithfulness of his word: Psa 12:6-7  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  (7)  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
(90)  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.	And on the subject of God’s faithfulness, it passes from one generation to the next. That should be comforting to parents who wonder how their children will ever make it in this rapidly deteriorating world. Granted, It’s not the same world we grew up in. It’s not as innocent. But God. …He is still faithful, and he will be faithful to the next generation. Proof of his faithfulness is creation. As sure as the sun came up this morning (OK, it’s raining in Kansas City), he will be faithful to your kids, because his faithfulness is unto all generations.
(91)  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.	The earth. … creation… continues because God has ordained it to be so. (Read Ps. 148.) In this context, what is his servant? All of creation. Creation is serving God’s purpose.  For one, it’s serving as an example of God’s faithfulness, as we saw in vs. 90.  Really, if you want a look at stability, go take a walk outside and thank God for the creation around you.
(92)  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.	And now we’re back to the faithfulness of God’s word, his law. While you are out on a walk, meditate on the faithfulness of God’s law, and its delights to your life. Otherwise, you would have “perished in your affliction.” This is how you encourage yourself in God. Remember his word and his faithfulness. Clear your mind of everything else for a few minutes and think on that.

Prepare to be Amazed

Sometimes people in the Old Testament are types of Christ, and now we look at objects that picture Christ. The concept may seem odd, but some of the clearest pictures of Christ are objects. Today it’s the rod.

There are three main rods in the Old Testament: the rod of Moses, the rod of Aaron, and the rod of David.  Altogether, this represents Christ as prophet (Moses), priest (Aaron), and king (David).

God’s use of the rod in Moses’ hand was what he would use to convince/prove to the people his (God’s) power. This physical manifestation of God’s power is like Christ. He was the physical manifestation of God’s power.

Here’s some proof that the rod represents Christ:

The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Psa 110:2 

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isa 11:1 

As a representation of Christ, Aaron’s rod was kept in the Ark of the Covenant, and each item kept in the ark represented Christ. Read the column on the left, then go to the matching commentary on the right.

Old Testament

Notes

Exo 4:1-5  And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.  (2)  And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.  (3)  And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.  (4)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:  (5)  That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. Exo 7:10-12  And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.  (11)  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.  (12)  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.   Num 17:1-13  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  (2)  Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.  (3)  And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.  (4)  And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.  (5)  And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.  (6)  And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.  (7)  And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.  (8)  And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.  (9)  And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.  (10)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.  (11)  And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

The fact that this first mention of the word rod in the Bible is connected to it becoming a serpent  parallels the other time that a serpent was used to save: And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. (Numbers 21:8) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14) People just have to believe. Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When Aaron cast down the rod and it became a serpent (representing Christ, as we see above), it’s no surprise that the magicians of Egypt were also able to come up with serpents. But theirs were anti-Christs. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3) Notice that Christ wins in the end. “But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” Remember that not just any rod represents Christ. Only Moses’, Aaron’s and David’s. There are many examples of their rods connected to salvation, but this final story is worth telling. The Israelites wandering in the wilderness had once again spoken against Moses and Aaron, and God was so angry, he began to kill them all with a plague until Aaron intervened. Yet 14,700 died. (See Num. 16:41-50). Now God wanted to prove to the people his choice of leaders. He requested a rod from each of the 12 tribes and Aaron’s rod for the tribe of Levi. God would cause the rod of his chosen person to bud. Remember, Aaron’s rod represents Christ as priest. It was the one that budded, bringing forth blossoms and yielding almonds. The dead piece of wood became alive again as Christ also became alive again. He rose from the grave as our high priest. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; Heb 8:1   The significance of Aaron’s rod blooming is vast. God requested that the budded rod be kept in the Ark of the Covenant as a token. There were only three things in the ark. Each represented Christ or his word: The budded rod, the manna, and the tables of stone on which were the 10 commandments. We’ve only scratched the surface on these rods. Now you can take off and do your own study.

Others May Fail. God Won’t. Bank on it.

David is one of my favorite Bible characters. I’ve kept a close eye on him lately because I plan to teach ladies in India a character study on David shortly. Why don’t I teach them a character study on a woman from the Bible? Because we don’t know as much about any character as we do David, and it doesn’t matter—man or woman—we can all learn how to navigate life from looking at David’s testimony. In our study today, we see more of what David endured and how he did it. He couldn’t have done it without God. He knew that.

Ps. 119:85  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.	David continues on with the grief his enemies caused. In his day, they often captured man or beast by digging a pit and covering it with twigs, hoping the intended would fall in. Wicked men use wicked schemes. But we know that God often uses their schemes to catch them. (Think of Haman in Esther.) David knew this fact well. Elsewhere he wrote He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. Psa 7:15
(86)  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.	David could have focused entirely on the plight his enemies caused, but he was a master at encouraging himself in God, so he coupled thoughts of his unjust treatment with thoughts of God’s faithful commandments. Maybe another way of looking at his prayer in this verse is “Your commandments are faithful, my enemies are not. Help me.” As long as he had this godly focus, he could expect an answer. 1Jn 5:14-15  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
(87)  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.	This is the sentiment of true godly people. It reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Dan 3:17-18  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  (18)  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Like David, they also determined not to forsake God’s precepts, no matter what happened to them.
(88)  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.	It’s a breath of fresh air when we, like David, realize we can appeal to God’s lovingkindness. David did it often. That is a whole study in itself. But God commits himself to showing us lovingkindness, which is better than life (Ps. 63:3). Here he appealed to God’s lovingkindness with the promise that it would benefit God, because David would keep God’s testimonies. It’s OK to say, “God, if you don’t come through for me in a special way, I’m going to fall in every way there is to fall.” Watch what God does.

When Will This be Over?

I just love David’s testimony of how he handled difficult times. He wrote Ps. 119, and in the four verses we will look at today, we see what ran through his mind and his prayers. He demonstrated that experiencing emotional pain is universal. But he knew how to encourage himself in God, which meant talking to God and sometimes questioning him. But in all cases, he sought God for relief. He didn’t have it in him to do anything but trust God.

How can I get like that? It might require being stripped of all other help. When God is all we have, God is all we need.

 

Psa 119:81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.	Deliverance from this trial is overdue. That’s the sentiment sometimes. It surely was the case with David as he spent a lot of time on the run from Saul and later from his son Absalom.  Fortunately, David made a habit of encouraging himself in God, and we benefit from his testimony. He did it by actively hoping in God’s word. He meditated on God’s character and his promises and trusted them. There’s no need for a psychiatrist, and a friend is a false hope. David turned to God’s word.
(82)  Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?	Not that life trusting God’s character and promises is always easy. God will come through, but not on our schedule. David’s eyes failing makes me think he must have cried so much, he couldn’t see what he was reading. But we know he didn’t stay in that state. Another time he wrote about the victory he experienced: Psa 30:5b  weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. God will come through. Just hang on.
(83)  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.	Bottles in the olden days were made of leather and were hung in the tents in which pheasants lived. The leather bottles absorbed the soot from the fires they burned and thus became black. David may have been likening his life to absorbing soot as he lived through difficult trials. In spite of it, he didn’t forget God’s statutes, which are prescribed tasks. There are only two times we can obey God—when we feel like it, and when we don’t. David is a model of obedience here.
(84)  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?	David felt like his life was wasting away while his persecutors chased him. It’s a very wonderous thing that he trusted God to eliminate his persecutor, Saul, rather than eliminate him himself. He had opportunities to kill Saul, but his conscience wouldn’t let him. Instead, he cut off a piece of Saul’s robe, held it up to him and said: The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. (1 Sam 24:12) So, the question was, “God, when will you avenge me? Time’s a wastin’. He was certainly human. It’s OK to ask God, when will this be over?

There's More to Noah's Ark Than a History Lesson

Pictures of Christ and salvation are spread throughout the Old Testament in types. Noah’s Ark is one of those examples. The story involves faith, obedience to God’s only way of salvation at the time, an ark, a door and God’s faithfulness to keep his promise.        

Mankind had become exceedingly sinful. God determined to destroy them from the face of the earth. But God showed grace to Noah and his family. God planned to save them, but it required faith manifested in obedience on Noah’s part. God told him to build an ark and enter into it. God was going to bring rain and a world-wide flood. Faith was especially necessary, because it had never rained before. But he had faith, proved by his works, and he became an heir of the righteousness that is by faith.

The way of salvation through Christ is presented in this story. Only when we are “in Christ”  are we safe. He is the ark and he is the door to enter into the ark. I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father but by me (John 14:6).

The story is in the column on the left. The column on the right comments on what is directly beside it.

 

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 6:5-8  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  (6)  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.  (7)  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.  (8)  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD…. Gen 6:11-18  The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  (12)  And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.  (13)  And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  (14)  Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.  (15)  And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.  (16)  A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.  (17)  And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.  (18)  But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. Gen 7:4-5  For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.  (5)  And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him…. Gen 7:12-13  And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.  (13)  In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;…. Gen 7:15-17  And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.  (16)  And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.  (17)  And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth…. Gen 7:21-22  And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:  (22)  All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

For the wages of sin is death…(Romans 6:23A) Noah found and experienced God’s grace in this hopeless time. Eph 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast. Apart from grace, death is determined for all mankind.  Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Noah’s faith proved itself when he obeyed and built that ark and entered in by the door. Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7) Noah’s faith was tested with a command. “Build an ark.” He passed. (When Adam’s faith was tested with a command, he failed. His works did not match his faith, and he sinned.) Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. The Lord shuts us in. He keeps us. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6) 1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Where Does the Idea of a Scapegoat Come From?

Remember yesterday we looked at the Passover lamb and its representation of Christ? Well, I don’t know about you, but something in the story has always puzzled me. Read this: Ex. 12:5-7  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:  (6)  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.  (7)  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it….

If Jesus was the Passover lamb, why was a goat perfectly acceptable for the occasion? Now I think I have the answer.

Jesus was not only the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, he was the goat and scapegoat described in Lev. 16, which we will look at below. One goat died to make atonement, as did Christ, while the other was released and was used for intercession. Very interesting.

In earthly confines, one goat could not be killed and later made alive. So two goats were used. One died, the other was free from death—just as Christ died, but was later freed from death, the firstborn from among the dead. (And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18) Look at the story below in the left column very carefully. You may never have looked at the way we are going to look at it.

 

 

Old Testament

Notes

Lev 16:5-10  And he [ Aaron ] shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.  (6)  And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.  (7)  And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  (8)  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.  (9)  And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.  (10)  But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. Lev 16:15-16  Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:  (16)  And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. Lev 16:20-22  And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:  (21)  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:  (22)  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The two goats in this offering by Aaron represent Christ, one sacrificed in death as a sin offering, the other presented alive as the interceding risen Christ. The learning is that our atonement was not perfected only by the death of Christ, but also by his resurrection. The resurrection is a key part of the gospel 1Co 15:3-4  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:   The blood of the goat that was killed as a sin offering was brought within the vail, that is, into the Holy of Holies, which represents heaven.  Heb 10:19-20  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  (20)  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  It was the blood that reconciled: Col 1:20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. The goat that lived, the scapegoat, was used by Aaron, the priest, to make intercession for the people. Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:  Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Nothing is More Important Than the Passover Lamb

I know I mentioned that Abraham offering Isaac is one of the two best pictures of salvation in the Old Testament. I had another story in mind as the second best picture, but now I think today’s story is the best. We are looking at presentations of the gospel by “type” in the Old Testament. We are delving into territory many Bible teachers don’t go. But I’ve seen a minimum of 24 stories representing types in the Old Testament that picture Christ and salvation. Here we go with the Passover lamb.

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt under the wicked Pharaoh. But deliverance was on the horizon. All families in Egypt were about to experience the wrath and judgment of God, but not the Israelites, if they followed God’s prescribed plan.

God’s deliverance plan for the Jews involved the sacrifice of a lamb for each family. It was called the Passover lamb. This was a type of the deliverance he planned for all mankind held in the bondage of sin. Jesus was the Passover lamb slain for all, but only those who believe experience deliverance.

This deliverance from the bondage of Egypt was so significant that God required them to establish a ceremony around it each year, so they would never forget and would be able to pass on the story to their children and their children’s children. We are still passing it on today.

 

Exo 11:4-7  And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:  (5)  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.  (6)  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.  (7)  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel…. Exo 12:3-7  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:  (4)  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.  (5)  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:  (6)  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.  (7)  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it…. Exo 12:12-15  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.  (13)  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.  (14)  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.  (15)  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel…. Exo 12:21-27  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.  (22)  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.  (23)  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.  (24)  And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.  (25)  And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.  (26)  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?  (27)  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Judgment is planned for the world at large (Egypt is a type of the world), but not for the people of God. Who are the people of God? Those who have the lamb’s blood applied to them. In our case, we are in bondage to sin, and the only way to be released is through the shedding of blood, because we know that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sins (Heb. 9:22). There was a reason the lamb had to be without blemish. God was working on his picture that applies to us today. 1Pe 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  (19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: This verse puts to rest any question about Christ’s identity as the lamb of God. But if there is any further doubt… Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. As part of the requirement for deliverance, the Jews killed the lamb and ate it. Thus began a yearly Passover feast to memorialize their deliverance. Then came Christ, who during the Passover at the end of his life, instituted a new practice or memorial, where his body and blood, as the lamb of God, were at the center. Mat 26:26-28  And as they were eating [ the Passover ], Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  (27)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  (28)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Heb 10:12  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; This was the completion of our salvation. God’s sacrificial lamb died and rose again. We remember him during our prescribed ceremony, communion.

How to Have a Healthy Mind

Years ago, a friend and I went through the book “Do You Hear What You’re Thinking?: The art of talking to yourself” by Jerry Schmidt. The theme of the book is that we should not let our minds and thoughts go whatever direction they want to, but rather take them in hand and guide them. Rather than listen to ourselves, we should talk to ourselves.

I thought of that this morning as I went through the next four verses in Ps. 119. First, we need to get our hearts right overall, then when we face issues, often people problems, we will be inclined to do something other than deflate and complain. Because when we let ourselves go like that, we usually take those around us down with us. Notice in the verses below how David rose above it all. There are lessons to learn.

 

Ps. 119:77-80  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.	David is the king of praying for God’s tender mercies for himself. He learned that’s what God is like. And it’s only through God’s tender mercies we will live. He/we can only feel confident praying for that when we know in our hearts that we delight in God’s laws. A tender, obedient, submissive heart, God our father loves to reward with tender mercies.
(78)  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.	How do I deal with people problems? If someone around me doesn’t like me and poisons others’ perceptions of me, what’s the best way to handle it? It’s not to take vengeance. I know that. David chose not to dwell on it, but rather to turn his mind to God’s precepts, which are codes of wisdom or principles to guide our lives. It takes a strong Christian to cast down imaginations and take into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ like that. (2 Cor. 10:5)
(79)  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.	Another way to handle people problems is to pray for new people to surround you. David went ahead and dreamed of what kind of friends he’d like to have… those who fear God and that have known (probably from experience) God’s testimonies or stories of how he operates. That’s a great idea and example.
(80)  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.	Rather than let his mind run wild with defeating thoughts, David talked to himself… literally. He talked his heart into being sound (or healthy) by focusing on God’s statutes or prescribed tasks. That’s another great idea and example. He didn’t listen to himself. He talked to himself, and he reminded himself of God.

Grasp God's Mercy and Kindness

We have some spiritually delicious thoughts today from Ps. 119:73-76. God made us for a purpose, and if we follow it, we will be an encouragement to others. But sometimes God has to discipline us. It’s best if we take it as God’s faithfulness and surrender to whatever he is teaching us. Still, discipline hurts. We know that. So does David. And in that case, we ask for God’s merciful kindness, which we can do, because it’s God’s character to be merciful and kind.

The best word/concept studies I have done are God’s mercy and lovingkindness. I have run miles on them, and I encourage anyone to take out their Strong’s concordance and study these two words. It will change you forever. It changed David forever. (For a faster study, just look up all forms of the words mercy and lovingkindness in the Psalms.) But for today, enjoy Ps. 119:73-76.

 

 

Psa 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.	When I, like David, fully grasp that God made me unique (as he amplifies in Ps. 139), It will unlock a desire to understand the specific purpose for which he made me, the very least of which is to do what he asked in his word. Lord, give me understanding that I might learn your desire for me. It starts with today. Show me anything you desire of me today.
(74)  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.	This reminds me of Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. I’ve always applied that to the idea of having sharp friends, not being a sharp friend. True spiritual leaders like David look at their lives as a ministry and an example for others to follow… a discipler. A discipler who hopes in God’s word is a radiant spiritual model, and those who fear God are glad when he/she shows up.
(75)  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.	May I align myself with God like this when I go through any kind of pain or turmoil. “God, you are right, and I am not. I surrender. You are faithful. Yes Lord.”
(76)  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.	But, affliction, no matter the cause, still hurts. David appealed to God for comfort based on His merciful kindness that he showed David in his word. He showed it to me, too, in Exodus. Let’s all bask in this and pray it back to God like David did: Exo 34:6-7a  And the LORD passed by before him [ Moses ], and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  (7)  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

The Ultimate Faith That Refreshes

 

Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice is one of the two most obvious stories in the Old Testament picturing salvation through Christ. We'll look at it today, and actually, there are three salvation truths in this story:

• Abraham offered his only son, the son of God’s promise, as a sacrifice, picturing God offering his son, Jesus Christ.
• God ultimately provided himself the lamb for the sacrifice, picturing God coming down in flesh via Jesus Christ and becoming the sacrifice for our sin.
• Abraham believed God would fulfill his promises, and it was counted as righteousness. This made him the father of the Christian faith.

Read the whole story in 18 verses below in the left column. Right next to the pertinent parts are related notes in the right column, including the New Testament verses that amplify the Old Testament account. When you look at them both together, you’ll be amazed at the truth God is trying to teach us.

 

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 22:1-18  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.  (2)  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.  (3)  And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.  (4)  Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.  (5)  And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.  (6)  And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.  (7)  And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?  (8)  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.  (9)  And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.  (10)  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.  (11)  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.  (12)  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.  (13)  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.  (14)  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.  (15)  And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,  (16)  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:  (17)  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  (18)  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

First: By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:17-19)  Abraham was offering up his only begotten son, expecting him to die, just as God offered up his only begotten son to die for us. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)   Second: Abraham spoke prophetically to Isaac when his son asked him where the lamb was for the offering. He said God would provide himself a lamb, which lamb Jesus was. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)     Third: Abraham obeyed God, and set forth to offer his son. God stopped him when it was evident that Abraham truly believed God’s promises. Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness. This is the supreme example of being justified –or declared righteous—by faith. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:21-23)

Obedience Begets Blessing

Truly, the Old Testament is living and vibrant and tied with beautiful ribbons to the New Testament. The gospel is wondrously pictured in the Old Testament and magnified through the lens of the New Testament. In today’s study, we see the third dimension of scriptures, showing that only a master designer could have put it all together.

We’re looking at God’s promise or covenant with Abraham today. At first, his name was Abram, which means exalted father. Over time, it was changed to Abraham, which means father of a multitude. In a matter of seconds, we’re going to see the progression of Abraham’s life. You’ll get the best results if you do a zigzag with your eyes. Read a scripture section in the left column, then noticed what’s right next to it in the right column.

 

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 12:1-3  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  (2)  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  (3)  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  Gen 13:14-16  And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:  (15)  For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.  (16)  And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Gen 15:5-6  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  (6)  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.   Gen 22:15-18  And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,  (16)  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:  (17)  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  (18)  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

The promise to Abraham was progressive. First, he had to leave his country and family. If he did and trusted God that way, God would make him a great nation…  Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Abraham mostly obeyed God, except he took his nephew Lot with him. God did not expand his promise to Abraham until he and Lot separated. Then God promised a vast amount of land and innumerable descendents to Abraham’s seed. That seed wasn’t his son, but Christ, as we see explained in the New Testament: Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Abraham only had to believe God’s promise about the seed (Christ), which he did, and God put that faith to Abraham’s credit, making him the model of faith throughout the ages. Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. God tested Abraham’s faith concerning that seed, for he only had one son/seed by Sarah, by whom the promise would be fulfilled, and God asked him to sacrifice that son. He obeyed. Abraham had faith and the works of obedience to back it up. It was pure faith, and the promise of his seed was amplified. All nations of the earth would be blessed.  Gal 3:28-29  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  (29)  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Old Testament is a Picture Book

There are a minimum of 24 arrows pointing to Christ in the Old Testament. I know because I found them. Most of them are pictures, not just of Christ’s person, but his position and purpose. I graduated from Bible college and didn’t once hear the word “type” or “picture.” For some reason, it’s not commonly taught. I hate to think that means the majority of Christians have just a historical view of the Old Testament. No wonder people have such a hard time reading it.

Today we’re looking at Melchizedek in Genesis 14. He is not only a type of Christ, he likely was the preincarnate Christ, setting up his role as the ultimate High Priest “after the order of Melchizedek.” By the way, this phrase is found seven times in the Bible: Ps. 110:4; Heb 5:6; 5:10; 6:20; 7:11; 7:17; 7:21. Numbers are also significant in the Bible, but that’s a study for another time.

The book of Hebrews, which is written to the Jews, will become important in end times, especially during the tribulation and millennium, when the Jews come to realize they were wrong all along about Jesus. The author of Hebrews, thought to be Paul, thoroughly explained who Melchizedek was in connection with Christ—something the Jews will come to understand.

The key verse below (Gen 14:18) is the first time the word priest is used in the Bible, and it’s in connection with a type of Christ, spoken of before the Levitical law was given. Study with me:

 

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 14:14-20  And when Abram heard that his brother [ Lot ] was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.  (15)  And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.  (16)  And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.  (17)  And the king of Sodom went out to meet him [ Abram ] after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.  (18)  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  (19)  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:  (20)  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] tithes of all.

Heb 7:1-8  For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;  (2)  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;  (3)  Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.  (4)  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.[ Gen 14:20 is the first mention of tithes in the Bible ]  (5)  And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:  (6)  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.  (7)  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.  (8)  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.  Jesus also brought forth bread and wine, representing himself and his work on the cross 1Co 11:24-26  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (25)  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  (26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Many things can be said about Christ as our High Priest, to whom we pay tithes, but here are a few: Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  Heb 4:14-15  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  (15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

God Addresses People Problems

We want everyone to like us, but it doesn’t always happen. Not everyone is nice, either. Sometimes those who don’t like us whisper about us and stir others up against us. They make things up about us and rally others around them.

No one understood that better than David. He always had enemies. Much of the time, he was on the run from them. But somehow, he found mental and emotional victory in the middle of it. The four verses in Ps. 119 for today show exactly how he did that. It’s a pattern we can learn from.

 

Ps 119:69  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.	It would take quite a resolve to commit to keeping God’s precepts with my whole heart when those around me lie about me and slander me. Precepts are codes of wisdom or principles to guide our lives. It requires a heart that stands above it all in order to let others’ responses and opinions of me just slide off. David was able to do that. This verse shows that. It’s what made him a great leader. You can’t always buckle under the load of public opinion. Here’s another David example: 1Sa 30:6  And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. I’d like to meet him in heaven and ask him exactly how he did that. I think it will be about meditating on God’s word.
(70)  Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.	David is referring to the proud who forged a lie against him. Fat as grease means they are insensitive. It’s not sin to recognize and acknowledge what kinds of people oppose me. “Consider the source” might be one way to look at it. But on the contrary, decide to think on and delight in God’s law. Which law? I don’t know about David, but here’s one I could sure work on: Pro 31:26  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
(71)  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.	Carrying on with the same idea of surviving the onslaught of those who opposed David—the proud who forged a lie against him, I now see his perspective. He didn’t learn God’s statutes until he was afflicted like that. Trials make us bitter or better. Natural reasoning leads to bitter. Getting God’s comfort from his word leads to better. Statutes means prescribed actions. That’s appropriate. What actions does God prescribe in a time of trial and affliction? Here’s an example David could have learned from Job 13:15:  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
(72)  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.	After meditating on God’s word in the midst of his “people trials” and getting the right perspective to meet the challenge, David could say The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.  Really, in times of emotional upheaval, gold and silver are worthless. The law of God’s mouth is most necessary. Law means instruction or direction. David looked to God and his word until his agitated heart could be resolved. Psa 123:2  Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. David wrote that. God gives so much wisdom and insight through the testimony of David’s life.

There are Great Rewards for Those With Passion

I don’t just want to bumble through this day. I think I bumble by default. I want to be smart about how I handle the people and situations around me. I get this idea from the four verses below. They are my Monday Ps. 119 verses. I’m examining an eight-verse stanza a week. There is so much in the first four verses of Ps. 119:65-72 that I’m finishing up tomorrow.

I recoil at the word intentional because it’s so new-age Christian. Maybe passionate is a better word to describe how I should approach my life with God’s word top of mind today. I learn so much from David’s attitude. The stand-out verse for today is 66. I’ll be giving the devotional to the girls at the juvenile detention center tonight, and I’m going to trust God to give me good judgment and knowledge both before and during my dealings with them. They need to know God and Jesus, they just don’t realize it yet.

Psa 119:65-72  Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.	It’s reassuring for a child to see that what a mother or father says, they mean. Rewards promised for compliance are kept. A smart child learns and benefits from that. In the same way, it seems to me (and to David) that the most satisfying life is one that figures out what God said, and complies. Mat 7:24-25  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
(66)  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.	I can see where David would ask for good judgment and knowledge. As king, a lot of people looked to him for a lot of things. He expected God to answer that prayer because he believed God’s commandments. Truly, a believer has a better chance than a nonbeliever of responding to situations and people with good judgment and knowledge because of that foundational belief in God’s word. This verse shows the path to successful leadership. Bible-believing Christians should make the best leaders because they know the source.
(67)  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.	Pro 3:12  For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? It’s a fact. God corrects us so we will humble ourselves and correct our attitudes and our ways. We learn to turn.
(68)  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.	This verse is the balance. God doesn’t always get our attention just by disciplining us. If we’re attuned to him, he can just as easily get our hearts by being good to us. Psa 103:17-18  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;  (18)  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

The First Sacrifice Pictured Christ

Did you ever think the Old Testament isn’t relevant for today? Other than Psalms and Proverbs, it’s easy to shy away from the Old Testament and favor the New Testament. But there’s so much richness you’re missing out on if you do that.

We are looking at 24 pictures, types and examples of Christ and salvation from the Old Testament. We feel free to do that, because Jesus did that on the road to Emmaus when he explained who he was from the first five books of the Bible and from the prophets.

Salvation by the blood of the lamb is first seen in the first couple’s children. Why did Cain and Abel have to make offerings to God in the first place? Because they were sinners. The sacrifice that was pleasing to God was the blood of the lamb, looking forward to the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

 

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 4:1-8  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  (2)  And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  (3)  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  (4)  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  (5)  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  (6)  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  (7)  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  (8)  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

(Hebrews 11:4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.   (Hebrews 9:22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.     Cain brought the fruit of his labor, an unacceptable sacrifice.  (Hebrews 9:14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Adam and Jesus: Sons of God

When Jesus was born, he wasn’t the first son of God. Adam was. In the Gospel of Luke’s genealogy, we read: Luk 3:38  …which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

That first son of God was a type or figure of Jesus, the eternal Son of God. We don’t have to look hard to see that. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Rom 5:14)

We are looking at 24 types of Christ found in the Old Testament. Here’s a closer look at Adam as the son of God. 

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.   Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.       Gen 1:27-28  (27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  (28)  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Adam was created in the image of God. Christ also was the image of God. Heb 1:2-3  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (3)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;   The first Adam was earthy and sinned. The second Adam, Christ, was spiritual and took care of our sin, clearly explained as follows: 1Co 15:42-48  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption [Adam]; it is raised in incorruption [Christ]:  (43)  It is sown in dishonor [Adam]; it is raised in glory [Christ]: it is sown in weakness [Adam]; it is raised in power [Christ]:  (44)  It is sown a natural body [Adam]; it is raised a spiritual body[Christ]. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  (45)  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  (46)  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual [Christ], but that which is natural [Adam]; and afterward that which is spiritual.  (47)  The first man is of the earth [Adam], earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.  (48)  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.      Now we, who have trusted Christ, are the sons of God, and we are spiritual. We are to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, making more sons of God. Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

The Sun Pictures the Son

We are starting an exciting new study today. Many of the events recorded in the Old Testament point to Christ and serve as a picture of the Gospel of Christ. We know that to be a fact, because Jesus said so himself.

After his death and resurrection, two men walked along the road to Emmaus discussing what had just happened. Jesus came up to them and walked along with them and asked what they were talking about and why they were so sad. They didn’t recognize that it was Christ, and they were surprised that this man didn’t know what had just happened in the past few days. This man apparently hadn’t been keeping up with the news.

The men explained Christ’s death, burial and disappearance. They missed the key to what had just happened. They gave their ignorance away when they said, “But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel…” (Luke 24:21a)

After hearing the whole story, and gathering their perspective, Jesus said, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:  (26)  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  (27)  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)

Later, he met with his disciples: “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (45)  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:” Luke 24:44-46 

Christ is found all over the Old Testament. He is seen in creation, people, ceremonies/feasts, objects, locations/movement and in the prophets. It’s important for us to see these, and explain him to others. The Old Testament stories are far more than stories. They point to Christ as savior. We are going to examine 24 examples from the Old Testament. It begins with the creation of light in Genesis 1.

The sun is thought to have been created on the fourth day “to give light upon the earth.” It is easy to see that the sun pictures Jesus. There’s even one place in the Bible where Jesus is referred to as the “Sun of righteousness” Mal 4:2a  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.

What’s of particular interest in Genesis 1 is that it only uses the word light in the creation account. It is careful not to use the word sun.  It doesn’t talk about the sun being created… only the light. Maybe because, as a picture of Christ, the son was always there. Christ is an eternal part of the Godhead. He was not created. However, the son’s/sun’s  application to the earth as light was created on the fourth day. Nevertheless, the sun and its light are powerful pictures of Christ. Below is a closer look, and keep reading. We will see the first mention of the word sun and how that represents Christ also. Remember this series will be heavy on types and pictures—a view Jesus taught his disciples to adopt.

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 1:14-19  And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:  (15)  And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.  (16)  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.  (17)  And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,  (18)  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.  (19)  And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.   First mention of the sun Gen 15:12-18  And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.  (13)  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;  (14)  And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.  (15)  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.  (16)  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.  (17)  And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.  (18)  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.    The light/Jesus divides light from darkness. Joh 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Not everyone comes to the light. And this passage also reveals that “the Light” made the world, thus, the sun/son is not mentioned as created in Gen. 1. Joh 1:6-11  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  (8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  (9)  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. The first mention of the sun, it was “going down.” And in the same passage, it “went down.” It is in the context of God giving Abraham a covenant about his seed and God’s future dealings with them. And when the sun went down, God sent a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between the pieces of his offering (Gen 15:9-10a  And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.  (10a)  And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another). All in the same day, we have the covenant regarding Abraham’s seed (Christ is his ultimate seed), we have God dividing the offering with fire, and we have the first mention of the sun, which goes down.   This is so similar to what happened the day Jesus died—when the Son went down.  Mar 15:33-34; 37-38  And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  (34)  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?... (37)And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.  (38)  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.