Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! The LORD has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. [Psalm 98.1-3]
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]
Do these two scripture passages seem to have no connection to one another? Think again...
As I have been considering what it is that I am missing in my understanding of God's Redemption and all the blessings afforded by it, this thought has come to me: What was it about Israel that God would call them His "Chosen People?" Are you ready for this? It was His Son. Jesus would be born of the lineage of Israel. God's love for Israel is much more understandable if we consider God looking upon Israel as His Son.
Unremarkably then, Abraham's faith is what made him righteous. Abraham was the "poster boy" for Israel.
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” [Romans 4.1-3]
The words, "For the Scriptures tell us..." in Romans 4 should spark some synapsis with what Jesus said in John 5.39 (again):
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]
Notice my use of red letters heretofore as the words of Jesus. Then see if it means anything to do this to Psalm 98.1-3:
Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! The LORD has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. [Psalm 98.1-3]
Did you ever wonder why the Psalms in particular contain so much praise to God? Because Abraham, the Father of Faith, is the founder of Israel, and faith is what pleases God. God's pleasure and favor were upon Israel in response to Abraham's (Israel's) faith. It was this same faith, along with Abraham's physical "seed" that pointed to the Messiah. It was this same faith in which the Psalmist penned the Psalms! God looked upon Abraham/Israel (everyone "in faith") in hope, seeing only Jesus His Son. Those "in faith" would naturally reflect Jesus to God (and the world) before His Advent just as much as those "in faith" after His Advent are to reveal Jesus to God (and the world).
The profundity of God's love for Israel is not so hard to understand when we see that God looked upon Israel as any good father looks upon His only Son.
If you are following this progression then, those "in faith" who penned the Psalms (and all the Old Testament for that matter) were in Christ inasmuch as they were "in faith" and, as such, were writing on behalf of Christ! It's no wonder then how jubilant the Psalms come across because Jesus, knowing all there is to know about God, was authoring them! AND, then even the "downer" Psalms that speak of suffering and trials clearly reveal the words of Christ Himself suffering for His Body - all those "in faith."
Why is it then that faith is the only thing that pleases God (Hebrews 11.6)? Because faith is the only way a person can be in Christ - God's Son in Whom God is well pleased (Matthew 3.17)!
The bottom line is this: NO ONE can please God in and of themselves - not before Jesus - not after Jesus! It is, and has eternally been, only in Christ that any person has any ability to please God. Israel was "in Christ" as Christ was in Israel (Jesus would be born of the lineage of Israel - the tribe of Judah).
The depth of meaning then in John 5.39 is as deep as God Himself. In fact, the depth of meaning of all God's Word is as deep as God Himself:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [2 Timothy 3.16]
What then of our God is not praiseworthy? In faith - in Christ - I can join in His words found in the Psalms! I don't have to feel it - but I must faith it!
Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! The LORD has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation! He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. [Psalm 98.1-3]
Father, thank You for the revelation of Your Holy Spirit as I believe in Your Son Jesus. May I be found "in Christ" alone. Thus may I be found "in faith." And thus may I find thanksgiving and praise to You, not from my experience, but from the experience of Christ in me!
1 comment:
Thank you brother for your “in faith” your faithfulness. You are a person we look to to see Jesus in you. We see His reflection in who you are. Your heart is clearly a mirror to His presence. When we look at you we see Christ Jesus. Yea at times we can see the man Greg and he’s a great guys. We see Jesus in him, and is that not our goal in life to continually seek after Christlikeness in us to let Him be seen more and more and is less. That we become as much of Christ in us as possible in this life.
Thank you Father for your faithfulness, thank your for the gifts you have given each of us. We need that measure of faith to make it through. You gave us each that measure of faith and that measure will sustain us. We ask that you continually speak into us to make us stronger in You. Thank You for brothers and sisters like Greg here, they give us strength to push on. They help to bring all the faith we have to the surface. Thank you Father.
Love ya Greg thank you for your faithfulness.
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