THE LORD SPOKE (October 9)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Isaiah 59-61

Read this passage with the eyes of a Jewish person. Remember the history of your nation. Consider the years of dispersion and national disaster - now stretched into centuries. Recall the interminable suffering and grief of being “a wandering Jew” with no place to turn. Hatred, bitterness, and rejection have been our portion everywhere you’ve gone. Antisemitism raises its ugly head at every fork in the long road.

Now you’re told...

• Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. (Is. 60:1)
• Nations will come to your light...to you the riches of the nations will come. (Is. 60:3,5)
• Foreigners will rebuild your walls and their kings will serve you. (Is. 60:10)
• For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined. (Is. 60:12)
• The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet. (Is. 60:14)
• No longer will violence be heard in your land nor ruin or destruction within your borders. (Is. 60:18)
• Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. (Is. 60:21)

As if that weren’t enough (daiyenu is how they say it at the Passover seder), the next chapter tells of the glorious presence of the long-awaited Messiah. When Jesus taught in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30), this was the text He chose! In fact, Isaiah 61 is one of the truly pivotal chapters of the whole Old Testament. All five of the basic points of OT biblical theology are clearly developed right here:

PRINCE (Messiah) - Is. 61:1-5
PROMISE (Covenant) - Is. 61:4-9
PEOPLE (Israel) - Is. 61:6,9
POSSESSION (Land) - Is. 61:7
PRESERVATION (Salvation) - Is. 61:10

What a glorious prospect! It’s enough to keep you faithful to the Lord, to keep pressing on, to remind you that your present affliction is momentary. There is a better day ahead that rests on nothing less than the promises of God Almighty.

Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. (Is. 60:19-20)

So, what if you’re not Jewish? Take a look at I Corinthians 10:11-13 and find your own promise there.


Psalms 45-46

The superscription of Psalm 45 tells us it’s a wedding song. It was written by the Levitical temple choir (“the sons of Korah”) and was probably originally used for the wedding of one or more of David’s sons. The language and vocabulary of the psalm is strikingly similar to the Song of Solomon throughout. The bride is a foreign princess (Ps. 45:10,12) and it was an event of international importance (Ps. 45:9) as “daughters of kings” are in attendance.

The psalm itself has two halves: (1) words addressed to the king (Ps. 45:3-9) and (2) words addressed to the princess bride (Ps. 45:10-15). Each half has two parts: (1a) instructions to the king (Ps. 45:3-5) and (1b) a description of the king’s glory (Ps. 45:6-9) followed by (2a) instructions to the bride (Ps. 45:10-11) and (2b) a description of the bride’s glory (Ps. 45:12-15). The first and last verse of the psalm provide a frame for the picture (Ps. 45:1,17) and there is even an inner frame of sorts (Ps. 45:2,16) to emphasize the portrait.

The crafting of the psalm is a thing of beauty in itself. But the element that keeps bringing you back to contemplate the painting is the messianic undertones. “Noble theme” indeed! The writer of Hebrews makes it explicit when he applies Ps. 45:6-7 to Christ (Heb. 1:8-9). The Davidic Covenant (II Sam. 7:16 and see Ps. 89:28-37) always pointed to the ultimate fulfillment in the royal Son of David whose throne would be established forever. His scepter of justice will be raised for eternity and the nations will praise him for ever and ever.

Psalm 47 provides a very fitting climax to this one. Let the words sink into your heart:

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
Selah

God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
Sing to him a psalm of praise.
God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham,
For the kings of the earth belong to God;
He is greatly exalted.

Psalm 47