THE LORD SPOKE (November 10)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Ezekiel 14-15

Noah, Daniel, and Job. Three righteous men. They, like all others were sinners but they are singled out for their examples of righteous living in dark times (Ezek. 14:14,20).

NOAH was a preacher of righteousness (II Pet. 2:5) in a generation of unbelief. For 100 years he faithfully proclaimed his faith in God and built an ark in front of a laughing crowd to demonstrate it. “What’s an ark, Noah?” “What’s a flood?” “What’s rain, Noah?” The mockery didn’t stop until the raindrops started pattering on the ground. In the middle of corruption and violence (Gen. 6:5,11), “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God” (Gen. 6:9). He did it in “holy fear” and his trust in God made him “heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Heb. 11:7).

DANIEL was a pattern of righteousness in a pagan culture. Repeatedly he chose to obey God rather than man, even though it was at the risk of his very life each time. His enemies had to admit they would “never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something do to with the law of his God” (Dan. 6:5). Amazing! Could that be said of you? Daniel was far away from “home”, cut off from other believers or any kind of “support group”, and in a situation of power where he could have gotten away with anything he wanted. He chose to be faithful to God. His life was an example after which you could pattern your life.

JOB was a practitioner of righteousness when it wasn’t any fun. Literally, it hurt him to be faithful. Even his best friends and his own wife went the way of the world on this one. Job stood alone. Noah had seven other people with him in the ark. Daniel had at least three strong friends in the early days in Babylon. Job had no one. Obedience can be lonely. But one plus God is a majority every time.

How about you? Will you stand alone for God on your job? at your school? in your unbelieving family? Will you do right even when everyone else around you is not? Will you dare to be different? For sure, living a righteous life in “this present evil age” is not normal but it was for this that Christ died for you (Gal. 1:3-4). Will you respond to His grace? Remember: One plus God is a majority every time.


Psalms 109-110

David once said, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” (II Sam. 23:2). As the author of Psalm 110, this was certainly the case here! Though this may have been intended as a “coronation psalm” for successors to the Davidic throne, the Holy Spirit intended it for much more. It is one of the most directly prophetic of all the psalms, as indicated by its frequent use in the New Testament:

• Mat. 22:43-45; Mk. 12:36-37; Lk. 20:42-44 - Jesus argues with the Pharisees that, by the Spirit, David called his future son “Lord”. If the Messiah was a descendant of David, how could David call him “Lord” unless he was also the divine Son of God?
• Acts 2:34-36 - Peter, on the Day of Pentecost used the same passage to prove that the crucified Jesus was “both Lord and Christ”.
• Heb. 1:13; 5:6-10; 6:20; 7:11-28; 10:12-13 - The writer to the Hebrews built much of his argument on Psalm 110 and repeatedly used it as a direct reference to Messiah Jesus.

Though the two words used in English translation look the same, they are not. Perhaps it would help the English reader to note the terms used. David is speaking and refers to God as “the LORD” (all caps = Yahweh or Jehovah) but then speaks of one who is also sovereign over himself, calling him “my Lord” (Adonai).

Prophet, Priest, and Prince - all three aspects of Messiah’s ministry are portrayed in this psalm. His mighty scepter will be extended from Zion. His royal priesthood is not inherited from Aaron but appointed directly by God. He is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, interceding for us even now (Rom. 8:34). In John’s vision of heaven, he “saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been [freshly] slain, standing in the center of the throne” (Rev. 5:6). It will be that Lamb who will break the seals to open the scroll and thus unfold the final events of history (Rev. 5:9, with all of chapter 6 and 8:11).

And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

...In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

Revelation 5:9-10,12,13