THE LORD SPOKE (December 04)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Daniel 7-8

Until you get to the book of Revelation, there are not very many descriptions of God’s throne room. None are more vivid that this one in Daniel’s vision:

As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened..... In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Dan. 7:9-10,13-14)

It’s the first reference to the Messiah as “the son of man”. That was the name preferred by Jesus himself; it is used 81 times in the Gospels, always by Jesus. When Peter made his great confession (Mk. 8:29), “You are the Christ/Messiah”, Jesus immediately juxtaposed it with what the Son of Man would have to endure (Mk. 8:31). The fact that John related the revelation he received with that of Daniel, is clearly evidenced by the repetition of “I saw...one like a son of man”. There follows then the only description in the Bible of Jesus’ physical appearance. Though we have a few hints in the Gospels, this is the most complete portrait found in Scripture:

...and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev. 1:13-19)

Because the Son of God became a son of man, He qualifies as our mediator. Do you long to see Him? These two verbal pictures will give you plenty of food for thought until then.


Proverbs 4

Above all else, guard your heart,
For it is the wellspring of life. (Prov. 4:23)

Jesus elaborated on this when He said: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Lk. 6:45)

So, how do you store up good things in your heart? Solomon gives us ten tips here in Proverbs 4.

1. by paying attention to instruction (vs. 1-2)
2. by laying hold of good words (vs. 3-4)
3. by pursuing wisdom (vs. 5-6)
4. by paying any price to obtain understanding (vs. 7-9)
5. by listening to wise counsel (vs. 10-13)
6. by avoiding the paths of the wicked (vs. 14-17)
7. by following the light of righteousness (vs. 18-19)
8. by keeping your talk pure (vs. 24)
9. by fixing your eyes on the right things (vs. 25)
10. by maintaining your feet on the straight path (vs. 26-27)

There are literally hundreds of references to the heart scattered throughout Scripture. You can have a proud heart, a deceitful heart, a false heart, an evil heart, a rebellious heart, a hard heart, or a stony heart. You might experience anguish of heart, bitterness of heart, a fearful heart, or sorrow of heart. It could leave you faint-hearted, half-hearted, heavy-hearted, or slow of heart. Your heart might be troubled, broken, or hardened.

On the other hand, you can have a merry heart, a pure heart, a good heart, a glad heart, a prudent heart, a stout heart, a true heart, a tender heart, or a cheerful heart. You might be upright in heart, lowly in heart, wise in heart, and have singleness of heart or gladness of heart. You could be sound of heart or subtle of heart. Best of all, you can have a heart after God’s own heart.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence;
Take not Thy holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;
And renew a right spirit within me.
Keith Green