Category: The Nation Israel

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #4

Saturday, July 27, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

When Jesus Christ came to His nation Israel, He had every right to utterly consume them in His wrath. They had ignored Him ever since their early days, nearly 2,000 years before, by worshipping pagan idols. When He was born as a human, they treated Him no better. For three years, He was ridiculed and slandered as being crazy, an imposter, a drunkard, a devil-possessed individual, et cetera.

Ultimately, Israel demanded the Roman government crucify Him, and they did—yea, Jesus experienced the death of a despicable criminal. Christ’s crucifixion was extremely horrific, and although He knew everything that was coming, He never fought against it. Again, the Old Testament prophets spoke of Jesus Christ as being meek and lowly, the attitude He had leading up to His death. These prophets spoke of “the sufferings of Christ” (today’s Scripture). That was His Father’s will, and He came to please His Father! “Abba, Father… nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36; cf. Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42; John 18:11).

Jesus Christ will one day return to earth. This time, however, He will not be a meek and lowly donkey-rider. In those Bible days, when a king rode a horse into a foreign city or country, he was demonstrating an attitude of war toward that land’s government. Interestingly enough, the Apostle John writes in Revelation 19:11: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” This is Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, when He sheds His enemies’ blood and reigns as earth’s Supreme King, fulfilling the “glory” that today’s Scripture, and the Old Testament prophets, foretold….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #3

Friday, July 26, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Five centuries after the prophet Zechariah wrote, Israel’s Messiah-King (Jesus) rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. However, Israel cried out, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:15). Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected the third day, but Israel still refused Him. He went back into heaven as an exile, rejected of His own people. As the book of Acts progresses, we learn that Israel is content in unbelief, refusing to listen to Jesus Christ’s apostles and prophets in early Acts (who urge their brethren to accept Him so that they can avoid His wrath when He returns).

Remember, the prophet Zechariah also wrote: “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:1-4).

Jesus Christ came to earth the first time riding on a donkey, a gesture of peace toward Israel. Israel refused Him. After His death, burial, and resurrection, He ascended into heaven, where even today He waits until the time when He is to come back. He will return to earth on a horse, bringing salvation to Israel’s believing remnant, but declaring war on all of His (unbelieving) enemies. The “glory” of today’s Scripture must be fulfilled….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #2

Thursday, July 25, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

At about age 30, Jesus Christ began His public ministry in Israel (Luke 3:23). Three years later, near His earthly ministry’s conclusion, He rides on a donkey’s foal, a young colt, into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)—the so-called “Triumphal Entry.” Jerusalem is “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35; cf. Psalm 48:2). Thus, Jesus Christ, Israel’s King, is offering Himself to her by coming into her capital city, humbly riding on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.

Interestingly enough, in those Bible days, when a king rode a donkey into a foreign city or country, he was demonstrating an attitude of peace toward that land’s government. He was not interested in war, so he came meek and gently. By riding on the donkey, Jesus Christ is not only fulfilling prophecy, but He is also showing Israel that He desires peace between them: He wants them to turn back to Him by faith (Mark 2:17; Luke 19:9,10; Acts 3:24-26; et cetera)!

Recall when the Samaritans refused to receive Christ as He passed through their city years earlier, Apostles James and John asked Him if He wanted them to command fire to come down from heaven and consume those rebels. Jesus replied, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:55,56). Our Lord affirmed that He did not come to destroy sinners in His righteous wrath but rather He has come to save them! Remember, He is “having salvation” (Zechariah 9:9)—Jesus wants to save Israel, not destroy her.

This is why Jesus Christ was so willing to die. He could have fought off the Roman soldiers, but He did not. Rather, from His arrest onward to Mount Calvary’s cross to the grave, He was humble and silent, quiet as a sheep being led away to be slaughtered (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:14). He had to fulfill “the sufferings” of today’s Scripture….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #1

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Circa 500 B.C., the prophet Zechariah wrote: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).

For centuries, Israel knew that her Messiah-King would come to her, and He would be riding upon a donkey; yea, the foal (young one) of a donkey would be His means of presenting Himself to His nation Israel. He would be meek (“lowly”) and He would bring Israel soul salvation (“having salvation”).

Near the end of His three-year ministry, Jesus goes to Jerusalem as He did many times before, but on this occasion, He takes a special mode of transportation. This historical narrative is recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19. Jesus Christ instructs two of His disciples to find the female donkey and her young colt tied in a particular location, and bring them to Him.

Matthew 21:4-11 says, “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them. And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they sat him [Jesus] thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

Let us see how these Bible passages teach a fascinating truth….

A Party Invitation to Ignore

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

“And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20 KJV).

Discard this invitation to Naomi’s self-pity party!

The Jewess Naomi, her husband Elimelech, and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion leave Bethlehemjudah due to famine, and they travel to Moab (on the opposite [or eastern] side of the Dead Sea). There, Elimelech dies, and Mahlon and Chilion intermarry with the Moabites. About ten years later, Mahlon and Chilion pass away, leaving widowed Naomi with two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, also widowed.

When Naomi hears the news that God has provided food for His people in Bethlehemjudah, she decides to leave Moab and return home. Naomi instructs her two daughters-in-law to return to their (pagan) families, for she is returning to Bethlehem. However, Ruth 1:16 says, “And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”

Ruth accompanies Naomi back to Bethlehemjudah, and when the townspeople recognize Naomi, they ask in Ruth 1:19, “Is this Naomi?” Naomi replies, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me” (today’s Scripture). She has lost her husband and both sons, and is thus poverty-stricken, so she feels sorry for herself. Naomi (“pleasant”) prefers to be called “Mara,” Hebrew for “bitter.” Like many today, she is hurt and resentful, angry with God and blaming Him for her troubles. She cannot see with the eyes of faith—JEHOVAH has used her to rescue a former pagan (Ruth) from idolatry! God, for His own purposes, has used “poor” Naomi to reach out to lost Gentile Ruth.

Centuries after Naomi’s passing, we see her pity party was unjustified. Ruth 4:13-22 verifies Ruth became the mother of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David, and King David was… the ancestor of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32). Who is Naomi? Someone God used to establish the bloodline of Jesus Christ via Ruth!

Surrounded by Sinners

Monday, July 22, 2013

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25 KJV).

Today’s Scripture seems insignificant, but it conveys a marvelous Bible truth….

You should have noticed that there are three Marys listed in today’s Scripture. Although not explicitly named here, we find in other Scriptures that Jesus’ mother’s name is “Mary” (Matthew 1:16; Luke 2:6-21; et cetera). So, in today’s Scripture, we have: (1) Jesus’ mother named Mary, (2) the wife of Cleophas named Mary, and (3) Mary Magdalene. There were thousands of people who stood by Jesus’ cross, so why did the Holy Spirit select these three people to list, all of whom are named Mary?

“Mariam” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Miriam,” from which we get “Mary.” The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, so these Jewesses’ Hebrew names were rendered in Greek, and then that Greek name “Mariam” was translated into “Mary” in our English Bible. Now, think about it: Who was Miriam in Scripture?

The Bible says that Miriam was the sister of Aaron and Moses (Numbers 26:59; 1 Chronicles 6:3). Miriam rebelled against Moses’ leadership in Numbers 12:1-16, and God judged her with leprosy (a skin disease) because of it. Interestingly, the Hebrew name “Miriam” means “rebelliously.” Now, we can begin to think of today’s Scripture in light of this information.

Of the thousands of people standing near Mount Calvary during Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, God the Holy Spirit selected three women who stood by, and He names them in His Word. It is no coincidence that the three women who are named are named Mary (today’s Scripture; cf. Matthew 27:55,56; Mark 15:40,41; Luke 23:49). What could God be teaching us through that?

Jesus Christ is hanging on Calvary’s cruel cross, dying for the sins of the people who hated Him. He was surrounded by Marys… He was surrounded by rebels… He was surrounded by sinners! In His own words, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17). Amazing!

Israel, Stand Still! #12

Saturday, July 20, 2013

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

Israel must stand still and do nothing in order to see her God work mightily on her behalf!

Quoting Psalm 40:7,8, Hebrews 10:9-12 says: “Then said he [Jesus Christ], Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [covenant], that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

God will use Jesus Christ’s shed blood offered 2,000 years ago to ratify the New Covenant at Christ’s Second Coming (just as the Old Covenant was instituted with animals’ blood in Exodus chapter 24). Quoting Isaiah 59:20,21, the Apostle Paul penned: “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:26,27; cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:14-25).

Recall what Moses told Israel at the Red Sea: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day:…. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13,14).

As in Egypt, Israel cannot save herself: she is enslaved to sin and Satan, as she was captive in Egypt. As in Egypt, God sends a Deliverer for Israel: Moses led them from physical captivity and Jesus Christ will lead them from spiritual captivity. This time, they will enter the Promised Land, fully forgiven and free forever (the context of today’s Scripture)—not because of their works, but because of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary.

The whole world will see redeemed Israel glorified in her earthly kingdom, and JEHOVAH will be exalted forever!

~FINIS!~ 🙂

Israel, Stand Still! #11

Friday, July 19, 2013

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

Israel must stand still and do nothing in order to see her God work mightily on her behalf!

God’s nation in the earth, Israel, was ruined. For over 15 centuries, she repeatedly broke His covenant with her by ignoring His laws, especially by worshipping pagan idols (Judges 2:10-20; 1 Kings 11:1-43; 2 Chronicles 36:14-21; Nehemiah 9:6-38; Isaiah 40:18-20; Jeremiah 44:1-30; Ezekiel 5:5-17; Daniel 9:3-19; Hosea 2:2-9; Malachi 2:1-17; et al.). Legally, she could not be God’s people, for she was now under Satan’s control.

And so, God’s plan, devised in eternity past, was implemented. The Scriptures unfolded that plan over a period of centuries. The seed of the woman promised in Genesis 3:15, man’s Redeemer, became the seed of Abraham, the seed of Isaac, the seed of Jacob, and the seed of David. That seed is Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16), God manifest in human flesh (John 1:1,14), the fulfiller of the Abrahamic Covenant, and the means whereby salvation would flow through Israel to the Gentiles.

That Messiah-Redeemer Jesus would save Israel from her sins first (Matthew 1:21). Then, and only then, those redeemed Jews would bring salvation to the Gentiles (Exodus 19:3-6; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23; et cetera). When Jesus Christ offered Himself to Israel as their King, they demanded His crucifixion: “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:14,15; Acts 3:13). (Without Israel’s cooperation, how would salvation go to the Gentiles now? God’s solution to that dilemma was to raise up Saul of Tarsus and make him Paul the Apostle sent to us Gentiles without Israel [Romans 11:11-13]).

JEHOVAH God the Son let them nail Him to that awful cross of Calvary, and His blood poured out. Without that shed blood of Jesus Christ, Israel (and actually, all people) would be hopelessly lost forever. Little did Israel know, that by killing their Messiah, He could then save them with that shed blood—that was God’s wise plan all along! Israel could now be saved by that marvelous work He did for them (and us) at Calvary….

Israel, Stand Still! #10

Thursday, July 18, 2013

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

Israel must stand still and do nothing in order to see her God work mightily on her behalf!

The Old Covenant (the Mosaic Law) only condemns us as sinners—it never saves anyone, it only makes “all the world guilty before God” (Romans 3:19). In order for God to save and use Israel, He will have to make a New Covenant with them. Read Hebrews 8:7-13 (quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34):

“[7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. [8] For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: [9] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. [10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: [11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. [12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. [13] In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

This is Israel’s glorious prospect—a covenant that involves JEHOVAH working to save her from sin and Satan, just as He saved her from the Egyptian bondage. It will be an extremely intense battle, and JEHOVAH Himself will die….

NOTE: If you’re interested in “attending” a grace Bible conference via internet, the Grace School of the Bible Family Summer Bible Conference is underway through today. You can find all the details (times, topics, and preachers) at www.graceimpact.org.

Israel, Stand Still! #9

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10 KJV).

Israel must stand still and do nothing in order to see her God work mightily on her behalf!

The Jews spent centuries in Egypt as slaves, so Egypt is known as “the house of bondage” in Scripture (Exodus 13:3,14; Exodus 20:2; Deuteronomy 5:6; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:14; Deuteronomy 13:5,10; Joshua 24:17; Judges 6:8). Nevertheless, God redeemed Israel through the Red Sea experience: He rescued her from great misery, He defeated her enemies, He gave her unspeakable joy, and He offered her the Promised Land to dwell in forever.

Now that the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, they were dead to that old life of slavery. They now had a new life—a life of freedom! They now had a new identity—the nation of JEHOVAH! They now had a new land—the land of Palestine! In that land, they now could serve JEHOVAH, the God who had been so faithful in rescuing them. Unfortunately, Israel never made it to the point of fully enjoying JEHOVAH or His blessings and salvation for them. As with Adam, their sin spoiled the paradise God offered them. They fell into sin, and Satan captured God’s nation, Israel, thereby again thwarting God’s program for the earth.

As with the Red Sea experience, Israel is helpless (spiritually dead in her trespasses and sins). She needs the power of God Himself to be rescued from her sin. JEHOVAH must give her new (eternal) life in order for her to be equipped to serve Him forever in her earthly kingdom (the context of today’s Scripture). Israel’s sins must be dealt with, and JEHOVAH will do just that.

In type, Israel’s redemption at the Red Sea is a beautiful illustration of how God will deliver Israel from the dominion of sin and satanic captivity. Just as Israel was unable to deliver herself from Egyptian bondage, but had to rely on the LORD, so again she will have to depend on JEHOVAH to rescue her from her sin and satanic bondage….

NOTE: If you’re interested in “attending” a grace Bible conference via internet, the Grace School of the Bible Family Summer Bible Conference is underway through Thursday, July 18. You can find all the details (times, topics, and preachers) at www.graceimpact.org.