Psalm 109:21-31 reveals and appeals to God’s divine righteousness, based on the significance and meaning of His name alone. David says, “You, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for your name’s sake, and out of the goodness of your love;” thus, he calls for God to “deliver him” on this basis (verse 21). Here, David accurately describes our utterly helpless estate: “I am poor and needy … wounded … fading away like an evening shadow … shaken off like a locust … an object of scorn” (verses 22-25). Had sin never entered into the world, none of these complaints would apply. We desperately need “the Sovereign LORD’s help” (verses 21 and 26). We live in a fallen world of such deceptive convenience – in which all of contemporary life arrogantly argues for the opposite – that we are somehow up and coming, doing well, and living our best lives now. The world tries to glamorize our lives, but clearly, David would disagree. He says, “Let them know that it is Your hand – that You have done it – they may curse, but You will bless; when they attack, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice … for You stand at our right hand” (verses 26-31). Only the Scriptures reveal our true state of affairs. I am so grateful that God has not left us alone to fend for ourselves and that He actually desires to help us.
Today we come to Isaiah 51:17-54:17 where, once again, we see a description of our desperate condition – we are “like an antelope caught in a net” (51:20). Sin is devious – like a deceitful net that entangles the hapless sinner – struggling to be free of it but becoming ever more enmeshed in it. But because of God’s great love for us, He offers us the hope of redemption in Christ: “You were sold for nothing and without money you will be redeemed” (verse 3). Good news is coming! He says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, and say, ‘Your God reigns!’” (verse 7). We have seen the five comforts of Isaiah, and they extend here to redemption (verse 9). Chapters 52-53 show us the fourth Suffering Servant song which initially appears to lead ultimately to failure, but it actually concludes in victory. Notice – “His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form marred beyond human likeness, but … He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted … kings will shut their mouths because of Him” (verses 13-15). Chapter 53 specifically presents the Suffering Servant as the Messiah of Israel Who turned tragedy into triumph. He will “receive a portion among the great and divide the spoils with the strong … because He poured out His life unto death” (verse 12). Chapter 54 gives us a glimpse of the eventual effects of Christ’s triumph in the future glory of Zion. These incredible prophecies can apply to none other than Jesus Christ.
Now today, as we come to the book of Ephesians, I praise God Who “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (1:2). Every morning, I thank Him that He has included the likes of me in His eternal plan that existed “before the creation of the world” (1:4). This truth absolutely overwhelms me – I cannot fathom it. “According to His pleasure and will” (verse 9), “He has lavished on us,” by my count, at least 16 different spiritual blessings that we read about here just in chapter 1: Here, we observe the blessings of “His grace and peace; chosen in Him; made to be holy and blameless; predestined; adopted as sons; provided us with redemption, forgiveness, riches, wisdom, and understanding; revealed to us the mysteries of His will; included us in Christ; marked us in Him with the seal of the Holy Spirit; and guaranteed to us an inheritance” (chapter 1). This chapter describes what God has accomplished for us and who we are in Christ. To this, all we can say is, “Praise God; Hallelujah and Amen!”
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