From: December 15, 2023
“Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!” (Proverbs 30:4 NLT).
Proverbs 30 contains the sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh, an otherwise unknown author. Yet, one can see both his humility and his wisdom in the questions he asks. His questions are humble for they point to the vast separation between the transcendent God and His lowly creation. Yet they are at the same time wise for they point to One who might bridge the chasm between God and man.
Agur probably never thought that God would answer his unanswerable questions. His questions were similar to Job’s thoughts, who declared, “God is not a mortal like me. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together” (Job 9:32-33). Both men imagined one who might mediate between God and humanity.
So what was God’s answer? Who goes between heaven and earth? Who calms the winds and the waves? Who created all things? Who is the only mediator between God and man? What’s his name and his son’s name?
He is the LORD and His son’s name is Jesus. Jesus is the answer. For He fulfills all that Job and Agur imagined.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have many questions, but we are satisfied with the answer You have given us in Jesus. For we trust that You have revealed to us the most important wisdom of all, namely, Your Son. For He is our wisdom, our answer to every question and trial we face. Therefore, we pursue Jesus today in all things. In His name we pray. Amen.
From: December 15, 2022
BRING YOUR WORSHIP WITH YOU!
Psalm 134 is the last of the 15 “Psalms of Ascent,” which were written to be sung by pilgrims as they climbed up Mount Zion to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. Singing these worship songs made the journey more joyful and encouraged them to begin worshiping before they arrived.
Worship is not only for the sanctuary, but for the journey along the way. “Lift your hands” and praise the Lord as you rise in the morning and as you move throughout the day. Indeed, worship should be the mark of our everyday existence. And when we do gather together in the sanctuary, bring your worship with you!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we lift our hands and hearts to You on this day. As we prepare to gather together in worship every week, we lift our voices to You even as we rise. For we want to bring our worship with us, not waiting until we arrive. May we offer even greater worship as we gather with Your people. For You are worthy of both our individual and our corporate praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 15, 2016
Micah prophesied that “kingship” would come to a “hill” where stood the “tower of the flock.” This prophecy points to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In the Hebrew, the phrase “tower of the flock” is “Migdal Edar.” It described both a tower and a place. It would have been a two-story stone watchtower that the shepherds used to keep watch over their flocks. And “Migdal Edar” also described a place near Bethlehem on the road to Jerusalem (Gen.35:19-21). The tower would have been on a “hill” to enlarge the shepherd’s view from the top story. The bottom story was used as a stable for newborn lambs. The shepherds of Bethlehem were known for raising sacrificial lambs to sell to the Temple in Jerusalem. It was to these shepherds at “Migdal Edar” that Micah prophesied the Messiah, the Lamb of God, would come. And so He did.
From: December 15, 2015
One of the psalms of ascent, written to prepare pilgrims as they climbed the steps to the temple. This psalm was addressed to those who served in the temple at night. Certainly, it addressed the Levites assigned to serve as a night watch, that their work should never be considered mundane but always worshipful. It also brings to mind those like the old woman Anna who continually fasted and prayed at the temple (Luke 2:47). Today, it is a reminder to those who serve the Lord to remember to offer praise to Him even in the most mundane moments of service. It also encourages those who are experiencing sleepless nights not to waste the time, but to take the opportunity to lift up hands of worship to God.
From: December 15, 2014
In Revelation 6, John saw Christ the Lamb open six of the seven seals. The first four seals revealed the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The word “apocalypse” comes from the Greek and literally means, “to unveil, to reveal.” Thus, the title of the book, the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The identity of the four horsemen is a matter of much debate. But understanding that the best way to interpret Scripture is by Scripture, a careful comparison of Christ’s description of the last days in Matthew 24 with Revelation 6 is helpful. The first rider has a crown, a bow and rides a white horse. This represents religious deception, those that come claiming to be Christ, deceiving many (Matt. 24:5). The second rider comes with a sword and riding a red horse. This represents the increase of wars in the earth (Matt. 24:6-7 “wars and rumors of wars”). The third rider comes carrying scales and riding a black horse. This represents famine (Matt. 24:7). And the fourth rider comes on a pale (Greek, “chloros” – pale green) horse and represents disease and pestilence (Matt. 24:7). When will these four horsemen appear? I believe they were released when Christ ascended and have roamed the earth in ever-increasing ways ever since. Yet, we should not be afraid, for Christ the Lamb has revealed this to us, so that we would love His appearing.
From: December 15, 2013
After three chapters of judgment, God spoke of a future day when the nations would “study war no more.” But this peace cannot precede judgment. Otherwise, the seeds of the next war would be contained therein. Many asked Micah to stop preaching such stuff. Too negative. But Micah replied with the word of the Lord, “Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?” In other words, the one who “walks uprightly” understands that real peace is more than the cessation of hostilities. It is the changing of the human heart that comes only through the Lord, that fills everyone with love and forgiveness.