2010 – October 14 – From Birthright to a New Birth

Blogger’s Note: Today is my last day of daily study in the Old Testament; … tomorrow it’s off into the New. And it reminds me of the promise in a paraphrase of 2nd Cor. 5: 17 … the old has gone, … the new is coming!

Study from God’s Word… 1st Chronicles, Chapter 4 - 9 … Passage for Reflection: 1st Chronicles 5: 1 2 … NIV 1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2 and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph) - …

My Journal for Today: Today is my last day of study in the Old Testament from The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, with my devotionals being led by Dr. F. LaGard Smith, the Author of The Daily Bible Devotional. Tomorrow we will turn to devotionals from the New Testament; and I’m excited about that. Thus far this year, it has been a rewarding and discipline-building exercise to go through the Old Testament – in chronological order; and I’m looking forward with expectation to branching off into the New Testament for the remainder of 2010.

And this last highlight verse from the Old Testament today is a most interesting reference, imbedded in the chronicles listed in God’s Old Covenant where all of God’s people were so carefully listed. In today’s verse we read this parenthetical reference to REUBEN, the firstborn of “Israel” (i.e., Jacob), whose birthright was altered and given to the sons of Joseph rather than Reuben, who had wickedly squandered the birthright due to his unworthiness in the way he treated Joseph. But Reuben’s loss was our gain as Gentiles; because what we read in that little parenthetical description above, pictures how God would give His birthright and glory from His kingdom from His “firstborn” to any/all who are willing, as was Joseph, to receive this birthright from another – later – “Joseph,” who would come in the form of the Son of God, The Messiah, to save, not only those who were promised the birthright (i.e., the Jews) but also those who would believe in and receive God’s glorious grace-gift of salvation.

Pardon me, while I intervene here with what my heart is feeling in this moment, by saying, a resounding, “HALLELUJAH!!!”

But Dr. Smith’s sobering question to close his devotional entry for today, rings like a clarion bell of truth, when he asks: ”Am I living worthily of the glorious inheritance I have been promised (in Christ)?” And immediately God’s Spirit, from my past disciplines of Scripture memory, bubbles up in my consciousness that exhortation from Paul to the Christians at Ephesus, these challenging words: (see Eph. 4: 1 – 2) … As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. And this returns me to Smith’s poignant question, … “am I worthy” of the calling of what I call myself – i.e., “CHRISTIAN?!”

I pray – and I do so pray today – that I am being true to my inheritance of one who has given my life – as much as I’m aware (see Romans 12: 1-2) as a living sacrifice to my Lord and Savior, Jesus, … the One who came and died, as I’m about to study onward into the New Testament for the rest of this year.

For those who’re reading and meditating along with me, I hope you’re as expectant as I as we move into the study of the life and times of the One Who came to us as God’s Lamb, to live, to die, and to be re-glorified to sit at the Right Hand of the Father, interceding for those of us who’ve come to know Him as Lord and Savior.

My Prayer for Today: Oh, LORD, My God, how Glorious is Your Name!!! Again … I shout out … HALLELUJAH!!! Amen

2010 – April 30 – The Ultimate in Giving and Receiving

Study from God’s Word… Psalms 29, 33, 65, 66, 67, and 68 … Passage for Reflection: Psalm 68: 18… NIV 18 When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you RECEIVED gifts from men, even from the rebellious — that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.
Ephesians 4: 8 …4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and GAVE gifts to men."[Psalm 68:18]

My Journal for Today: In today’s study we get a marvelous picture as to how New Testament writers used Old Testament Scripture, taking in the context of the New Covenant purpose and life of Jesus to explain the truth of Who He was and is to mankind. It was not uncommon for the NT authors and persons in the time of Christ, even Christ Himself, to quote from the OT. But occasionally, and today’s study is one of those, there would be a twist on what was being quoted which depended on the person and position of Jesus, The Christ, as the fulfillment of Old Covenant Scripture.

In the word picture created by King David in Psalm 68, he was reflecting on the tradition, in his day, of a king returning home from battle with a train of the conquered warriors following behind him, … with the conquered peoples giving gifts, as they did in those days, to the conquering king. Now, the Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4, quotes from that same Psalm, but note the critical one word change [highlighted in bold/underline above] which describes the King of kings and how, in heaven, He will not expect gifts from those who’ve surrendered to Him. No, rather, our LORD of lords will GIVE gifts to those who come to Heaven with Him.

Now, how great is that, for those of us who’ve surrendered our lives to the King of kings, Who has conquered all on the cross; and the King Whom now is in heaven interceding for Christians; and the King Who will receive me, and prayerfully you, to be with Him on His throne? And the Apostle Paul was right to change that one word when he used Psalm 68 to relate the picture of the conquering King receiving the train of the conquered into heaven.

And once again in my studies here of God’s word, daily in my quiet place, all I can muster is a humble, but definite … HALLELUJAH !!!

My Prayer for Today: Yes, LORD, I sit here in awe of how Your word fits together and speaks of You as the conquering King Who has received me unto Your throne and will give me all You have in glory. HALLELUJAH !!! Amen