For the Hope of Israel I am Bound…

 

 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain."—Acts 28:20

Pauls chains were in Christ...the hope of Israel.  He was bound because of his belief in Israel’s Messiah. Simeon in Luke Chapter 2 calls the Messiah, the Consolation of Israel.  Of all of the titles for Christ I think this one is my favorite.  The word “consolation” always brings the sweet picture to my mind of a child receiving and finding comfort and solace on his mother’s lap. Jesus is truly my consolation in every way...He is the One who dries my tears and in whose lap I find solace.  No matter what I might be facing in my daily circumstances, His Presence in my heart is its rejoicing.  There are no words for the comfort He brings and no measure for the peace He provides me moment by moment. I can lose everything...but Jesus is my stay.  He does not change.  He is the same...yesterday, today and forever.  He comforts me as I walk through this vale of tears, guides me with His counsel and will receive me in glory.  

My heart breaks for God’s chosen people as I read this chapter...for the irony of it all.  Israel rejects their Consolation...the One they had been waiting for forever...year in and year out.  The One whose word they had studied. The One who had answered the cry of their hearts time and again. The One who was their Comfort. The One whose very word predicted their rejection.  The One to whom they had sacrificed...the One who was their God and who desired to be their God forever.  

Verse 17 begins Paul’s sixth and final defense to the Jews in regard to the charges against him. He draws his day long defense to a close with these words from Isaiah.  

 "The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 

"saying, 

'Go to this people and say:

"Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;

And seeing you will see, and not perceive;

27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

Their ears are hard of hearing,

And their eyes they have closed,

Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

So that I should heal them." 

28  "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!"

Verse 24 tells us that some were persuaded but others disbelieved.  For the Jews who heard Paul’s defense and disbelieved, this prophecy from Isaiah was fulfilled.  Jesus’ lament in Matthew 23 echoed in my ears as I read it.  

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  See, your house is left to you desolate.

For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" 

God wasn’t looking for religious externalities.  God was looking for a heart that was tender and broken...a heart that trembled at His word.  A heart that desired to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Oh Father, give me this kind of heart always!  

Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.  (Isaiah 66:1-2 ESV)

Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name's sake have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy'; but it is they who shall be put to shame.  (Isaiah 66:5, ESV)

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23, ESV)

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him”—John 4:23

Strength in Adversity…

 

Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house." 10 Moreover He said to me: "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. 11 And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse."—Ezekiel 3:8-11

Ezekiel, was a priest and a prophet who ministered during the Babylonian exile. He was carried away captive before the final assault on Jerusalem.  The Hebrew name Yehezke’l means “God Strengthens” or “Strengthened by God.”  Ezekiel was indeed strengthened by God for the ministry to which he is called. 

That thought brought comfort to my heart. My God strengthens me for the work He has called me to do.  I don’t need to be afraid in the face of opposition or dismayed when my circumstances are dark and bleak.  My eyes can behold the light of glory of God in even the darkest of days. I can get through them in triumph because He carries me through them. His Spirit is not only with me but in me both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 

I will love You, O LORD, my strength.

2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.—Psalm 18:1-3

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'—Isaiah 41:10

7 "For the Lord GOD will help Me;

Therefore I will not be disgraced;

Therefore I have set My face like a flint,

And I know that I will not be ashamed.—Isaiah 50:7

18 For behold, I have made you this day

A fortified city and an iron pillar,

And bronze walls against the whole land—

Against the kings of Judah,

Against its princes,

Against its priests,

And against the people of the land.

19 They will fight against you,

But they shall not prevail against you.

For I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you."—Jeremiah 1:18-19

8 But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD,

And of justice and might,

To declare to Jacob his transgression

And to Israel his sin.—Micah 3:8

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.—Acts 7:54-60

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.—Hebrews 11:27

The Blessings of Goodness…Psalm 21

 

Spurgeon says the following about Psalm 21:

The title gives us but little information; it is simply, To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. Probably written by David, sung by David, relating to David, and intended by David to refer in its fullest reach of meaning to David's Lord. It is evidently the fit companion of Psalm Twenty, and is in its proper position next to it. Psalm Twenty anticipates what this regards as realized. If we pray to-day for a benefit and receive it, we must, ere the sun goes down, praise God for that mercy, or we deserve to be denied the next time. It has been called David's triumphant song, and we may remember it as The Royal Triumphal Ode. "The king" is most prominent throughout, and we shall read it to true profit if our meditation of him shall be sweet while perusing it. We must crown him with the glory of our salvation; singing of his love, and praising his power, The next psalm will take us to the foot of the cross, this introduces us to the steps of the throne.

Spurgeon divides it this way:

Verses 1-6:  a thanksgiving for victory

Verses 7-13:  confidence of further success

For this devotional my focus will be on the first portion of verse 3.

For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; 

Or in the King James

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness…

The word prevent in verse 3 means “to see to it beforehand.”  It could also be read this way…For thou preventest—or precedest—him with the blessing of goodness.” King David celebrates the fact that God had gone before them in battle with the blessings of goodness. I love that we serve a God who is not only always with us but goes before us.  He doesn’t allow us to walk alone and He never lags behind.  He goes before us. His blessings of goodness are waiting for us as we make His footsteps our pathway.  Such a beautiful encouraging picture of God’s unfailing love to us who believe as we walk through this dark world. 

For this is God,

Our God forever and ever;

He will be our guide

Even to death—Psalm 48:14

You led Your people like a flock

By the hand of Moses and Aaron.—Psalm 77:20

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.—John 10:4

And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.—Deuteronomy 8:2

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.—Deuteronomy 1:29-33

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.—Deuteronomy 31:7, 8

Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.—Isaiah 45:1–3

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.—Matthew 26:32

Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!

You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence

From the plots of man;

You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion

From the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the LORD,

For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!

For I said in my haste,

"I am cut off from before Your eyes";

Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications

When I cried out to You.

Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!

For the LORD preserves the faithful,

And fully repays the proud person.

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart,

All you who hope in the LORD. —Psalm 31:19-24

But I Would Strengthen You With My Mouth…

 

Yesterday I wrote about Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement. Today, I am back in Job and wishing along with Job that he had had a friend like Barnabas.  Tragically, Job’s three friends will be remembered forever as the “miserablest” (if I can say that) of comforters. They only added to Job’s pain. Job says this at the beginning of Chapter 16:

Then Job answered and said:

"I have heard many such things;

Miserable comforters are you all!

Shall words of wind have an end?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

I also could speak as you do,

If your soul were in my soul's place.

I could heap up words against you,

And shake my head at you;

But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.

Those last words are so very convicting!  If Job’s friends had been the ones suffering, Job would have spoken words of grace to help them in their misery.  I so want to be that kind of person!  The kind whose words build up and edify, not pull down and destroy. Job’s words in the above verses reminded me of a verse from Isaiah. Jesus is speaking. 

The Lord GOD has given Me

The tongue of the learned,

That I should know how to speak

A word in season to him who is weary.—Isaiah 50:4

The two cross reference verses for the above are Exodus 4:11-12 and Matthew 11:28. Once you look those up the heart of our God jumps off the page. 

So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.—Exodus 4:11-12

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."—Matthew 11:28-30

Beloved…we serve a God who is compassionate!  Our Most High, omnipotent, omnipresent, sovereign and majestic God condescends.  He stoops to help us.  His purpose for coming into the world was to to speak words of comfort to the helpless, weary and heavy laden under the burden of sin.   

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.—John 3:16-17

A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench;—Isaiah 42:3

1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,

Because the LORD has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

3 To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."—Isaiah 61

Father…Thank you for Your word this morning. Help me to listen to You morning by morning. Teach my tongue to speak Your grace and comfort to the weary and heavy laden whom You have sovereignly placed in my life.  Pour out Your grace on my lips. Work this beautiful work in my heart. 

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,

And establish the work of our hands for us;

Yes, establish the work of our hands.—Psalm 90:17

Additional verses:

"Talk no more so very proudly;

Let no arrogance come from your mouth,

For the LORD is the God of knowledge;

And by Him actions are weighed.—1 Samuel 2:3

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.—Psalm 19:14

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.—Galatians 6:2

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.—Romans 12:15

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.—Romans 13:8-10

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.—1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Love never fails.

Barnabas…Son of Encouragement

 

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.—Acts 4:36-37

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.—Acts 9:26-27

Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.—Acts 11:22-26

Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.—Acts 11:29-30

"Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.—Acts 13:2-3

Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.—Acts 13:13

Whenever I read about Barnabas in the Scriptures, it “encourages” me to want to be like him.  To want to be a doer of 1 Thessalonians 5:11 which tells us to encourage one another and build each other up.  

Barnabas was a good man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.  His name was changed by the apostles to Barnabas meaning Son of Encouragement. Oh how I would love to get to Heaven and hear the Lord call me a daughter of encouragement...to have lived my life for Him by directing and encouraging his people into His love and good deeds. 

Read through with me a few of the general references to Barnabas (see above) that we find in the Scripture.  Barnabas’ surname was Jose’s, or Joseph.  He was a Levite, a native of Cypress, a distinguished teacher and also a companion and colleague of Paul. 

Acts 4:36-37 is the first mention of Barnabas in the Scriptures...here he can be seen sacrificially loving the people of God by sharing with them what had come into his hand through the selling of his property. 

In Acts 9:26-27 when Paul was ostracized from other believers because of fear, Barnabas was there... 

Reading Acts 11 and Acts 13 through you can see that Paul (Saul) was originally following Barnabas. In each verse Scripture reads Barnabas and Saul until Acts 13:13 when it says “Paul and his party”.  Paul was now in the leadership position. Barnabas as supportive and gracious. Always gracious. 

Barnabas was full of the fruits of faith that works by love. His faith was genuine and his love self-sacrificing.  His words and actions motivated by His great love for God 

and Christ. He was a humble encourager who submitted to God and bloomed where he was planted so to speak. Praying that each of us as members of the body of Christ do the work the Lord calls us to do to fulfill our ministry with love and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Like Barnabas, may our one desire be that God to be glorified. 

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;—Romans 12:4-11

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.—Colossians 3:12-17 (emphasis mine)

Addendum:  Everyone needs a Barnabas in their life...even “Barnabases” need a Barnabas. We, as believers, are strangers on the earth and often grow faint hearted, weary and disheartened as we travel through the many and variegated trials the Lord has carefully and lovingly prepared for us.  Sometimes just the evil we see occurring daily around us can cause our minds to sink and our steps to falter in fear.  I am so thankful that God knows what we need before we do and sends us sons and daughters of encouragement, like Barnabas, to strengthen our hearts before Him.   Sadly, the value of encouragement is often missed because by its nature it is private...occurring behind the scenes and given to people who are feeling sad and alone.  If you are an encourager who at times feels unappreciated, ignored or even invisible, it is helpful to remember that we serve a God who sees and remembers. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ❤️