The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 129:1-3,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"They have greatly oppressed me from my youth —
let Israel say —
they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
But the Lord is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked."
As is today, Israel has had her many enemies, as the psalmist observes, "They have greatly oppressed me from my youth…" Her enemies are seen as "the wicked" who have made their efforts to destroy her. "Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrow long."
But the psalmist takes heart in the fact that the wicked have never been successful to destroy Israel completely. He notes that the wicked have not gained the victory over Israel to annihilate her. This is due to the righteousness of the Lord, verse 4, who has cut Israel "free from the cords of death."
This morning, this speaks to me of our deliverance by the Lord from our enemies. The church today is despised by the world, "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you." I John 3:13. We have an enemy in the devil, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8. We, likewise, have an enemy in our own sinful natures, "So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." Romans 7:25. We have even had God as our enemy, "When we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…" Romans 5:10.
Not only were we delivered from God's own wrath through Jesus Christ, God has delivered us from all our enemies. "Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. Also, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2.
God has provided victory over all our enemies in Jesus Christ. As believers we have been freed from all that might endanger or restrain us. We have freedom in Jesus Christ to live our lives with and for our Creator. This will culminate in our safe arrival in the resurrection of eternal life as members of God's own family with a seat at his table!
Could there possibly be any better news than this?!
let Israel say —
they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
But the Lord is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked."
As is today, Israel has had her many enemies, as the psalmist observes, "They have greatly oppressed me from my youth…" Her enemies are seen as "the wicked" who have made their efforts to destroy her. "Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrow long."
But the psalmist takes heart in the fact that the wicked have never been successful to destroy Israel completely. He notes that the wicked have not gained the victory over Israel to annihilate her. This is due to the righteousness of the Lord, verse 4, who has cut Israel "free from the cords of death."
This morning, this speaks to me of our deliverance by the Lord from our enemies. The church today is despised by the world, "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you." I John 3:13. We have an enemy in the devil, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8. We, likewise, have an enemy in our own sinful natures, "So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." Romans 7:25. We have even had God as our enemy, "When we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…" Romans 5:10.
Not only were we delivered from God's own wrath through Jesus Christ, God has delivered us from all our enemies. "Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. Also, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2.
God has provided victory over all our enemies in Jesus Christ. As believers we have been freed from all that might endanger or restrain us. We have freedom in Jesus Christ to live our lives with and for our Creator. This will culminate in our safe arrival in the resurrection of eternal life as members of God's own family with a seat at his table!
Could there possibly be any better news than this?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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