Not By Might or By Power!

Psalm 44:1-8
1 We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days in days long ago. 2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors;
you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. 3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. 4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. 5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. 6 I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; 7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. 8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.

Exodus 39:1-31
Other Priestly Garments

22 They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver— 23 with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar,[d] and a band around this opening, so that it would not tear. 24 They made pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen around the hem of the robe. 25 And they made bells of pure gold and attached them around the hem between the pomegranates. 26 The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the LORD commanded Moses. 27 For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen—the work of a weaver— 28 and the turban of fine linen, the linen caps and the undergarments of finely twisted linen. 29 The sash was made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn—the work of an embroiderer—as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 They made the plate, the sacred emblem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. 31 Then they fastened a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Matthew 27:57-66
The Burial of Jesu
s
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Reflections:
The psalmist today reflects on the victories God gave their ancestors. It was not by might or the power of the sword, but because God’s light, right arm and hand was with them. God gave them the victory and that was their boast all day long. It reminds me of the classic verse from the Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might or by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.” This is true today as it was back then.

In Exodus, we see the continued fine detail over the different garments and things fastened to the Priest, who administered on behalf of the people in the Tabernacle. It is summarized by the plate made of gold fastened to the turban of the priest, “Holy to the Lord.” While this was the job of one man in the Old Testament, we know that from the teaching in the New Testament that we have all become “little priests” in the “priesthood of all believers”. This was a key doctrine for Martin Luther, and a key theological principle in the Protestant Reformation. In it we learn that we are all set apart for the work of the ministry of the church. Some pastors and teachers, some evangelists, some prophets to build up the body of the Christ.(see Ephesians 4). We are all given gifts, and we use them to serve the Lord as Paul says in Romans 12, “It if is serving, serve, if is giving, give, if it is administering, administer.” As you offer your gifts to the Lord in service of Him and building up the church, remember the gold plate, “Holy to the Lord”. This is the difference between service to the Lord and plain volunteerism.

Finally, we see the burial of our Lord. Joseph of Arimathea used his gifts and calling to find a burial place for Jesus, clothe him in linen and it appears he himself hewed out a rock for Jesus’ burial. Though this would only be a temporary place for Jesus pending the resurrection, Joseph plays his part in giving Jesus a decent burial. The Pharisees and the chief priests remember Jesus saying he would rise again, so in their anxiety the go to Pilate and have a guard stationed around the tomb with a big rock securing the entrance. They thought by human means they could stop the power of the resurrection. They would soon realize that it is not by power or might but by His Spirit that Jesus would be resurrected! This is the same power that helps us to serve the Lord today!

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:26

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

May the Lord bless us and keep us, lift up his countenance upon us and give us the peace that surrounds us and emanates from our hearts. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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