Good News!
Psalm 75
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds.
2 You say, “I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity.
3 When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly. ’”
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.
8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.
9 As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
Reflections: Living in Southern California we feel earthquakes quite often, like last night at 8:00 pm-ish, when we felt our house rattle and roll a little bit. Not a big one, but definitely felt it. For the psalmist it reminded him that ultimately man is not in charge of the earth. As he saw the arrogant ones who defied God and thought their power (horns) made them like God, he knew there destruction was eventual.
The metaphor of the “cup” is used through the bible, as a metaphor for God’s wrath being poured out. Eventually in the New Testament, it is the cup of suffering and wrath that God pours out on His Son for the atonement of all our sins.
Numbers 31:13-47
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army —the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle. 15 “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. 19 “Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives. 20 Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood. ” 21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: 22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead 23 and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp. ”
Reflections: This is a very challenging passage especially with the boys who were killed in verse 17. Though the boys were products of sin from their parents, it was generally thought that they might bring the worship of their parents into the nation of Israel. Most commentators would agree that the innocent ones below an age of accountability would be shown mercy by God in the next life. This is consistent with God being at the same time, merciful, loving and just.
It is important to read the context of this passage within the context of the overall story, especially as we re-read chapter 25 to see the gravity of the sin. Generally women and children were saved in the spoils of war as was just, because it wasn’t their choices that brought them into the situation. But in this situation it was the women who were used by the evil one to lead the Israelites into sexual immorality, and the worship of the gods accompanied with this practice. Thus they were to be punished as well. When the leaders failed to obey Moses in this command, for the good of the nation, there were consequences as well as the plague that killed 24,000 in chapter 25 with the sins of the sons of Peor.
These are challenging passages and we would do well to wrestle with God’s judgment, realizing that God doesn’t change though his means for dealing with our sin has changed. In the Old Testament it is through the sacrificial system of the temple or direct judgment of sin, and in the New Testament it is through the spotless lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Luke 2:1-20
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Reflections: In Luke’s birth story we see many amazing aspects of God’s providence with the birth of His One and Only Son. First, we see the census, which was meant as a way of controlling the amount of Israelites in fear of their rising up in power. This caused Joseph to go to his hometown in Bethlehem to register. Ironically this is the prophetic birthplace of the Messiah, who will not only bless the Israelites, but all nations, including the Romans and their leader Caesar. Quite an irony don’t you think?
Second, besides Mary, who knew the plan, we see the shepherds, the most humble occupation of the day, are the ones who get wind of the plan for the coming King. So here we have power brokers trying to control a nation, and shepherds being shown where the true King will be born and then going in faith to see the New Child and King. And now the growth of the New Israel would not be spread just through new babies being born, but the Good News of Great Joy for all nations. The shepherds had seen exactly what they had been told and soon the whole world would get to see Son of God!
God is still in the business today of leading people to Christ child to behold his wonder. As we consider the Good News and receive Him in faith, we will discover that He is just as we have been told. We will praise God for what we find and want to tell others about the good news of great joy for all people. What do you do when you good news happens to you? Do you keep it to yourself?
There is hope for your future, says the Lord. Jeremiah 31:17
God did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Romans 8:32
Why do we continue to question you, Lord? You have faithfully cared for us in joy and sorrow, yet we doubt and seek to control to usurp your power. In Christ, help us to know hope, even in suffering. Amen.
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.
1 We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds.
2 You say, “I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity.
3 When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly. ’”
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.
8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.
9 As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
Reflections: Living in Southern California we feel earthquakes quite often, like last night at 8:00 pm-ish, when we felt our house rattle and roll a little bit. Not a big one, but definitely felt it. For the psalmist it reminded him that ultimately man is not in charge of the earth. As he saw the arrogant ones who defied God and thought their power (horns) made them like God, he knew there destruction was eventual.
The metaphor of the “cup” is used through the bible, as a metaphor for God’s wrath being poured out. Eventually in the New Testament, it is the cup of suffering and wrath that God pours out on His Son for the atonement of all our sins.
Numbers 31:13-47
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army —the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle. 15 “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man. 19 “Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives. 20 Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood. ” 21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: 22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead 23 and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp. ”
Reflections: This is a very challenging passage especially with the boys who were killed in verse 17. Though the boys were products of sin from their parents, it was generally thought that they might bring the worship of their parents into the nation of Israel. Most commentators would agree that the innocent ones below an age of accountability would be shown mercy by God in the next life. This is consistent with God being at the same time, merciful, loving and just.
It is important to read the context of this passage within the context of the overall story, especially as we re-read chapter 25 to see the gravity of the sin. Generally women and children were saved in the spoils of war as was just, because it wasn’t their choices that brought them into the situation. But in this situation it was the women who were used by the evil one to lead the Israelites into sexual immorality, and the worship of the gods accompanied with this practice. Thus they were to be punished as well. When the leaders failed to obey Moses in this command, for the good of the nation, there were consequences as well as the plague that killed 24,000 in chapter 25 with the sins of the sons of Peor.
These are challenging passages and we would do well to wrestle with God’s judgment, realizing that God doesn’t change though his means for dealing with our sin has changed. In the Old Testament it is through the sacrificial system of the temple or direct judgment of sin, and in the New Testament it is through the spotless lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Luke 2:1-20
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Reflections: In Luke’s birth story we see many amazing aspects of God’s providence with the birth of His One and Only Son. First, we see the census, which was meant as a way of controlling the amount of Israelites in fear of their rising up in power. This caused Joseph to go to his hometown in Bethlehem to register. Ironically this is the prophetic birthplace of the Messiah, who will not only bless the Israelites, but all nations, including the Romans and their leader Caesar. Quite an irony don’t you think?
Second, besides Mary, who knew the plan, we see the shepherds, the most humble occupation of the day, are the ones who get wind of the plan for the coming King. So here we have power brokers trying to control a nation, and shepherds being shown where the true King will be born and then going in faith to see the New Child and King. And now the growth of the New Israel would not be spread just through new babies being born, but the Good News of Great Joy for all nations. The shepherds had seen exactly what they had been told and soon the whole world would get to see Son of God!
God is still in the business today of leading people to Christ child to behold his wonder. As we consider the Good News and receive Him in faith, we will discover that He is just as we have been told. We will praise God for what we find and want to tell others about the good news of great joy for all people. What do you do when you good news happens to you? Do you keep it to yourself?
There is hope for your future, says the Lord. Jeremiah 31:17
God did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Romans 8:32
Why do we continue to question you, Lord? You have faithfully cared for us in joy and sorrow, yet we doubt and seek to control to usurp your power. In Christ, help us to know hope, even in suffering. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment