Shine, Shine, Shine!!!
Reflections: The psalm is presumably penned by Ethan (where we got my son’s name!), who was a contemporary of King Solomon, and to which Solomon’s wisdom was compared. We also see his name mentioned quite a bit in the Chronicles. This psalm starts in great praise of God for His faithful and mercy, and His perpetual honoring of the covenant He made with King David. Eventually the seed of that covenant would come in the form of King Jesus, who descended from the house and line of David. So even though we see the earthly kingdom fail after a slew of Davidic kings who don’t honor the stipulations of the covenant, it is ultimately renewed in Jesus; who blessed the world with the inauguration of the Kingdom, which would have no end. As believers of Jesus, we are sons and daughters of the King, and through the covenant He has made through His body broken and blood poured out, we are inheritors of all that is the Father and the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we back up in time to the death of Moses, we see the servant of God who lived to a ripe old age of 120. Notice Moses still had his strength and clear sight, as he went up on the Mount of Nebo, symbolic of his ascension to heaven. Then, he looked down to the land that Israel would inherit, the land of Canaan. God gave Moses a glimpse of the earthly Canaan, but he would be prepared for a heavenly Canaan that far outweighed any earthly paradise. Though Moses falls short of his goal, he was still a man greatly esteemed by his fellow Israelites, as they mourned for him 30 days. He is spoken of by other prophets even up to Malachi (4:4), and Jesus mentions him in the New Testament. We also see him in the transfiguration of Jesus, with Elijah the prophet on another holy mountain. Though Moses had his inadequacies, like any man, we see that even though he originally felt inadequate and didn’t think he was very eloquent of speech that God, used him mightily because of his servant-like attitude and humble obedience. As he leaves he prays over Joshua (whose names was a type for Jesus the Messiah), who has similar qualities as Moses. He will lead the people into the Promised Land that he had spied on, as he concluded that God had given this land into their hands. Joshua’s faith was rewarded with sight, which we will soon learn about in the next book. May we all lead as faithful of a life as Moses’, as we respond to God’s call on our lives despite our shortcomings.
Finally, in the gospel of Luke, Jesus sees the crowd and realizes that it is not the truth they are looking for but only a sign. He realizes that if people are not willing to repent at His words as the Son of God, there will be no sign that will convince them either. Even when Jesus was resurrected from the dead, many did not believe and even his closest disciples including Thomas, doubted. It is the Holy Spirit that takes God’s Word and “turns on the light” of our souls, so that we accept the Word and become a believer, and are baptized as a sign of our regeneration. Then, being full of light, we are not to be hidden under a bushel, but shine for the world to see. As Jesus’ shines the light of His Word on us, we are being transformed into His image so we can shine for Him. Just like when Moses spent time with God on the holy mountain and he came down shining with God’s glory. As we hear God’s Word and obey it with God’s power working within us, our light can shine so that others can see the truth of Christ.
Where is God calling you to shine in the world you live in? What prevents you from shining? Who would benefit if you were shining brightly? Let the light of Christ shine through you today through His Word dwelling in you richly!
Psalm 89:1-8
A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”
5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Deuteronomy 33:18-34:12
The Death of Moses
34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Luke 11:29-36
The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Psalm 30:2
Christ says, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” John 14:14
We trust in God and Jesus, his son. It requires faith for healing and total commitment to obtain the victory in life and death. We ask for this faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.
As we back up in time to the death of Moses, we see the servant of God who lived to a ripe old age of 120. Notice Moses still had his strength and clear sight, as he went up on the Mount of Nebo, symbolic of his ascension to heaven. Then, he looked down to the land that Israel would inherit, the land of Canaan. God gave Moses a glimpse of the earthly Canaan, but he would be prepared for a heavenly Canaan that far outweighed any earthly paradise. Though Moses falls short of his goal, he was still a man greatly esteemed by his fellow Israelites, as they mourned for him 30 days. He is spoken of by other prophets even up to Malachi (4:4), and Jesus mentions him in the New Testament. We also see him in the transfiguration of Jesus, with Elijah the prophet on another holy mountain. Though Moses had his inadequacies, like any man, we see that even though he originally felt inadequate and didn’t think he was very eloquent of speech that God, used him mightily because of his servant-like attitude and humble obedience. As he leaves he prays over Joshua (whose names was a type for Jesus the Messiah), who has similar qualities as Moses. He will lead the people into the Promised Land that he had spied on, as he concluded that God had given this land into their hands. Joshua’s faith was rewarded with sight, which we will soon learn about in the next book. May we all lead as faithful of a life as Moses’, as we respond to God’s call on our lives despite our shortcomings.
Finally, in the gospel of Luke, Jesus sees the crowd and realizes that it is not the truth they are looking for but only a sign. He realizes that if people are not willing to repent at His words as the Son of God, there will be no sign that will convince them either. Even when Jesus was resurrected from the dead, many did not believe and even his closest disciples including Thomas, doubted. It is the Holy Spirit that takes God’s Word and “turns on the light” of our souls, so that we accept the Word and become a believer, and are baptized as a sign of our regeneration. Then, being full of light, we are not to be hidden under a bushel, but shine for the world to see. As Jesus’ shines the light of His Word on us, we are being transformed into His image so we can shine for Him. Just like when Moses spent time with God on the holy mountain and he came down shining with God’s glory. As we hear God’s Word and obey it with God’s power working within us, our light can shine so that others can see the truth of Christ.
Where is God calling you to shine in the world you live in? What prevents you from shining? Who would benefit if you were shining brightly? Let the light of Christ shine through you today through His Word dwelling in you richly!
Psalm 89:1-8
A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”
5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Deuteronomy 33:18-34:12
The Death of Moses
34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Luke 11:29-36
The Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.
The Lamp of the Body
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. Psalm 30:2
Christ says, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” John 14:14
We trust in God and Jesus, his son. It requires faith for healing and total commitment to obtain the victory in life and death. We ask for this faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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