July 17, 2005
Scripture:
Scripture:
Ministry:
Can we look at a verse in Song of Solomon 5; we like to examine the last half of the chapter, where the bride is asked what makes her beloved better than others. She answers with descriptions of Him. I’d like to look at verse 12 “His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.” We have some symbology here: dove’s eyes show tenderness, affection, and faithfulness. Here the bride is occupied with her bridegroom; she gazes into His face, and focuses on His eyes. There she sees the tenderness and love and affection that doves are known for. Isn’t it precious! those who are in the place of a future bride can be occupied with the Bridegroom. This morning we looked into His face and saw His eyes; precious for us. I say this because in Revelation, John shows us another picture of the Lord, but not as a Bridegroom, but a Judge. His eyes are a flame of fire; what a change of countenance! How precious it is to be able to think about Him as our Bridegroom. I want to contrast that with a verse in Luke’s Gospel. “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?” (Luke 22: 63 & 64). What a contrast, those eyes, so tender, were covered up with a blindfold. Surely we are thankful for the grace that enabled Him to endure all that. This morning we looked into His eyes and saw His tenderness, love, and faithfulness.
Let us turn to another verse; Isaiah 53:11. We have been thinking about our Lord with His eyes so tender. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.” Just imagine when the Lord can look at His bride and be satisfied.
EG Hymn 381 – I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; Prayer Numbers 27:1–11 • Zelophehad died in the wilderness. God promised each family would get an inheritance in Canaan, but Zelophehad had no sons, so no one would carry on his family, and they would lose their inheritance. So His five daughters went to Moses and asked for an inheritance. Moses went to God, and God not only said they were right, but He made a new rule about this kind of situation. • It took faith on the part of Zelophehad’s daughters to go and ask Moses for an inheritance. We all have faith in things. When you get into an elevator, you have faith that it will take you to the floor you want. But faith in God is a wonderful thing; we believe in things that are not able to be seen or touched. We believe that the Lord will come again to bring us to heaven. It is important to put our faith into action. The daughters of Zelophehad put their faith into action and got an inheritance. If we act in faith now, we will be benefited in eternity.
Hebrews: 4:11-16 • In the Old Testament, the Jews had a Mercy Seat, but not a throne of grace. Not many Jews were supposed to see the Mercy Seat; they were not to go into the Holy of Holies and it was covered before being moved. The Mercy Seat had two cherubim on the top; cherubim speak of judgement. The Garden of Eden is the 1st place we see cherubim; they are keeping Adam and Eve out with swords of fire. Only the High Priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. Now speaking to Christian Jews the writer says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace.” These were amazing words! We may not understand it fully because we have grown up in the time of grace. They grew up under the law. But now the veil is rent; it was rent from the top to the bottom, it was God’s doing. It was rent just after the Lord finished His work. This shows that the Old Testament system didn’t satisfy God. • The writer doesn’t say “Mercy Seat,” but “Throne of Grace.” The High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to get mercy for the people; no one could just walk in there. But we shouldn’t go in timidly; God wants us to come in boldly. God knows everything about us and still says, “Come boldly.” This is because we are seen in Christ. Our walk and standing need to be reconciled, and that is what our High Priest is for. That is how we can come in boldly. “There is … no condemnation.” • God’s mercy is not giving us what we deserve. God’s grace is giving us what we don’t deserve. We need both, but it is nice to know we are living in the day of Grace. Grace does more than mercy can ever do. • The Throne of Grace is not for when we sin, but in a time of need, so that we don’t sin. • Aaron only went into the Holy of Holies once a year, but we are to go in “in time of need.” That’s all the time. • Dr. H. H. Snell says, “This is grace … it is God lovingly revealing Himself to one wholly undeserving of any good thing, and giving freely and abundantly according to the good pleasure of His will making that one personally the object of His divine love and constant care.” LF Hymn 10 – Grace is the sweetest sound Prayer