December 17, 2006
Scripture:
Scripture:
A passage came before me—in connection with our meeting this morning—in Psalm 77; I was thinking of, “This do in remembrance of me,” and how important it is that we realize what such an action does, and how it should effect us to remember, recall, and go back and read the scriptures. Now in Psalms, the psalmist didn’t have what we do; but he was a rememberer. At the beginning of Psalm 77, he is occupied with himself, but in v. 10 that changes. “And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old” (vv. 10 & 11). In what we have read, there are three points. The Psalmist says, “I will remember” 1)v. 10, the worthiness of the Lord, 2)v. 11a, the works of the Lord, and 3) v.11b, the wonders of the Lord. Oh, the psalmist may not have come to the cross of Calvary, but he is occupied with the worthiness, works, and wonders of the Lord. And after He remembered, what happened? V.12: “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” He meditated, and then he talked of all the Lord’s doings. The worthiness, the works, and the wonders of the Lord—may we remember, meditate, and speak often one to another of these things.
EG Hymn 369 – I claim for my own, Prayer Matthew 14:22–33 • Right before this, we have the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. Jesus sent the people away and went to a mountain to pray while the disciples sailed off across the lake. But a storm blew up and they were having a hard time. So at the fourth watch of the night—almost daylight—Jesus went to them, walking on the water. They were frightened, and we would be too; they had never seen anyone walking on the water. But Jesus called out to them and they realized who it was. Then Peter said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” The Lord told him to come, so Peter began to walk on the water. But Peter got scared because he looked at the waves, and he started to sink. “Lord, save me,” he cried; immediately the Lord caught him and they got into the boat; and the storm stopped. Let’s look at what Peter did. V. 28—Peter asked if he could walk out on the water; that is faith. Now when he looked around, he lost his faith, but he did have some faith. Corrie Ten Boom, whose family suffered a lot for the Lord, said faith was, Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him. The Christian life can be an adventure, but we must be sure to always trust in God. A parable was told of a famous pianist who was scheduled to play at a wedding. Due to circumstances beyond his control, he wasn’t able to go; but he asked another pianist—who was not at all as good as he—to fill in for him. The man was not sure he could play the required pieces, but the better pianist told him, “As long as you think of me, you will be able to play as well as I do.” That is the way we should be: always depending on the Lord. When Peter trusted in the Lord, he could walk on the water. But when he looked around, he began to sink. Read Philippians 4:13. Through the Lord’s strength, we can do whatever we need to. When Peter was beginning to sink, he cried, “Lord, save me.” We can pray that, too, in times of need.
Hebrews 12:18–24 • Last week we were talking about what it would have been like to be at Mt. Sinai when God gave the law; we have listed a few frightening things that took place. This mount was so holy that if even an animal touched it, it would have to die. The two mountains on comparison here are really pictures of law and grace. The Israelites failed when it came to the law, but we are given grace. These are two completely different mountains; Christendom is not an addition to or an improvement on Judaism. It’s not just an upgrade. Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion were in very different locations and circumstances. By showing us the differences here, the writer is giving us instruction and encouragement for the race. If we come to Sinai, we receive discouragement. In type, Sinai speaks of God putting man under law and human responsibility, hence works, in order to maintain communication with God. What does Mt. Zion speak of? It is the place where the Lord will set up his future kingdom; it also typifies grace. There are many references to Mt. Zion in the Old Testament. In Psalm 78, we see the story of Israel’s failure. Read vv. 60 -64; it sounds pretty bad. Then we have vv. 65–68. God makes a choice; he chose the tribe of Judah, and Mt. Zion. The point is, God made a choice; that is his sovereignty. God’s sovereign grace removes the failure of man. This is the meaning of Zion: God’s sovereign grace exercised towards man through Christ. We said that Zion is where the Lord will set up his future kingdom. We could say, “So what? I won’t be there.” But we don’t say that, because we know that that grace which has an earthly kingdom for the Jews will also have a heavenly kingdom for us. This is why these Hebrews are exhorted not to go back to the law. Read. Psalm 133:1–3. In these verses, it seems as if Zion is a picture of how the blessing comes from above and flows down. Mt. Zion connects heaven and earth: the dew of blessing falls to us. So Zion speaks of grace, sovereign grace, both for God’s heavenly people (Christians), and God’s earthly people (Jews). Now, back in Hebrews 12, we have a list in reference to Mt. Zion. We have come to the following: 1. Mount Zion 2. The city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem 3. An innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly 4. The church of the firstborn which are written in heaven 5. God the Judge of all 6. The spirits of just men made perfect 7. Jesus the mediator of the new covenant 8. The blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. “The city of the living God” is on earth, but “the heavenly Jerusalem,” is in heaven. These cities are mentioned in Revelation 21. That chapter starts out (vv. 1–8) talking about the “new Jerusalem,” which is in heaven; it is in the eternal state, with the new heaven and earth. What we are talking about in Hebrews is during the Millennium. Vv. 9 & 10—this is the “holy Jerusalem,” which comes in the millennium, Christ’s kingdom on earth. EG Hymn 292 – What will it be to dwell above, Prayer[pic]