October 24, 2010
Scripture:
Scripture:
Matthew 27:29
I was thinking of that line we sang, “The crown of glory wearing.” I was also thinking about what we read in Leviticus, how the high priest put his hands on the head of the goat, transferring the sins of the people to it; and what was put upon our Lord. He “bare our sins in His own body.” Sin cursed the earth with thorns and thistles, and that was what Christ’s crown was made of.
Hebrews 2:9. Here, the Lord is wearing a crown of glory and honour. What a difference! It was only possible because He first bore our sins.
Hymn 68 - Christ is the Saviour of sinners
Prayer
Genesis 27:18-36
We left off last time with Rebekah and Jacob telling and acting lies to get Esau’s blessing. Rebekah had cooked up two goats that Jacob killed, and put their skins on Jacob’s arms and neck to make him hairy. Then she dressed him in Esau’s clothes; and he went to his father and said, “I am Esau” - oh, a lie - “eat of my venison so that you may bless me.” It’s the blessing Jacob wanted, because that would determine his future. Esau had refused God’s blessing, and so God was going to give it to Jacob, but this was the wrong way to get it.
Isaac asked, “How did you find it so fast?” Jacob said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.” If you tell one lie, you often have to tell two. Isaac wasn’t sure this was Esau, so he said, “Let me feel you.” He was smart and could still feel because he said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau. Are you really Esau?” Jacob said, “I am.” That’s the third lie. Isaac thought it was Esau, so he ate the meat. Then He said, “Come and kiss me.” When Jacob did so, Isaac smelled his clothes. They smelled like a field, because they were Esau’s clothes. Isaac really thought it was Esau, and so he blessed Jacob.
The blessing was very nice. In vv. 28 & 29, dew is like the Holy Spirit, fatness like earthly blessings, the corn speaks of the Lord Jesus, and the wine of joy. In the future all nations will bow to the Jews. This blessing is yet to come.
Just as Jacob leaves, Esau comes back from hunting. When he brought the meat to his father, both were shocked. Esau wanted a blessing, too, and Isaac blessed him; but not with as big a blessing.
So Jacob got God’s blessing, but not God’s way; and he’ll pay for that. We’ll have to wait to see what happens next.
We’ve seen how v. 1 speaks about the judgement coming on those who only go on for the Lord in form; most of the Jews have not put their hearts into it. This is the future for the wicked. The next several verses show us the future for the faithful Jews. The Lord will appear as the Sun of Righteousness and reign over the world that shunned Him. He will have rightful rule as He does in Heaven.
Read Acts 20:17, 24, & 25. We don’t often preach about the Kingdom of God, but it is something that has special meaning to the Lord, because it is the time when He will restore righteousness to the earth. This is at His appearing. We should love His appearing as much as His coming (read II Timothy 4:8). What we are talking about here is mentioned in Matthew 13:44; the Lord paid for the whole world in His death, and so He will reign over it all in a future day. It’s good to consider the Kingdom of God; there’s not much to remind us of it—not in the same way we remember His death in the breaking of bread. However, as it is important to God, it should be important to us.
V. 4: “Remember”: since this is the Old Testament, the Lord points them back to Sinai. Even though the law was given around 1500 years prior to this, it was still applicable to them. How precious that we can look back to Calvary and see the grace of God. And, even though the truths of the New Testament were given over 2000 years ago, they are still just as applicable for us today.
V. 5: the Lord promised to send Elijah. Elijah was a powerful prophet; we can remember him on Mount Carmel, when the fire came down on the sacrifices, instead of the unfaithful people of Israel, who deserved it. Of course, this reminds us of the Lord, who took the punishment He did not deserve, Who died in our place. It’s interesting to see that as the Old Testament closes, we have Moses and Elijah mentioned, representing the Law and the Prophets respectively. That’s the sum of the Old Testament.
John the Baptist was to come in the spirit of Elijah; he was rejected, just as the Lord was, and so much of this work has yet to be done. This prophesy extends beyond the current time.
Although this last page of the Old Testament is only a page away from Matthew 1, it’s actually a 400 year gap—a gap in which God is silent. History tells us this period was full of war. But even with that darkness, those who went on for the Lord were given this hope, as the Old Testament closed. We have the same: although we live in a dark time, long after God’s inspired word ended, we have a hope that lies before us.
Hymn 156 - Child of God, by Christ’s salvation
Prayer