June 2, 2019
Hymn 349 - News for little children!
Prayer
Psalm 100
In the first four verses we get all these words of joy, thanksgiving and praise. Verse 5 tells us why we are doing this. I want to start with verse 5 then come back to the other verses. I want to look at verse five in the Darby translation.
“For Jehovah is good; his loving-kindness endureth for ever; and his faithfulness from generation to generation.” Psalm 100:5 (Darby)
One of the reasons we are praising the Lord is because of his loving-kindness.
Psalm 36:7
Chickens comfort their young by hiding them under their wings. As you read through the Bible you will see God comforting and bring followers close to Him. In this we see the tenderness of the Lord and His loving-kindness. We should be thankful.
Next we have faithfulness. If someone is faithful we know we can trust them. They will be honest and true. Again you will see many examples of God being faithful in the Bible.
If you believe in God’s faithfulness and loving-kindness, it will help you. You will be more joyful and peaceful.
John 15:11
Here God is telling us that He wants to see us happy. It might not always seem like that especially through hard times. It can be a good testament to others though, when we are joyful in difficulty.
When we serve, we should do it happily and as unto the Lord. Also seeing us serve happily will make Him glad.
Singing and praising is one way we can show our joyfulness to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16
Singing can also give us peace.
We can be joyful because we are his. He has purchased us for his own. We can be thankful for all he has done for us through the cross.
God is over everything. He’s loving and faithful. You don’t need to worry. Remember his love. Praise Him and be joyful.
John 12: 33-50
This is the end of the public ministry of the Lord. In chapter thirteen He’s with His own little group. Jesus described He’s death as being lifted up from the earth. It would be the Roman way on a cross because if was Jewish He probably would have been stoned. He would draw people to Him by Him. Verse thirty-three explains He was talking about His death.
The first place the phrase the Son of Man is used is in verse twenty-three of this chapter. The people couldn’t understand it. They figured He was divine, so they were wondering how death was involved here. Christ was to abide forever and who was the Son of Man? He is preparing them for His death so He continues to give more instructions.
A lot of people are walking in darkness today and don’t know where they’re going. Jesus has given light and doesn’t want people to walk in darkness. Jesus is the One that should be followed. The light is the truth and divine knowledge and wisdom of Him.
John quotes Isaiah 53. The arm of the Lord is Jesus reaching into the darkness. God sent His Son into a barren world. He grew up before Him as a tender plant - a root in dry ground. Usually when you try to grow something in dry ground it withers away. Those who saw it grow didn’t see anything in it attractive. The people in our chapter saw no beauty in Him.
Verse forty-one is beautiful. We have confirmation of Isaiah 6. Isaiah saw heavenly creatures in his vision. It seems these creatures couldn’t look at the presence of the Lord Jesus because they covered themselves with their wings. They were calling holy, holy, holy to each other. This would be the time to use the word awesome.
While the people didn’t see anything to be desired, Isaiah thought he hadn’t seen anything more beautiful. May the desire of our heart be toward Him and not be like the people in our chapter.
Hymn 274 Love divine, all praise excelling.
Prayer