Friday, March 29, 2013

THE ROCK OF SALVATION

Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 23-24

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is En Gedi where David hid from Saul among the rocks and in the caves.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

The view from the Garden Tomb area towards what many believe to be Golgotha, the Place of the sSkull, where Jesus was crucified. This is the north side of the ancient quarry from which stones were taken to build the Temple.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: 1 Samuel 23:14b, 23:26, 24:12

Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand…Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them…Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.

Under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, David wrote Psalm 22. We might want to read that Psalm today. Hiding amongst the rocks and in the caves gave David lots of time to pray and compose songs which reflect his experience in God. Notice in today’s reading the similarities to Psalm 22, the Psalm of the Cross. One thousand years before the crucifixion of Jesus, at a time when crucifixion as a method of execution was unknown, David described the event in considerable detail.
David had many hiding places, and he knew that his true stronghold was in God. Psalm 18:2a tells us, “The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer.” Like David, we know that we are not saved because we are clever or strong. We are saved from death itself because God has acted on our behalf. David was protected. Jesus was not protected. David lived, and we live, because Jesus was captured, beaten severely, and killed. Jesus is our Stronghold, our “Rock of escaping” (23:28). Let us run into Him for safety.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You revealed to David an amazing knowledge of Your suffering and death by crucifixion. I pray that as I wait before You today, You will reveal Yourself to me. May I, by the work of Your Spirit, identify so closely with Your sufferings that I can say with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ,” and “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

It’s Good Friday! This past Wednesday I went to the mid-week service at church where a Jewish believer in Jesus as his Messiah, Saviour, and Lord explained the Passover celebration. He said that Jesus gave to His disciples, at their last meal together, only three of the four cups of wine which normally accompany the meal. Jesus prayed in the garden, “If it be Your will, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not My will but Your will be done.” That fourth cup was received by Jesus as He hung on the Cross. In John 19:29 we read, “Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” The prayer meeting preacher pointed out to us that “Hyssop” was used at the first passover to put the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the lintels and door posts during the first Passover in Egypt. At the very start of Jesus’ public ministry three years earlier, John the Baptist declared that Jesus is “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). I’ll attach a hymn in my P.S. so that all of us can worship “The Lamb.” I just read Revelation 5:9-14.

Yours for a constant confidence that we are in a secure hiding place in Christ, where no enemy can draw us from that ultimate safety,

David

P.S. Norma-Jean found this song by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir online earlier this week. She was deeply touched by the Holy Spirit as she joined them in worship. I was also moved deeply (click here for “Worthy is the Lamb”).

 

24 thoughts on “Friday, March 29, 2013

  1. With deeply humbled hearts we ponder the events that occurred and were represented by our Lord this day over 2,000 years ago. Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Reflect, Remember, Believe.

  2. Thank you Lord Jesus with all my heart, mind and soul for the sacrifice you endured on the cross for the redemption of our sins. “All glory and honour is yours, now and forever!”

  3. Praising my Saviour ALL THE DAY LONG? Thank YOU JESUS for your great gift to me as we worship this weekend and remember may our souls rejoice that we are saved BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

    Thank you for the song Norma-Jean it was wonderful.

    Love in Jesus to all our fellow bloggers as we go to our places of worship today.

  4. Worthy is the Lamb! Worthy is the Lamb, indeed!

    David prayed to God for answers and God gave him the opportunity. David put his love and respect for God first, and his love and forgiveness forward to Saul, because of it. Saul received David’s love for him, and Saul’s heart was no longer angry and vengeful; they both walked away from that cave. 1,000 years later, Jesus, the Son of God, died for us, that we would be saved, forgiven of our wretched sins; have the power to forgive others who sin against us (just as David did of Saul), and let go of the conflicts that seek to keep the world from peace. Our Jesus was tortured and crucified and died in such pain for the sake of the world–our sacrifice!

    Let us come to worship Him and give thanks and praise, in adoration, on bended knee! Let our hearts pour out our live for Him and rejoice in being free!

  5. David
    Worthy is the Lamb! What a wonderful way to begin Good Friday morning, singing ‘Worthy is the Lamb’. We also rejoiced on Wednesday evening as the minister shared about Jesus taking the 4th cup while hanging on the cross. What a picture of the completed work of Calvary! What love! What grace!
    God bless you today.

  6. Thank you for the link to the YouTube of the Brookylyn Tabernacle choir singing one of the most anointed choruses of our generation, Worthy is the Lamb. I just sent the YouTube to family and friends as my Easter e-card.

    Jesus loves you.

  7. Praying for you David and Norma Jean that you and all your family have a Joyous Easter. What a wonderful time to remember all the Lord has done for us in His death and resurrection.. My prayer is for more of the world around us to realize what we are celebrating this weekend. To so many it is all about Easter eggs and rabbit!!
    God bless you David and take care of yourself.

  8. My precious Lord Jesus, thank you for being willing to go to the cross for us, your arms open wide, giving your spilled blood to cleanse us from our sins. What an act of insurmountable LOVE, and you are calling everyone to Come, for you said Whosoever WILL may Come! May there be a great harvest of souls come into your kingdom. Lord l love You!’

  9. A few years ago I was very angry at someone for something they did that cause me a great deal of upset. I was trying so hard to forgive them, but day and night my mind was filled with thoughts of revenge. I finally could not bear the burden so I cried out to the Lord- Do something to this person, pay them back for the harm they cause me. And I heard in mind that said- I have already did. And I saw in my mind images of our Lord’s crucifixion, but it was not our Lord, but this person I was furious at, only at the end, just before this person dies, did their face get replaced by our Lord.

    Every Good Friday we tend to think of our own sins, and how Jesus died for our sins, but he died for the sins of others. I realized in that moment they was nothing I could do this person, no torment, no pain, or humiliation that the Father did not already inflict on His Son, our Lord. In that moment I felt free, free to let go of the injustice of this person’s sins, because it was already dealt with. I was free to forgive.

    Good Friday always makes me cry, not because it is so sad, but because it is so beautiful. Thank you Lord.

  10. David that song by the Brooklyn Tabernacle so blessed Don and I. Thank you for your daily blogs and being a faithful servant.

  11. Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered – to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessings.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lam forever and ever.” And the four living beings said “AMEN!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. Revelation 5: 11-14
    May all heaven and earth cry out in worship, thankfulness, and with love to the Lamb. May we ‘share’ in His suffering through remembering this day of the Cross. Worthy IS the Lamb!

  12. Hi David:

    I hope that you remember me- I was the McDonald’s owner in Chiliwack BC and visited you at the studio many years ago and sat with you in the make up room before the program. Remember my manager Mike Clarke as well who was also involved with you years ago. I am now a prayer partner with 100 Huntley Street and had a four hour shift last night praying for callers. I would like to talk with you about an important matter. Could you email me back and let me know how I can reach you for a brief conversation. I read your blog every day and am deeply blessed by your words and thoughts and of course are supporters of the ministry as well. Look forward to hearing form you.

  13. Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for me, my family and the whole world. It’s amazing about Jesus drinking the fourth cup, completing our salvation. Am going out to a Good Friday service this afternoon. Have a BLESSED EASTER everyone.

  14. Thank You GOD for Your precious gift to us, Your Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross so my sins and sins of others are forgiven. Thank You Father, thank You Jesus. Amen!!!

  15. Echoing Catherines words:

    Praising my Saviour ALL THE DAY LONG? Thank YOU JESUS for your great gift to me as we worship this weekend and remember may our souls rejoice that we are saved BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

    Thank you for the song Norma-Jean it was wonderful.

    Love in Jesus to all our fellow bloggers as we go to our places of worship today.

    Nancy

  16. Thank you for the song, “Worthy is the Lamb” which blessed me very much indeed. My wife Diane, and I so appreciate your teaching, and your faithfulness in bringing us your insightful teaching every day.

  17. Thank you so much for that wonderful recording of the Brooklyn choir singing “Worthy is the Lamb” for over five minutes. Praise the LORD for it AND for Easter. Christ is risen. The tomb is empty. Thank God!!

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