Effie Darlene Barba ⋆ Page 7 of 378 ⋆ Inspiring Joy in Lifes Toughest Moments

My Beloved Comes Over the Mountain His Banner Over Me is Love

For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62: 5 (ESV)

The song of Solomon or also known as the Song of Songs tells the story of King Solomon and the Shulamite Woman whom he loved. It is a love song describing all the aspects of perfect love between a man and woman. Furthermore, it describes the details of romantic love between a husband and wife as it was ordained by God from the beginning. There are many different interpretations of this book; however, I choose to believe it is a real story with a typology to Christ as well. Whenever I close my eyes and listen very closely, I feel the excitement of the thought of my beloved coming over the mountain. My heart overflowing with this thought-His Banner Over Me is Love.

God’s grace blessed me with loving someone here on earth with that magnificent overwhelming love. Ours was not what most would call an ideal marriage; yet, despite each trial, God blessed my heart with an unconditional love for this man. It was as if I could see Pete through the eyes of Jesus Christ, deep within his heart, knowing who he would be one day because of Christ. For that reason, whenever we were apart I would long for his return. As I saw him approaching from a distance my heart would fill with “butterflies.” It would beat a little faster, and I could hardly contain my love and joy.

What a picture of how I now await my true bridegroom who has gone away to prepare a place for me and will return. So, I pray God guide this study, so we first look at it as the facts and then a typology of Christ.

Waiting for My Beloved with Great Excitement

The excitement of love is like nothing else. There is a release of hormones causing one to feel gleefulness, excitement, power, as though all is well in the world. Sometimes it is so overwhelming it is hard to sleep . Appetite is gone. Drunken with love. That seems the picture here as the story opens. Obviously, they have met. It is that first flirtatious glance. He the shepherd whom she saw. And he saw her either while she tended her family’s vineyard or caring for their flock. It would appear she is the true Cinderella story as her half-brothers made her do all the chores.

¹This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.

The Bride

²Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is more delightful than wine.

³The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing;

your name is like perfume poured out.

⁴No wonder the maidens adore you.

Take me away with you—let us hurry!

May the king bring me to his chambers.

(Berean Study Bible)

Remembering My Beloved

Seeing him, she believes herself unworthy. Much like when we truly see Jesus. Part of the magic of the truest love is always wondering how fortunate I am. How did he ever choose me? or vice versa. Those flames of true love remain high throughout a marriage if we have this. Each time we see the other we are amazed in wonder. How is it possible they could love me?

The Bride

⁶It is only right that they adore you.

am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem,

like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

Do not stare because I am dark,

for the sun has gazed upon me.

My mother’s sons were angry with me;

they made me a keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have neglected.

At first, she sees him and wants to know more about him.

⁷Tell me, O one I love,

where do you pasture your sheep?

Where do you rest them at midday?

Why should I be like a veiled woman

beside the flocks of your companions?

Of course, the friends want to help her find him.

The Friends

⁸If you do not know, O fairest of women,

follow the tracks of the flock,

and graze your young goats

near the tents of the shepherds.

The Bridegroom

⁹I compare you, my darling,

to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

¹⁰Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments,

your neck with strings of jewels.

We would have been like, “he called me a horse?” Truth is King Solomon loved horses and had stables of the most beautiful horses. Besides Pharaoh’s chariots were all led by Stallions. Can you imagine the attention a mare would get there with all the horses desiring her? But at any rate, the friends hearing this about her beloved want to help her out by making her jewelry to adorn her beauty.

The Friends

¹¹We will make you ornaments of gold,

studded with beads of silver.

Then she jumps back into declare her love. As is typical of the love struck, one jumps back and forth within the tales of the story. She suddenly remembers what will be further detailed in chapter two when her beloved takes her to present her at court in a banquet hall.

The Bride Remembering the Banquet

¹²While the king was at his table,

my perfume spread its fragrance.

¹³My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh

resting between my breasts.

¹⁴My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms

in the vineyards of En-gedi.

She wears a sachet of myrrh (his perfume) about her neck which remains warmed by her own body heat. This way she could breathe in his aroma even when he was gone. Ruth Graham in an interview once said that when Billy Graham was gone on long preaching tours, she would sleep with one of his suits wrapped close just to be reminded of his scent. That way she felt his presence and the loneliness would abate itself.

Recalling My Beloved in the Gardens

The Bridegroom

¹⁵How beautiful you are, my darling!

Oh, how very beautiful!

Your eyes are like doves.

The Bride

¹⁶How handsome you are my beloved!

Oh, how delightful!

The soft grass is our bed.

The Bridegroom

¹⁷The beams of our house are cedars;

our rafters are fragrant firs.

Thus, we are taken back and forth through beautiful descriptions of their courtship. I particularly love it when he takes her to the banqueting hall unashamedly presenting her as his love. Whatever doubts she had about his sincerity seemed squelched there.

My Beloved Has Gone Far Away

The Bride

³Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

is my beloved among the young men.

I delight to sit in his shade,

and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

⁴He has brought me to the house of wine,b

and his banner over me is love.

5Sustain me with raisins;

refresh me with apples,

for I am faint with love.

⁶His left hand is under my head,

and his right arm embraces me.

⁷O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you

by the gazelles and does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love

until the time is right.

I can imagine just lying with his hand beneath her head and another gently holding her with her head in his lap. Yet, the warning is there until it is time, be careful not to go too far or awaken passions too strongly before it is properly awakened in marriage.

My Beloved Returns for Me–O See Him There Over the Mountain

⁸Listen! My beloved approaches.

Look! Here he comes,

leaping across the mountains,

bounding over the hills.

⁹My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Look, he stands behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattice.

¹⁰My beloved calls to me,

“Arise, my darling.

Come away with me, my beautiful one.

¹¹For now the winter is past;

the rain is over and gone.

¹²The flowers have appeared in the countryside;

the season of singingc has come,

and the cooing of turtledoves

is heard in our land.

¹³The fig tree ripens its figs;

the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come away, my darling;

come away with me, my beautiful one.”

The Bridegroom

¹⁴O my dove in the clefts of the rock,

in the crevices of the cliff,

let me see your face,

let me hear your voice;

for your voice is sweet,

and your countenance is lovely.

The Friends

¹⁵Catch for us the foxes—

the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—

for our vineyards are in bloom.

Do not let anything destroy your love such as jealousy, pride, greed or in the case of Christ, do not let lies and fears enter in to destroy your love for Him. Sometimes it is even neglect that destroys love like wily foxes.

Hold Fast to the Truth

The Bride

¹⁶My beloved is mine and I am his;

He pastures his flock among the lilies.

¹⁷Before the day breaks and shadows flee,

turn, my beloved,

and be like a gazelle

or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.

Her beloved must go away.

He has gone to prepare all for her. He is gone a long time it would seem. She dreams of him with great longing for his return. She even ponders wandering in the streets but remembers suddenly. “Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.” She must wait patiently for her beloved to return. That makes up the first half of chapter 3.

The second half of chapter 3 is The King’s Return with His Chariot

Song of Solomon Chapter 3 (Berean Bible)a

⁶Who is this coming up from the wilderness

like a column of smoke,

scented with myrrh and frankincense

from all the spices of the merchant?

⁷Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage, escorted by sixty of the mightiest men of Israel.

⁸All are skilled with the sword,

experienced in warfare.

Each has his sword at his side

prepared for the terror of the night.

The remainder of the Song of Solomon describes the wedding, the wedding night, and love as it matures into a settled steady love. Marriages do that ranging from romantic love to the steady intermittently through good marriages. All of that you can further review. While we step on to look at two more aspects.

Why include the Song of Solomon in the Bible?

Some would ask, why would God have included this in the Bible? Just remember from the beginning, God had designed love and sexuality. In His perfect world, these were a part and blessed by God. Sin has placed its stain on this perfection. But in this God is once more declaring the truth that He has blessed the sanctity of marriage.

⁴Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7, Ephesians 5:31 (KJV)

Then why Solomon? He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. What example can he be of true love? Probably, the Shulamite was his first and only true love. That is why he would later write in Proverbs.

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Proverbs 5:18

⁹Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:8-10 (KJV)

Sin lead to great sorrow.

In Ecclesiastes Solomon speaks much of all his indulgences and how all that lead to is sorrows. He determined in the end that all that really mattered was God.

¹³Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12 (KJV)

I believe Solomon looked back, saw the disasters created by not following God’s Plan, God’s way. He remembered the beauty of true love and the sorrowful unfulfilling vanity of sharing his body with so many other women.

Who is our Beloved? If not Christ, then who?

Yes, I loved Pete with all my heart. Through that relationship, I learned some of what love is. But who is my true Beloved, the one I long for above all else. That is Christ. He is the one to whom I can say, I am His and He is mine.

I do believe that this book in the Bible ( as is true of all scripture) both is true historically with instructional teaching from God, including a typology pointing us to Jesus Christ. Just as Hosea’s life presented the relationship of God with Israel, his bride. So does Solomon represent the picture of Christ with his bride the church. I can hardly wait for that day when the trumpet sounds, and I go to be with Him. There I will be clothed in white linen as He prepares for us the final preparations that we may return with Him at the end of the tribulation to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Our shepherd King, Prince of Peace who rides before us. Oh, how I watch for His chariot to come over the mountains.

¹⁰I will rejoice in the Lord,
My soul will be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a groom puts on a turban,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹For as the earth produces its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations. Isaiah 61 (NASB)

So, the final question is. Is He Your Beloved?

⁶And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.⁷Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.⁸And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.⁹And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19 (KJV)

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Do You Know Messiah, Most High Priest, and King Forever Jesus?

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

Do You Know Messiah, Most High Priest, and King Forever Jesus?

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” They *said to Him, “The son of David.” 43 He *said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies under Your feet”’?

45 Therefore, if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” 46 No one was able to offer Him a word in answer, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him any more questions. Matthew 22 (NASB)

How can it be that the Messiah would be known as Son of David. Is this not also a key question to our faith? Jesus here quotes Psalm 110. In this Psalm, David was given such privilege in this revelation of prophecy pointing to the Messianic Kingdom, yet to come. Indeed Psalm 110 is the most quoted scripture from the Old Testament found in the New Testament. This Psalm foretells Eternal Priesthood of Jesus as well as the Kingship of Jesus. As we go through this Psalm, I hope you come to Know Messiah, Most High Priest, King Forever Jesus. Also, it is my prayer you see the magnificent beauty of Jesus Christ, his Sovereignty, His Justice, and His Sacrificial position as redeemer for us.

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
²The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

³Your people shall be volunteers
In the day of Your power;
In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning,
You have the dew of Your youth.
⁴The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

⁵The Lord is at Your right hand;
He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
⁶He shall judge among the nations,
He shall fill the places with dead bodies,
He shall execute the heads of many countries.
⁷He shall drink of the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He shall lift up the head.
Psalm 110 (NKJV)

Now let us break these verses down one by one and look to our Lord, who deserves our praise above all.

Messiah My Lord

David begins with these words.

The Lord said to my Lord. Psalm 110:1

Some say the original Hebrew reads “Adonai (Yahweh) said to l-adonai (my Master). Yet even this confirms that David saw the Messiah as much higher than himself. This is a glimpse by David into this conversation between God the Father and the God the Son. In other words, this is Yahweh the Father speaking directly with His Son. What an important conversation for us to hear as well! It refers to the Deity of Jesus as Messiah, Most High Priest, and Forever King of the Universe. The creator of the Universe has also won the victory with every right to claim the deed of the earth forever as King. So, what does the Father say to the son?

“Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Psalm 110:1

Jesus is the Ascended Lord seated on the right hand of the Father awaiting the day He returns for His bride and then once the wedding feast is prepared to then return to establish His throne on earth for the millennial reign of Christ. That is when He returns in Judgement at the end of the tribulation.

Jesus as Lord, the Forever King and Messiah

As Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he referenced Psalm 110.

²⁹Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰So because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, Acts 2 (NASB)

Peter wants them to understand the depth of what the Holy Spirit revealed to David concerning Jesus Christ. So, he goes on…

³¹he (David) looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.

David could not have meant himself in this verse. Because David did die, and his flesh was buried and decay did occur. Instead of speaking of himself, David was foretelling of the resurrection of Jesus.

³²It is this Jesus whom God raised up, fact to which we are all witnesses. ³³Therefore, since He has been exalted at the right hand of God and has received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear.

Peter was saying, “You all were witnesses to his empty tomb. Many saw Jesus in His resurrected body. And you are witnesses to the fulfillment of Jesus promise of the Holy Spirit.

Peter Continues

³⁴For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
³⁵Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

³⁶Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2 (NASB)

Paul helps to explain the Order until Our Forever King Jesus

²⁰But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. ²³But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. I Corinthians 15 (NKJV)

This refers to the rapture:

²⁴Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵For He must reign till He (the Father) has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (I Corinthians 15 NKJV)

This is at the end of the Millenium

¹⁴Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. when the final judgement occurs. (Revelation 20 NKJV).

And then, the Son gives it all back to the Father.

²⁸Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. I Corinthians 15 (NKJV)

That Is When the New Heaven and Earth Appear

³And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21 KJV

What a wondrous day! Did David see this Also? Maybe

⁴And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21 KJV

The final enemy is destroyed forever by the Forever King Jesus

⁵And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. ⁶And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Revelation 21 KJV

Psalm 110 Further Displays the Messiah, Most High Priest, and Forever King

²The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule thou in the midst of Your enemies! Psalm 110 (KJV)

This is in reference to the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ, as spoken of in Isaiah and Revelation.

²And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord‘s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2 KJV

During His Reign on this Earth There are Some not Saved

We know this because the word tells us that at the end, Satan is loosed to gather his final group of followers. This after being chained for 1000 years. Yet, many are saved, now, during the tribulation, and even then.

³Your people shall be volunteers
In the day of Your power;
In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning,
You have the dew of Your youth. Psalm 110 (NKJV)

We choose to follow Him. Choose to be His servants out of devotion and love to He who saved us. As Paul proclaimed.

do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (NKJV)

The Reign of The Forever King Jesus as Most High Priest is certain

⁴The Lord has sworn
And will not relent, Psalm 110 NKJV
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 7:17

What more promise do we need? God has said He will accomplish all that He has planned.

⁹Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, ¹⁰Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure Isaiah 46 KJV

Furthermore,

²⁴The Lord of armies has sworn, saying, “Certainly, just as I have intended, so it has happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand, Isaiah 14 NASB

God the Father also chose Christ to be the Most High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was not in the lineage of Aaron, not a Levite. Yet was chosen the line of Melchizedek who was King of Salem in the days of Abraham. He was both Priest and King, as Melchizedek King of Salem was most High priest of God also.

⁵So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.⁶As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 5.

But what specifically made Jesus worthy to be the ultimate Priest for us?

⁷Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; ⁸Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5 KJV

Never was Jesus not obedient. So, what does it mean, He learned obedience? Well, I think it is like this. I never thought not to be obedient to my father. It was what I did. Jesus was one mind with His Father; yet, in His humanity He chose to obey. Had he not faced the real possibility of temptation, He could not have been the perfect sacrifice for you and me. His perfection was that He was tempted; yet did not sin. He did ask that God remove the cup if possible; but submitted to drinking the full cup of wrath. Only He understood how painful that was going to be. Never ever separated from the Father and Holy Spirit until that movement on Calvary. You nor I can fully comprehend that pain He underwent there.

⁹And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;¹⁰Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 5 KJV

For that reason, We can trust the Forever King Jesus as High Priest

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4 KJV

Messiah, Most High Priest, Mighty Warrior, Forever King, Just and Righteous

Beyond all that, Jesus is the Just and Righteous Mighty Warrior. Genuine Love does not look past all evil. It is evil that destroys all chance of love and joy in the Lord. Therefore, the most unloving thing God could ever do is declare all righteous. Why would Christ have died and suffered for our sins if that were the case? Therefore, there is also a judgement coming. A Just and righteous judgement, well deserved by the inhabitants of this earth.

Yet, how marvelous it is that God in His Great and Mighty Grace chose some to bestow His mercy upon. Those whom He chose, He called and sanctified to Himself. Declaring them righteous who were not because they believed in the precious blood of Christ to cleanse them of their sin. His judgement tarries only because of the gracious hand of God waiting for one more to come to Him.

⁵The Lord is at Your right hand;
He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
⁶He shall judge among the nations,
He shall fill the places with dead bodies,
He shall execute the heads of many countries.
⁷He shall drink of the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He shall lift up the head.

This is yet to come. We know that Jesus will return.   There will be the seven years of tribulation against the earth, to finish the task, the cleansing of His people in Israel. Many will be saved during that time period. Although there will be evil and unjust kings reigning on earth. Then,

¹¹Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹²His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

That army clothed in fine linen, white and clean—that is us. We are the army. And we will be behind Him. We will not have to lift a sword, for He will go before us.

¹⁵Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19 NKJV

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Flee Absolutely Every Temptation in The Power of Jesus! How?

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

Flee Absolutely Every Temptation in The Power of Jesus! How?

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. 16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. James 1 (NET)

One might have thought King David was most vulnerable to sin while he was running from King Saul. Exiled, living in caves, and waiting for years on God to fulfill His promises. Yet, during these times, King David turned every moment for guidance. The few times, he was at risk of sinning against God, the hand of God hedged him in. King David learned to flee absolutely every temptation, hold fast to the promises of God. Therefore, as he awaited the Messiah, filled by the Holy Spirit, he was successful in the Power of Jesus. His faith was in the Redeemer to come.

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
²The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

³Your people shall be volunteers
In the day of Your power;
In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning,
You have the dew of Your youth.
⁴The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110 (NKJV)

Clearly, this is a foretelling of end of the Millennial reign of Jesus when God the Father commands, “Now is the day” to His Son. What a glorious day, when Jesus rides forth from heaven with His purified bride riding behind Him.

Yet, blessed with such grace and love, King David did fall to temptation which brought with it consequences greater than he could have anticipated before he allowed desire to overtake him. Let us study this with our eyes wide open as we too are so easily overtaken by temptation.

Flee Absolutely Every Temptation –Recognize Its Source

As James tells us clearly, God is not the source of our temptation. He has no evil within Him and cannot tempt us. Then why are we taught to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” Can He allow trials to test us, strengthen us, and prove us. Certainly. and sometimes during the testing, we are left vulnerable to Satan testing us, as was the case in Job and Peter. Even Jesus gave us an example of how to face and flee absolutely every temptation.

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ²And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”⁴But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

⁸Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” ¹¹Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4 (NKJV)

Knowing my own weaknesses, yes, I pray not to lead me into areas where I could fail Him. But I must remember who has the power to overcome.

¹³And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6: (NKJV)

John McArthur explains this further:

6:13 do not lead us into temptation. Cf. Luke 22:40. God does not tempt men (James 1:13), but He will subject them to trials that may expose them to Satan’s assaults, as in the case of Job and Peter (Luke 22:31, 32). This petition reflects the believing one’s desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether. God knows what one’s need is before one asks (v. 8), and He promises that no one will be subjected to testing beyond what can be endured. He also promises a way of escape—often through endurance (1 Cor. 10:13). But still, the proper attitude for the believer is the one expressed in this petition.

Understanding the anatomy of Temptation

Before we can know how to flee absolutely every temptation, we must understand the anatomy of sin itself and its effects. For that reason, we will look at the verse from James. In doing so we will show its example in King David’s life.

Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11 (NASB)

Notice that David stayed in Jerusalem. Was he finally too comfortable? The struggles had ended as now he was King. Or so it seemed, life had shifted.

²Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. 2 Samuel 11 (NASB).

So it begins with desire. Now desire in and of itself is natural. Just as Jesus was hungry after fasting. Sexual desire is not wrong either But the problem is desires must be held under the order ship of God. Hunger is not wrong, but stealing is. Sexual desire is made for fulfillment in marriage, but not to commit fornication. At this point, King David could have gone back to his room to pray and study God’s word. He could have quickly looked away. Or like Joseph, he could have run. But He chose to move to step 2.

Step 2 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Deception

James said we are lured and enticed by our desire. These are terms used by fishermen and hunters. Bait and food entice the fish and animals to go for the bait thinking it will fulfill their hunger, but instead leads to their death.

³So David sent servants and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 2 Samuel 11 (NASB)

By exploring and inquiring about her, he may have thought she could be someone with whom he could just marry. After all he is King and God had so blessed him. But even after knowing she was the wife of Uriah and the daughter of Eliam, he still moved on to step 3.

Step 3 and 4 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Decision and Delivery

As James said, “Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin.” Even after making the decision, one can flee and determine not to deliver on the decision. However, that becomes less and less likely as the thought consumed by desire overtakes the mind. The desire grows every second it lingers. Partly why it is necessary for us to take captive every thought with the word of God.

⁴Then David sent messengers and had her brought, and when she came to him, he slept with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house 2 Samuel 11 (NASB)

But it never stays there. It grows into Step 5

Step 5 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Development

Sin does not stay there; it grows in its magnitude. Bathsheba became pregnant so David schemes a plan to cover up the sin. When Uriah proves to be more noble than the king. David plotted his murder by having him sent to the frontlines to die. These same steps occur with all sins—pride, greed, gossip, and even the ultimate sin of never turning to Jesus Christ.

Ah, but what then?

Step 6 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Death

James said, “when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.” David did repent and turned back to God, but the damage of sin had set forth a cascade of events that God allowed. Not as a lack of grace; but that we too might understand the depths of evil present in sin.

⁷Nathan then said to David, “You yourself are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘It is I who anointed you as king over Israel, and it is I who rescued you from the hand of Saul. ⁸I also gave you your master’s house and put your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! ⁹Why have you despised the word of the Lord, by doing evil in His sight? You have struck and killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you have taken his wife as your wife, and you have slaughtered him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. ¹⁰Now then, the sword shall never leave your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

¹¹This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. ¹²Indeed, you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and in open daylight.’” ¹³Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has allowed your sin to pass; you shall not die. ¹⁴However, since by this deed you have shown utter disrespect for the ^[^j^]Lord, the child himself who is born to you shall certainly die.” ¹⁵Then Nathan went to his house. 2 Samuel 12.

Cascading Consequences to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation

For King David, he turned and remained the one from whom the line of Jesus would come. This was grace. Yet, his sin began a cascade of events. The baby died. Yet God’s grace promised that Solomon (Bathsheba’s next son) was the one who would carry on the line to Jesus Christ. What amazing grace that is!

Still David’s son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar with a description of lustful desire much like David’s. David did nothing to punish him. Did David remember his own sin, hence did not punish his son? Since his father did nothing to avenge for Tamar, Absalom then killed Amnon. Absalom then fled away for a time, but David again did not punish this his son for killing his brother. Instead at one point he brought back Absolom who then plotted to take over his father’s kingdom. He then died while pursuing to kill his father and David mourned for his son. King David recognized the depths of cascading consequences to his sin.

So, what are we to do to Flee Absolutely Every Temptation.

Well, we must look to Jesus, only he has the power to overcome every temptation.

¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. Hebrews 4 (NASB)

As we saw in the beginning of this lesson, Jesus showed us the importance of knowing the scripture to answer the whispers of Satan and our own evil hearts. Furthermore, there are many lessons from Jesus on how to pray to know how to flee absolutely every temptation. For temptations come from many directions. So let us now look at His prayer life to guide ours.

Jesus Christ, our supreme Power to Flee absolutely every temptation

When Christ came to earth in human form, He stepped outside of His immediate presence with His Father and the Holy Spirit. Though He was eternally a part of God-the perfect echoing of God’s essence; He was in human flesh tempted as we are.

In His human form, it was not that Christ was incapable of sin, He chose to remain sinless so that He would be able to redeem you and me. Had He ever chosen to disobey the Father’s commands, He could not pay the price for our sin. The burden of obedience lay very heavily upon His heart. Yet, the human body that He lived in had desires, temptations, hungers, and trials like you and I face. It was in this human state that the perfect righteous of Christ was proven. It was during Christ’s earthly journey that His obedience to the Father’s will was tested and fully manifested as perfect obedience. Because of His perfect obedience, He was able to pay the penalty for mankind’s sin.

“¹⁴For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10) (KJV)

If Christ, God’s only begotten son needed to pray; how much more we the adopted children? We need to look both at the times that Christ prayed and the types of prayers so that we might gain insight into our own prayer lives.

PRAYING WHEN TEMPTATION IS LURKING

Christ always withdrew into deep earnest prayer when temptation would be at its greatest intensity. Those three times most noted in the Scripture were.

Flee absolutely every Temptation from Need

When in need. This is best shown when Christ went away into the desert before He began His ministry. He fasted and prayed for 40 days, then when He was hungry—Satan came. Christ knew that throughout His ministry, there would be times of hunger, fatigue, human desires, frustrations, and trials. He prepared Himself through prayer and then He faced at the onset those greatest temptations there in the desert.

Satan offered Christ food when He was at His most famished, an easy way out to power (instead of the cross), and a way to quick-easy fortune and fame. Even though what Satan offered was not bad; yet it was crucial because it was not the Father’s plan. Therefore, to accept any one of Satan’s offers would have been sin. We sometimes look for the quick and easy way out. Prayer allows us in a time of need to seek God’s plan and God’s will for our life. (Matthew 4, Luke 4)

We must pray immediately after a victory. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus “departed (alone) into the mountain to pray” (Mark 6: 46). Why after a miracle? Ah, because when we are on the highest peaks of success and victory; it is too easy to stray. We need to pray so that our own pride or gloating does not get in the way of our praying. We tend to get too busy to pray when everything is going well—so we must pray ever more earnestly that we remain focused on God.

Flee Absolutely Every Temptation While Enduring Pain

Sometimes following God’s will involves enduring pain. This is shown in the agonizing prayer of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane as shown in (Mark 14, Luke 22). There are times during our journey that we may wish that God’s plan were different; yet, through prayer we are reminded of His Sovereignty. He has the best plan for our ultimate joy; even if it is a cross that carries us there.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12 KJV)

PRAYING JUST TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE AND FEEL GOD’S LOVE

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).

Christ regularly would arise early just to be in the presence of His Father. He loved to just talk with His Father, feel His presence and be wrapped in His Love. The more we are in the presence, alone with God: the more we see the magnificent beauty of His love, joy, and Glory. Just to sit with Him a little while. Also, we see in Luke 9 when Christ took Peter, James, and John up with Him on the mountain into the presence of Glory.

PRAYING WHEN BIG DECISIONS ARE BEFORE US

Right before choosing the 12 apostles, Christ spent the night in prayer.

“He went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.¹³And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles” (Luke 6).

If it was important for Christ to spend the night in prayer before choosing the apostles; how much more important we dedicate time to pray before making any choices in life.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Christ prayed for others over and over in His ministry. He came to seek and to save those who were lost. Perhaps the greatest intercessory prayer was that recorded in John 17. He prayed for all who would ever believe in Him to have a hedge of protection while on this earth. He prayed for our joy to be fulfilled in Him and for us to be filled with the knowledge of His love for us. Finally He prayed that we would be covered with His Glory.

Concluding Thoughts

³No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10 (NKJV)

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He ^[^a^]made us accepted in the Beloved.

⁷In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ⁸which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, ⁹having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, ¹⁰that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. ¹¹In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ¹²that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

¹³In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1 NKJV

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom- pray for yourself and others.

God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

²²And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The Power of Jesus Christ indwells us; therefore, He gives us the power to flee absolutely every temptation. Focus on Him, pray unceasingly, and trust His power within us. And know we are sealed with Him throughout eternity by the Holy Spirit.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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The Power of Redemption by Grace Is Hope Even During Trials How?

How To Overcome Depression Now Trust the Power Found in the Word

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

The Power of Redemption by Grace Is Hope Even During Trials How?

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me…

4 Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation; …

6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses,
For they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

8Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, Psalm 25 (NKJV)

When we consider the Old Testament Saints, the Apostles, and the Leaders of the Early Church; we tend to think of them as heroes. We think their faith and obedience far exceed that of which we can attain. Yet, when we truly study the Word of God, we find they were ordinary men and women. Not the heroes we would have even chosen. That is if we were authoring the story. The Holy Spirit did not even allow them to “hide” their sin nor their failures as they wrote. Instead, He had them include their failures for all to see, eternally. Why? So, that we might know there is no salvation without Jesus Christ. The Power of Redemption is in Jesus Christ Alone. Provided by Grace alone. That is our only Hope.

Even in the darkest trials, our only hope is the power of redemption by grace. Particularly this is true when we come face to face with our own depraved natures. The I which I try desperately to hide from the world. And myself. At the end of the day. When I finally come to the end of myself. Only then do I know with certainty. Were it not for Grace, I am hopelessly lost, undeserving of standing in the presence of a Holy God. Nothing my hands can do can change that. But thank God, His Grace can.

The Heroes of Faith, both Old and New Testament

We may desire to emulate them. Or place them on pedestals. But the truth is. Not one of the heroes of faith did anything of value apart from the workings of the Holy Spirit in them. Only in humility could they become useful to God’s work. Paul wrote:

⁴But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2 (NASB)

The Power of Redemption Comes Only Through Grace

Whenever they would attempt to do anything in their own power, they would fail miserably. The Power of Redemption comes only through Grace, as God reaches down to touch a soul. We see this displayed throughout scripture but for today’s lesson let us focus on David, Peter, Paul, Joseph’s brothers, and Jesus. Through a glimpse into their lives, I want to share with you the abundance of hope and even joy found because of the Power of Redemption through Grace alone.

The Power of Redemption by Grace—David’s Early Years as King

God chose David to be King over Israel and promised that his would be an everlasting covenant. That promise was made by God. It was an act of grace. David was considered the uninvited one in his family. When Samuel came to anoint a new king from among Jesse’s sons, David was left out on the hill tending the sheep. Later, although already Saul’s armor bearer, when war broke out, he was sent away. Uninvited to the battle against the Giant. In his humility, God chose him. For years, David ran for his life from King Saul. He trusted God for his safety and his promise of grace. David knew he was unworthy of such honor and grace. He came before God seeking the Power of Redemption through grace.

¹¹For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

¹²Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
¹³He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
¹⁵My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
¹⁷The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
¹⁸Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
¹⁹Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
²⁰Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
²¹Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Psalm 25 NKJV

The Power of Redemption by Grace—David Stumbles

In his zealous fervor to honor God, King David forgot the importance of doing things God’s way. We see this when he determined to bring the ark home to Israel.

David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. ²And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. ³So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 2 Samuel 6 (NKJV)

So, what is the problem here? With immense joy, dancing, and celebration, they were bringing the Ark of God home? Yes, but in the book of Numbers it was clear only the Levitical descendants of Kohath could move the Ark. (Numbers 3:29-31) Furthermore, it was never to be placed on a cart (Numbers 4:15). No one was to touch the ARK. It was to be carried on their shoulders with special rods that passed through the rings in the corners so as never to touch the ark.

So, a little disobedience with such fervor, what could go wrong?

They were doing the right thing, just the wrong way. But that can be fatal.

⁶And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. ⁷Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. ⁸And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 2 Samuel 6 (NKJV)

So, who was really to blame? David. He thought his zealous worship was enough. So, he who was responsible to know and uphold the law, did not! God’s anointed was charged with reading the Law Day and night. He was responsible for doing all it said. Yet he failed and a man was dead because of it. Sin brings death.

The Power of Redemption by Grace: The Ark Restored the Right Way

⁹David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” ¹⁰So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ¹¹The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

¹²Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So, David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. ¹³And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. ¹⁴Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁵So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

Notice, those bearing the ark are now the right people and the right way. Furthermore, David sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. The power of redemption was in the blood to forgive their sins. A picture of Jesus Christ to one day come as the final sacrificial lamb.

The Power of Redemption by Grace: Peter

It was in the darkness of night. No one really knew the how or why of it all. A mockery of a trial that broke every rule of justice. Little to no sleep. Yet, Jesus had told them, this was coming. He had rebuked Peter when he said, “it cannot be.” And had even called him, Satan to suggest it. Still, who would have thought, the Jewish priests would carry on such an injustice, breaking every rule of their own court. Peter had even been told of his impending failure, yet he did not believe. In fact, he believed he would fight to the death to protect His Lord. Now as the scene played out and Jesus was facing the trials of the Jewish leaders, Peter denied his Lord three times. Broken, He fled the scene. But He would soon know the humbling effects of forgiveness, grace, and love.

How dark must those hours have been for Peter. He could not forgive himself. Not after all this. It was cold and dark. The world was completely upside down. He followed Jesus to the courtyard; but seemed hours there alone in the cold. Surrounded only by the riffraff. He wanted to warm his heart and soul by the fires. Jesus inside before the elder priest and then taken through the courtyards to the house of Caiaphas. What was happening? He waited, wondering, remembering. He had tried to save Jesus with his sword in the Garden and Jesus told him, no? In fact, Jesus restored the ear of the guard. So, what was happening? Was it all over? Could this be the end? Then, Peter did the one thing he thought himself was the unforgivable offense. He denied His Lord.

An Unforgiveable Offense in Peter’s Mind-

Have you ever felt like you failed God? Failed to follow His commands or found yourself falling into the same pit of temptation, repeatedly? I have. Peter did. David did. Then it is with a broken and contrite heart, one looks upon Him again. Peter did not come to the foot of the cross as Jesus died. Did he feel unworthy? Perhaps.

When Jesus had turned to look at him, Peter felt the eyes of Jesus penetrate his heart and soul. All too often through my life I have also felt the sting—Jesus eyes penetrating my heart, condemning. Yet, because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross,

Peter so excited that Jesus was resurrected, still did not understand his role going forward. He had failed God, so how could he be useful for anything. He returned to fishing. It was all he knew and what he was good at. He could not continue to fail his Savior there. But Jesus had a different plan.

Back at the beginning, Jesus had met Peter at the shores of the lake. Again, this night, there were no fish. So even as a fisherman, he felt his ineptitude. He was naked in that boat when he looked across the sea to see Jesus on the shore. Quickly, he wrapped his naked body with a robe and began to swim across the sea. Must like us, we want to cover up the nakedness of our sinful hearts when we come to the Savior. But He see us and knows who we are.

Jesus walked with Peter that day and with a simple question revealed the depths of His heart and that of Peter.

The Power of Redemption in A Burning Question from Jesus:

Peter, do you love me with an agape “God-like love?” Oh, Lord, I love you with a Philleo (friendship love). Then again, the same question. Third time, Jesus asked, do you love me, Simon Peter; yet this time he says it using Philleo as the word for love. Peter said Lord you know my heart. Now Peter understood the Humbling Effects of Forgiveness, Grace, and Love. Now he was ready for the ministry to which he was called.

Peter then was ready to begin the ministry as God had called Him to. He was later willing to die for Christ. Although, he insisted on being crucified upside down due to his being unworthy to die in the manner that Jesus died.

The Power of Redemption in the Words of Peter

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1 (NKJV)

The Power of Redemption by Grace: The Apostle Paul

Somehow, I always believed, that once saved, Paul was an example of unwavering faith and steadfast obedience. There was always some question lingering in the back of my head about his taking the vow of the Nazarene and rushing to Jerusalem to be ritually cleansed. Never did I want to believe Paul, the great apostle of grace, could have ever failed to obey God perfectly. But there it is. God had told Paul from the beginning he would be the apostle to the Gentiles. He had no ministry amongst the Jews. These were God’s words. Yet, despite multiple warnings of what was to come, he went in haste to Jerusalem. I never thought about it. But there it is in Acts 21 (NKJV)

¹Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ²And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. ³When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there, the ship was to unload her cargo.

Notice how many cities they passed through and did not stop to preach or start a church. Paul was hurrying to get to Jerusalem to perform this ritual of sanctification, despite his having taught that salvation is by grace not works. This despite his rebuking Peter for performing Jewish rituals to keep favor with the Jews.

⁴And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. ⁵When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. ⁶When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.

Note that those warning Paul had warned him in the Spirit (capital S).

⁷And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. ⁸On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. ¹⁰And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

¹²Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

¹⁴So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

Paul Imprisoned and the Power of Redemption by Grace

Paul with great zealous fervor went to Jerusalem. He did not heed the warnings of the Holy Spirit. Never again was he going to plant a new church or at least we are not told if he did. While in Jerusalem and later in prison, he was beaten, abandoned at times, and suffered greatly. However, there he was humbled. With any semblance of pride gone, Paul remembered it was grace alone that saved him. He had hours alone with God where he found the power of redemption surging through himself. Professing the gospel of Christ to the Roman guards, he was the catalyst of a new revolution of believers in Rome. Furthermore, he wrote at least 5 of his letters from prison (Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Philemon, II Timothy and 2 are thought to be in between imprisonments (I Timothy and Titus).

God never casts aside any of His sheep. He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep. Not one will ever lose.

¹⁰For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2 (NASB)

The Power of Redemption by Grace Joseph’s Brothers and Jesus

Well, hoping everyone remembers the story of Joseph and how his brothers sold him into slavery after first considering his murder. As far as they were concerned, they considered him the same as dead. In their hearts it still was murder. Yet, the power of redemption was that God used Joseph to redeem and save his murderous brothers. Fast forward then to Calvary.

God sent His only son to live the life we cannot live and die the death that we deserved. There Jesus was taken, beaten beyond recognition, spit upon, hairs of his beard plucked, mocked, and placed on a cross—nails driven through his hands and feet. The all-powerful Son of God willingly took our place so we might be redeemed. The power of redemption by grace is that we are given life abundantly because He gave His life for us. That degree of grace should make us humble before Him and the world in which we live.

The Power of Redemption by Grace—Mom and Me

I do not understand how it is that so often we humans want to compare ourselves with others. We want to believe that we are better. Even in humilty, we want to compare ours with others which is not humility at all. There is that desperate need to be wanted, loved, or even admired. My mother suffered from a severe bipolar disorder with some psychotic features.

Yet, it was she who taught me about gospel. Every week on the radio was Dr. M. R. Dehaan and Theodore H. Epp. It was one Sunday morning that I came to accept Christ while Dr. Dehaan was preaching. I remember it so clearly. Over the years I failed many times. It was God’s grace that would bring me back. Yet, as I grew in Christ, there seemed those bursts of pride followed by crashing failures. Mom on the other hand felt so broken by her illness, that it seemed God would protect her from herself regarding sin. Her humility kept her closer to Him.

How foolishly, I wanted to believe I was the stronger Christian. What was that but pride! Finally, after many years and lots of lessons I wrote this poem for her. I hope you enjoy it this Mother’s Day.

I Was A Child, Back Then

I Was a Child, Back Then

I was a child, back then

And did not, could not understand

The pains she faced, the fears within

Her road of life throughout this land

But as I grew, I came to see

The sacrifices that she made

Because the love she had for me

No matter what it did not fade

Whatever road our feet did trod

Her courage, faith deep within

Did hold her heart so close to God

Protecting her from sin

The more I learned of God’s dear Grace

Throughout the years, I came to see

The trials, sorrows that we face

Transform our hearts that we might be

A shining beacon on a hill

To light the path in darkest night

That strangers then might find God’s will

The blinded might gain sight

Yet, each of us, God calls to be

A different beam of Glory’s light

And this in part the mystery

Of how God works, that He just might

Give one the gift to speak His word

Another sings His praise

While some it seems their voice unheard

Except by God. In prayer their voices raise

Each child who knows Christ as their Lord

God uses in His own sweet way

To each He gives a different sword

His Glory Honor to display

And so, I came to realize

The chains of pride that bound my heart

Were merely part of Satan’s guise

Sow bitter seeds, and then depart

I lay my “self” upon the cross

The cross where Jesus bled and died

That He might live, all else is loss

My pride He’s crucified

As I look back, I now can see

That it was Mom, God used to be

A beacon of humility

His beam of Grace to shine toward me

I did not, could not understand

The pains she faced, the fears within

Her road of life throughout this land

Because I was a child, back then
Effie Barba

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:8-13 (NKJV)

Let each of us never forget the Power of Redemption by Grace. And let us never forget the price Christ paid for our rebellious heart. Oh, that I ever see my sins, how costly they have been, so I remember not to go there again.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by
clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this;
because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to
seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

One Sheep in the Care of the Great Shepherd Experiencing Full Comfort

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

One Sheep in the Care of the Great Shepherd Experiencing Full Comfort

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

A scripture so familiar; yet do we fully know the depths of treasures within these words? How often we fail to grasp its richness! Oh, yes, we quote it. We memorize it. But do you realize how wonderfully it relates our relationship with Jesus? Furthermore, on display in Psalm 23 are the wondrous names of God displayed as well. In those 6 verses lies the truths we need for experiencing, rejoicing, and resting in the full comfort of the Great Shepherd. My desire is to help you and I to find comfort and rest to sustain us through this journey of life. The 23^rd Psalm is one song in the Scripture I believe can do just that.

Throughout scripture, God teaches us of Himself through the lens of nature, so we may understand. Since He is beyond understanding, this is His means to reach out to humanity with patience, love, and grace.

¹⁹that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1 (NASB)

The Great Shepherd (The Lord is my Shepherd)

Who is the Lord? What does that word even mean? The word lord means one in power to whom we give our allegiance. Therefore, “The LORD” designates the only one to whom we MUST give our allegiance. He is the only one who deserves our allegiance. As the creator of the whole universe. David was a shepherd, so he fully understands the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. Sheep require more attention and care than any other livestock. They cannot survive without the shepherd’s constant care and vigilance.

BBC News reported an incident of how foolish sheep can be. A group of shepherds met to eat breakfast. While eating they took their eyes off the sheep. Then it is said that one lamb decided to jump over the cliff. then all the others followed that one.

Turkish shepherds watched in horror as hundreds of their sheep followed each other over a cliff, say Turkish newspaper reports.

First one sheep went over the cliff edge, only to be followed by the whole flock, according to the reports. More than 400 sheep died in the 15-metre fall – their bodies cushioning the fall of 1,100 others who followed.¹

But how like sheep we are with such herd mentality. We too often follow whatever fad, even if to our detriment.

All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way; Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV)

My Great Shepherd is the Lord

¹¹“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10 NASB

Isaiah goes further to tell us that He purchased us to be His sheep, knowing it was not going to be an easy task.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

⁷He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:

Phillip Keller wrote in His book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.

T he Lord Is My Shepherd Thus, in a second very real and vital sense I truly belong to Him simply because He has bought me again at the incredible price of His own laid-down life and shed blood. Therefore He was entitled to say, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” So there remains the moving realization that we have been bought with a price, that we are really not our own and He is well within His rights to lay claim upon our lives. I recall quite clearly how in my first venture with sheep, the question of paying a price for my ewes was so terribly important. They belonged to me only by virtue of the fact that I paid hard cash for them. It was money earned by the blood and sweat and tears drawn from my own body during the desperate grinding years of the Depression. And when I bought that first small flock, I was buying them literally with my own body which had been laid down with this day in mind. Because of this I felt in a special way that they were in very truth a part of me and I a part of them. There was an intimate identity involved which, though not apparent on the surface to the casual observer, nonetheless made those thirty ewes exceedingly precious to me. But the day I bought them I also realized that this was but the first stage in a long, lasting endeavor in which from then on, I would, as their owner, have to continually lay down my life for them if they were to flourish and prosper. Sheep do not “just take care of themselves” as some might suppose. They require, more than any other class of livestock, endless attention, and meticulous care. It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways as will be seen in further chapters. Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance. Yet despite these adverse characteristics Christ chooses us, buys us, calls us by name, makes us His own, and delights in caring for us. ²
Phillip Keller

Truly Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Also of note: This first verse of Psalm 23 reflects the name of God as Jehovah Rohi. The exact translation from Hebrew is The Lord, my Shepherd. Do you know Him that way? Can you say, The Lord, my Shepherd.

In the Care of the Great Shepherd, I Shall Not Want

As we look at the second part of this verse, we recognize Jehovah Jireh. The Lord, my provider. The Lord provides all that our hearts and souls need, therefore, I am fulfilled in Him. For that reason, I shall not want—because my heart is satisfied in Him. I know that He has given everything that I might be His, so why does my heart ever become restless.

³²He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Because I know He is the Great Shepherd willing to give everything for me, I am fully satisfied in His management of my life. Even when I do not understand, He knows the best way for me to flourish. Therefore, I will trust Him. He is most glorified by this, my contentment in Him.

Those who are not content become fence crawlers.

In spite of having such a master and owner, the fact remains that some Christians are still not content with His control. They are somewhat dissatisfied, always feeling that somehow the grass beyond the fence must be a little greener. These are carnal Christians — one might almost call them “fence crawlers” or “half-Christians” who want the best of both worlds. I once owned a ewe whose conduct exactly typified this sort of person. She was one of the most attractive sheep that ever belonged to me. Her body was beautifully proportioned. She had a strong constitution and an excellent coat of wool. Her head was clean, alert, well-set with bright eyes. She bore sturdy lambs that matured rapidly. But in spite of all these attractive attributes she had one pronounced fault. She was restless — discontent — a fence crawler. So much so that I came to call her “Mrs. Gad-about.” This one ewe produced more problems for me than almost all the rest of the flock combined. No matter what field or pasture the sheep were in, she would search all along the fences or shoreline (we lived by the sea) looking for a loophole she could crawl through and start to feed on the other side. It was not that she lacked pasturage. My fields were my joy and delight. No sheep in the district had better grazing. With “Mrs. Gad-about” it was an ingrained habit. She was simply never contented with things as they were. Often when she had forced her way through some such spot in a fence or found a way around the end of the wire at low tide on the beaches, she would end up feeding on bare, brown, burned-up pasturage of a most inferior sort. 30³
Phillip Keller

He Maketh Me to Lie Down in Green Pastures

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:0 (NKJV)

Sheep by nature are very restless, fearful creatures. They have no real mechanisms of defence. Nor can they run away from predators. Therefore, they have trouble lying down to rest. Without the shepherd they are forced to scrummage for food and water, constantly moving about. They become thin, overrun by their own wool, and covered with pestilence. But with the Great Shepherd, there is nothing to fear. He leads them into the best areas and protects them all along the way.

Jesus is our Jehovah Shalom (The Lord our Peace).

He Leadeth Me Beside the Still Waters

Water is an essential element without which one will die. It is also true of the Spiritual Water which is essential for us to survive in this world. Our soul thirsts for the living Word of God. Just as the sheep becomes restless in search of water, so our soul thirsts for the water of life.

It is true that in some of the arid lands, the morning dew provides the water needed for the flock to begin their day. We too need the living water of life to begin our day before facing the dry and rigid domains of life. Then, throughout the day, the shepherd leads his flock to wells of water He has prepared for them. So, should we turn to our living water whenever we begin to feel restless throughout the day.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)

¹³Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4 (NKJV)

The Holy Spirit indwells every true believer. Therefore, we have this living water within us. But even when you have running water in your home, you will thirst unless you open the faucet to let that water run into your glass. If you never pick up the Word of God to fill your glass, your comfort will turn to restlessness again.

My Great Shepherd Restoreth My Soul (Jehovah Rapha-The Lord my Healer)

Sheep tend to sometimes look for little soft dips in the landscape to lay down and get comfortable. The problem is sometimes they tend to turn over too far and tip over. The harder they try to turn over, the farther their tiny legs move away from the ground. The term for this is “cast down.” When a sheep is “cast down” a crisis will occur leading to their death, unless the shepherd finds them and helps them to stand again. IF the sheep is cast down overweighted with too much wool, the shepherd would shear the sheep. Not a comfortable procedure, but wonderful relief afterword. Much like we are when overburdened with the cares of this world. As the Great Shepherd shears away these burdens we feel distressed, then suddenly freed from their weight we can run once more.

One might think that in the care of the Great Shepherd a Christians soul should never be cast down. But life has taught us better. We may find a spot of comfort and burrow in just like the sheep until we fall over and cannot get up. Just like Psalm 42, “Why are you cast down oh my soul? Trust in God.”

The Great Shepherd then comes and lifts us up to stand once more.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)

How often in life have I nestled into a cozy spot not so near to the Shepherd. Or other times have run so far ahead that I feel into a deep muddy pit of sin. I tend to want to lie there ashamed. Grappling with my own heart, I believe I can no longer be of service to Him.

Instead, He reaches out His Mighty hand of love. “Child, take my hand.” “I cannot, I wail, look at me. I have ruined it all. My sin covers me.” “Oh, my child, I do not see any sin” He gently says as He looks upon me covered with the blood of Christ. Then once more, He stretches out His Hand to say, “Take my hand”. He picks me up, cleans me off and says, “Now, child we have work to do, the fields are white with harvest. Let us go together.” That brings us to the second half of verse 3. Jehovah Tsidkenu–

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, Isaiah 61:10

My Great Shepherd, leadeth me in the Paths of righteousness for His Name’s Sake

Sheep are notorious creatures of habit. If left to themselves, they
will follow the same trails until they become ruts; graze the same hills until they turn to desert wastes; pollute their own ground until it is corrupt with disease and parasites. Many of the world’s finest sheep ranges have been ruined beyond repair by overgrazing, poor management, and indifferent or ignorant sheep owners.⁴

So, it is that God leads us in Paths of Righteousness. He does this through His Word and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Shepherd leads the way. Unfortunately, sometimes the sheep are too stubborn to follow the Great Shepherd. There are times that He must go after them to bring them back in. But what if you did not really know the Great Shepherd? What if you never surrendered to Him to begin with and only followed the others, not Him? Well, then you are not His. He has not carved His brand upon you. You are not His indentured slave nor His sheep. But if you are, He will move Heaven and Earth to lead you to better pasture. For His name’s sake, not one will be lost along this earthly journey.

Ezekiel 20 (NKJV)

⁴¹I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; …⁴³And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. ⁴⁴Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings,

Oh, the grace of God who accepted a sinner such as I and clothed me in His Righteousness. The thought of this is too great for me.

In the Valley of the Shadow of Death, The Great Shepherd leads

During the winter months the sheep are moved into the lower pastures; but in the summer, they must move upward through the mountainous paths into the upper table lands. There the shepherd will stay with the sheep for the summer. The trip is treacherous because the paths are narrow with caves along the way. Those caves harbor many predators. The sheep feel safe along this path only because the shepherd is with them.

For us we have Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is There.

In the closing chapters of Ezekiel, the prophet describes what God told him in vision about this coming restoration of the land, the city, and the temple. It included detailed plans and measurements for the restored city. The final words of Ezekiel’s book are these:⁵

“And the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE [Jehovah Shammah]” (Ezekiel 48:35)

Even though

your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. I Peter 5:7-9 (NKJV)

We have no fear because our Great Shepherd is there to protect us and He has already won the victory.

Oh Lord My Great Shepherd “thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

The shepherd was very skilled with both his rod and his staff. They could hurl the rod through the air and hit the ground beside the sheep to turn him away for the danger. He could use the crook of the staff to pull the sheep out of the raven he had fallen. Furthermore, he could hurl a stone against the enemy. His rod was also used to push back the wool and inspect the sheep for pestilences or sores on their skin. These were used to protect the sheep every step of the way.

Often, we do no want the eyes of God nor His rod to prod and uncover the scars beneath. Yet, with His gentle rod He does just that and heals the wounds. Sometimes, it is necessary He open those wounds so they may heal. We can trust the Great Physician of our soul.

Also, He casts His rod beside us to turn us from the danger that lies ahead.

Our Great Shepherd Prepares a Table Before Us

The shepherd goes ahead of the sheep to prepare the “mesas” high in the mountains where he will be taking his sheep for the summer. More than once, he will go to make certain that the pastures are prepared. Minerals and salts are taken. There are some plants that grow in those regions which are poisonous and will paralyze the sheep. Unfortunately, these plants are very appealing to the sheep. The shepherd meticulously clears the pastures of these plants.

Our Great Shepherd went before us. He is preparing the way for the great wedding feast.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ²In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴And where I go you know, and the way you know.”⁵Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14

He is Jehovah Nissi-The Lord my Banner, My Victory. He has already won the victory.

⁵⁴So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵“O^[ Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. I Corinthians 15 (NKJV)

Our Great Shepherd Anointest Our Head with Oil

Flies, gnats, tics, and bugs drive the sheep nuts. They will scrap their heads until covered with sores and run about “crazy”. The shepherd comes and anoints their heads with oils that protect them from the pests.

We humans have many annoyances that “bug” us. We let these thoughts take over our hearts and minds. For us, we need to take from last week’s lesson and remember to stop listening to our minds and preach to ourselves. The word of God can take full control of our thoughts to guide us into a right spirit with God. One in which we can enjoy the fruits of the Holy Spirit. We are told not to quench the Holy Spirit.

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10 (NKJV)

Our Great Shepherd can and will anoint our heads with Oil to protect us. Let us not resist Him. He is Jehovah Mekaddishkem—The Lord Who Sanctifies.

My Great Shepherd is all that I need for hope, peace, and joy in this world.

. My Cup Runneth Over⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

There is only one door. My great shepherd stands guard over that door and my heart. Thanks be to God that The Lord is my Shepherd. Chosen in Him before the world began, I am His and He is Mine. That is Grace beyond measure.

The Great Shepherd Regarding His Sheep

10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. ²But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant.

⁷So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. NASB John 10

¹ BBC NEWS | Europe | Turkish sheep die in ‘mass jump’

² Keller, Phillip, The Inspirational Writings, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, BBS Publishing, New York, NY, 1970, page 13

3 Keller, Phillip, A Shepher Looks at Psalm 23 page 25

⁴ Keller, Phillip A Shepherds Looks at Psalm 23, page 58

⁵ What does Jehovah Shammah mean? (bibleinfo.com)

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

How To Overcome Depression Now Trust the Power Found in the Word

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

PICTURE Licensed from Goodsalt.com

Waiting for My Beloved with Great Excitement

Remembering My Beloved

The Friends

The Bride Remembering the Banquet

Recalling My Beloved in the Gardens

My Beloved Has Gone Far Away

My Beloved Returns for Me–O See Him There Over the Mountain

Hold Fast to the Truth

Why include the Song of Solomon in the Bible?

Sin lead to great sorrow.

Who is our Beloved? If not Christ, then who?

So, the final question is. Is He Your Beloved?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Messiah My Lord

Jesus as Lord, the Forever King and Messiah

Peter Continues

Paul helps to explain the Order until Our Forever King Jesus

That Is When the New Heaven and Earth Appear

The final enemy is destroyed forever by the Forever King Jesus

During His Reign on this Earth There are Some not Saved

The Reign of The Forever King Jesus as Most High Priest is certain

Furthermore,

But what specifically made Jesus worthy to be the ultimate Priest for us?

Messiah, Most High Priest, Mighty Warrior, Forever King, Just and Righteous

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Flee Absolutely Every Temptation –Recognize Its Source

John McArthur explains this further:

Understanding the anatomy of Temptation

Step 2 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Deception

Step 3 and 4 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Decision and Delivery

Step 5 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Development

Step 6 to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation: Death

Cascading Consequences to Not Fleeing Absolutely Every Temptation

So, what are we to do to Flee Absolutely Every Temptation.

Jesus Christ, our supreme Power to Flee absolutely every temptation

PRAYING WHEN TEMPTATION IS LURKING

Flee absolutely every Temptation from Need

Flee absolutely every temptation related to Victory

Flee Absolutely Every Temptation While Enduring Pain

PRAYING JUST TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE AND FEEL GOD’S LOVE

PRAYING WHEN BIG DECISIONS ARE BEFORE US

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Concluding Thoughts

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom- pray for yourself and others.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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The Heroes of Faith, both Old and New Testament

The Power of Redemption Comes Only Through Grace

The Power of Redemption by Grace—David’s Early Years as King

The Power of Redemption by Grace—David Stumbles

So, a little disobedience with such fervor, what could go wrong?

The Power of Redemption by Grace: The Ark Restored the Right Way

The Power of Redemption by Grace: Peter

An Unforgiveable Offense in Peter’s Mind-

The Power of Redemption in A Burning Question from Jesus:

The Power of Redemption in the Words of Peter

The Power of Redemption by Grace: The Apostle Paul

Note that those warning Paul had warned him in the Spirit (capital S).

Paul Imprisoned and the Power of Redemption by Grace

The Power of Redemption by Grace Joseph’s Brothers and Jesus

The Power of Redemption by Grace—Mom and Me

I Was A Child, Back Then

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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The Great Shepherd (The Lord is my Shepherd)

My Great Shepherd is the Lord