My Heart is Stirred by a Noble Theme - Joy

Support for "Who is this coming?"

The last two years have been a journey to discover within the Word of God, specifically the Old Testament, the Scripture pointing to the identity of Jesus as God Himself as well as to the activities around His second coming whereas Jesus, as a human young man, understood who He is and what He could expect His life to unfold. It's always easier to dismiss these thoughts with, "well, He is God so naturally Jesus would know these things" but, there is a critical reason for understanding this. If Jesus did not know who He is and what His life promised then, He would not have had anything to look towards beyond the cross. In Hebrews 12:2 we read that, because of the joy of the anticipated and expected future, Jesus endured the cross and everything that experience meant. He could not and would not deny God and God's truths, then looking forward to the life after the cross and all that was promised Him, He obediently went to the cross, drinking God's cup of wrath reserved for God's enemies and paying our debt to God. Without knowing His future confidently and truthfully, Jesus may not have chosen to drink the cup of God's wrath on our behalf perhaps choosing instead to walk through the garden and out into the desert to live His life for Himself.

For me, understanding these truths in context and confident ways, helps me really know our Lord Jesus. So, in the end, I can stand firmly and without a doubt as to who God is and who He is not. Through this intimacy, I begin to experience joy in the Lord... the joy that comes by knowing Jesus honestly, truthfully, and completely regardless of the circumstances in my life. Happiness is based on circumstances; joy is based on understanding truth.

During my daily time with God, Psalm 45 grabbed me in a way that encouraged me. Each time I read this Psalm, I became more and more excited about the realities of seeing this future unfold firsthand and sharing in Jesus's excitement for the fulfilling of this promised day. True to my time with God, Psalm 45 also correlated with everything I was reading about the tabernacle construction and worship in Exodus as God was leading Moses and the Israelites to construct a place for Him to meet with His people while He lived with them for their 40-year trek through the desert. Psalm 45 also brought me to Song of Songs 3:6-11 which describes the arrival of the King of Peace. One morning, I re-read my journal entry on Song of Songs 3:6-11 "Who is this coming?" Interestingly, I wrote that when I locate additional Old Testament Scripture supporting what God had revealed to me, I would post it to expound on what God taught me... so here I write.

Since I was reading about the arrival of the King of Peace and the wedding of the Lamb, naturally I was directed to Revelation 19:6-9 and 19:11-16. When all of the passages are read back-to-back, the excitement in my thoughts grow. With all of the portions of Scripture read consecutively, do you see the reason Jesus looked forward, beyond the cross? Do you feel His joy? Are you aware that you will be there, celebrating with Him? I just want to be more joyful because my Lord Jesus is joyful.

Psalm 45

My heart is stirred by a noble theme
as I recite my verses for the king;
my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

You are the most excellent of men
and your lips have been anointed with grace,
since God has blessed you forever.
Gird you sword upon your side,
O mighty one;
clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.
In your majesty ride forth victoriously
in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;
let your right hand display awesome deeds.
Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;
let the nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
by anointing you with the oil of joy.
All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from palaces adorned with ivory
the music of the strings makes you glad.
Daughters of kings are among your honored women;
at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.

Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear;
Forget your people and your father's house.
The king is enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift,
men of wealth will seek your favor.

All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you.
They are led in with joy and gladness;
they enter the palace of the king.

Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout the land.
I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.

Song of Songs 3:6-11

Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense made from all the spices of the merchant?
Look! It is Solomon's carriage, escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.
King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior lovingly inlaid by the daughters of Jerusalem.
Come out, you daughters of Zion,
and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.

Revelation 19:6-9

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God."

Revelation 19:11-16

I saw the heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Walk this Way

Walking with Jesus and walking out 70 x 7

Eleven years ago, my parents after 40 years of marriage, decided to divorce. Although we three kids were well into our mid-thirties to early forties, married and with kids of our own (mine were in high school), the action of my parents impacted our extended family unit. When my immediate family voiced our preference to keep relationships with both my mother and my father, that decision further separated all of us as "camps" of support seemed to be drawing lines in the sand.  Consequently, my husband, daughters and I have been estranged from my Mom, sister & her family, and brother & his family for nine years now. This was very difficult for all of us as my family loved the times we all shared together as I'm sure it was difficult for my father, brother, sister and mother.

There has been some movement over the recent years first with my Mom and then with my brother. Typically I will hear from my brother and Mother around major holidays and my birthday. Through this separation time, I have made certain we remembered and recognized birthdays, accomplishments and recently a wedding. We thought that if we continued to keep a door opened and continued to try to wipe the slate clean, reconciliation would eventually come. My brother and his family are all Christians so I knew it was only a matter of time before God would reconcile us but, even knowing that, after nine years you start to think it won't come soon. 

With my recent birthday, I received an annual letter from my brother. This time between the lines were the words "I'm sorry." Although the rest of the letter ate at me, it forced me to stand on knowing the very truths of God and His characteristics rather than give into the emotions of the letter and all of the stuff in the past now glaring at me in ink on the pages. There was a crack in the fortress of separation and I knew God could use that crack if I was willing. 

However, I confess that I wasn't as willing as I would like to admit to being. The previous week, Pastor Max reminded the congregation that we Christians should have true friends that are willing to tell you the truth when no one else is willing, calling those people "Nathan's" after King David's trusted friend and advisor Nathan. I was going to call and chat with my "Nathan's"  honestly hoping people would say I was justified not to step through the opening in the fortress but, God asked me to trust Him. During my daily time with God, I was in Exodus at Chapter 34 when God started speaking so I sat in 34 the rest of that week as I struggled with forgiveness. Then I had started praying Psalm 46 after talking with one of our church's elder, GW Robinson, about his "be still and know God" challenge. GW had spent a month being still before God and shared with me how difficult it was at first then how truly freeing it was once he learned how to be still focusing on God. In case God speaking through Scripture wasn't enough, my Bible cover case also had Psalm 46:10 on it as a daily reminder. For me, I learned that being still was to vacate my role of control over my life allowing God to lead while also standing firm in the truths of God not allowing emotion to overrun replacing the truth.

So much of Psalm 46 spoke to me especially the part about God ending the wars, destroying the weapons and burning the shields. I felt like God was telling me He would refine me through this test causing me to put down my self-made protection and my weapons to trust His abilities. 

And lastly, the song by Tenth Avenue North "Losing" kept playing in my head.

Chaunce, Lauren and Sarah were my sounding boards that week which I really appreciated, as I continued to struggle between God's truth, abilities, desires and the emotions whirling inside me tied to my brother's letter. The message was loud and clear. It was time to walk in the way of Jesus walking out 70 x 7. (Matthew 18:21-22)  

On Saturday, August 10th (2013), with my brother and his family starting their vacation 1 1/2 miles down the beach from where Chaunce and I were enjoying our day trip, we decided to walk down to say 'hi' not knowing what to expect. We agreed to stay only 30 minutes in case things went sour... we ended up staying 3 hours. There was true forgiveness on both sides for the first time as we all left the past in the past deciding to go forward from "hi!" 

The emotion of what God did hit me at church the next day where I cried through worship and Max's lesson. There are so many big and terrible issues for God to care about and yet He cared about this tiny, insignificant detail - a family squabble turned war turned exile - because He is a God of reconciliation and He is defined by unconditional love!

As always, God teaches, coaches and encourages. He is clear in His messages and intent. What I need to remember is that God is very able, willing and capable to complete these desires of our hearts when those desires line up with His desires; in this case forgiveness and reconciliation. 

Not sure why I don't trust Him more. I guess that is another lesson to be learned with God.