CHRIST AND ISRAEL’S FUTURE

“From him comes the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together” (Zech. 10:4 NKJV).

This verse speaks about the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ which will be the salvation and deliverance of the nation of Israel. Thus, we want to note four things which the Lord Jesus is to Israel - the pattern, the peg, the protection, and the prince.

Pattern - “From Him comes the cornerstone.” The “cornerstone” was a stone used as the pattern for the rest of the building. It was not a decorative piece as cornerstones are today. The Lord Jesus Christ is the pattern, the guide for all our lives. If our lives do not line up according to the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are out of line.

Peg - “From Him the tent peg.” This refers to the large “peg” in oriental homes where things of value were hung. Further, the “peg” would lift the object hung on it to a place of honor and glory. When Israel is hung on the “peg” of the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel will have its greatest glory. So it is with individuals. When we are attached to the Lord Jesus Christ, our greatest honor is achieved.

Protection – “From Him the battle bow.” One of the main battle equipment in Bible days was the “bow.” The Lord Jesus will be Israel’s “bow” in time of battle and will protect Israel from the enemy. And so the Lord Jesus is the Great Protector. He protects the redeemed from the wrath of God just as a great army protects a nation from the attack of an enemy nation.

Prince - “From Him every ruler together.” The message here is that the Lord Jesus Christ will rule over all rulers and will bring peace to Israel. He is also the One who will bring peace to the heart of the redeemed. Believers in the Lord Jesus have not only been given peace with God, but also peace of heart. No one brings peace like the Lord Jesus.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“To be in Christ is the source of the Christian’s life; to be like Christ is the sum of His excellence; to be with Christ is the fullness of His joy!”

Charles Hodge (1797 – 1878)

Reformed Presbyterian Theologian and Seminary Principal

Word Study

Escaped

In 2 Peter 1:4 we read, “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust!” (NKJV).

Escaped is the Greek word apopheúgō (ἀποφεύγω =ap-of-yoo'-go). It is made up of two words: “apo” which means from, and “pheúgō” which means run away, seek safety by flight. Thus, the word means to escape completely, flee away from. In classical Greek apopheúgō meant to escape or to flee from. It was also used in a legal sense of being acquitted, to escape the accusations. In the Septuagint, apopheúgō meant to escape or to leave. In the New Testament, apopheúgō also carried the idea of escape. Every believer has completely, effectively escaped from the “stench” of the corruption. We must now act on this truth in faith; we must put this truth into practice and make daily choices that are in line with our position in Christ.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day” (Psalm 91:5 KJV).

Did You Know…

If an Israelite captured and married a woman from a city they took in battle, she must shave her head, cut her nails, and mourn for her father and mother for a month (Deut. 21:12-14).

Bible Quiz

What was God’s judgment on Miriam for speaking against Moses?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: What happened to the soldiers who were commanded to throw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace? The flames were so hot it killed the soldiers (Dan. 3:22).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“FAITHFUL AND TRUE”

"Now 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!” (1 John 5:20 NKJV).

1. Meaning – FAITHFUL AND TRUE speaks of the Lord Jesus as the One who is trustworthy and dependable.

2. Insights – The Lord Jesus Christ is faithful because He fulfills everything the Scriptures reveal of and about Him; and He is true because He personifies truth (John 14:6). He is also Judge, for “in righteousness He judges and makes war.” Further, since the Lord is righteous, He does righteousness - His righteousness is what judges and wars against all that is unrighteous. His holy nature demands a holy, righteous reaction to sin. Note also that the war which the Lord wages is not a war of ambition; it is not for the mere purpose of conquest; it is to save the righteous, and to punish the wicked. The Lord Jesus came the first time as Savior; He will return as Judge.

Did You Know – Christian History

Martin Chemnitz was born November 9, 1522, in Chemnitz, born in Treuenbrietzen, Germany. He was a German, Evangelical Lutheran Theologian, and Reformer.

Chemnitz had to labor hard for his education; his father died when he was a young man. In the course of time, however, he became a student at the University in Wittenberg where Philip Melanchthon impressed him. And although Luther was conducting the Reformation at the time, Chemnitz paid little attention to what he was saying. Studying math, he had become so wrapped up in astrology that he was little use for anything else.

Fortunately, Melanchthon was able to steer him toward theology. Although at first Chemnitz made his living as a librarian and astrologer, he finally recognized the futility of astrology and turned his entire thoughts to theology, reading the works of the church fathers and the theologians of his own day.

In theological discussions, Chemnitz allowed reason and Scripture to speak for him. One of his best-known books was Loci Theologici, a commentary on Melanchthon’s theology. In it, Chemnitz staunchly defended the doctrine of justification by faith alone. In other writings, he defended Luther’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper and the church’s ancient teaching that Jesus is both God and man. There was also his Examination of the Council of Trent. However, for Lutherans, his most important contribution was his part in drafting the Formula of Concord which settled the doctrinal disputes on the basis of Scripture and largely succeeded in restoring unity among Lutherans.

It has been said that “If the second Martin had not come, the first Martin would not have stood.” This saying from 17th Century refers to Chemnitz (second Martin) and Luther (first Martin). It means that the writings of Martin Chemnitz rescued Lutheran theology and helped unify the Lutheran church following the Reformation. Aside from Luther, Chemnitz is regarded as the most important theologian in the history of the Lutheran Church and unquestionably the greatest second-generation Lutheran theologian. In his later years, Chemnitz turned down several offers of high positions, content to remain a pastor and educator. Chemnitz died in 1586.

A Little Humor

Three people were visiting and viewing the Grand Canyon - an artist, a pastor and a cowboy. As they stood on the edge of that massive abyss, each one responded with a cry of exclamation. The artist said, “Ah, what a beautiful scene to paint!” The minister cried, “What a wonderful example of the handiwork of God!” The cowboy mused, “What a terrible place to lose a cow!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Avoid the husks - If sin were not deceitful, it wouldn’t seem delightful!”