Psalm 65:1-2:
1 TO YOU belongs silence (the submissive wonder of reverence which bursts forth into praise) and praise is due You, O God, in Zion, and to You shall the vow be performed. 2 O You Who hear prayer, to You shall all flesh come.
When we take the time to "be still and know that He IS God" we will come to that place of submissive wonder and reverence! The purpose of our being still and knowing He is God (Psalm 46:10 - the ONLY time that instruction is found!), is so that we CAN know Him! That's when we can "burst forth into praise" from our whole hearts! He longs for that type of praise from His people! All flesh will come to HIM! Why? Because He IS the ONE with the answers (John 6:68), the Truth! Where else would you want to go?
Mark 15 covers very briefly the scourging, mocking, crucifying, death and burial of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus of Nazareth! The Movie "The Passion of the Christ" has a few inaccuracies in it, but it is by far the very best and most realistic of all of the movies made of this sacrifice that Jesus made! Here, again, is a picture of what the thorns they used to weave a "crown" for Jesus really looked like!
What horrible weapons of torture! Than YOU, Jesus!
Isaiah 43-44 go right along with everything here today! Isaiah 43:1:
1 BUT NOW , thus says the LORD, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
Verses 10-11:
10 You are My witnesses, says the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know Me, believe Me and remain steadfast to Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no Savior.
Isaiah 44:6-8:
6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts; I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. 7 Who is like Me? Let him [stand and] proclaim it, declare it, and set [his proofs] in order before Me, since I made and established the people of antiquity. [Who has announced from of old] the things that are coming? The let them declare yet future things. 8 Fear not, nor be afraid [ int he coming violent upheavals]; have I not told it to you from of old and declared it? And you are My witnesses! Is there a God besides Me? There is no [other] Rock, I know not any.
Isaiah 44 goes on to describe how the people would cut down a tree, use some for firewood to stay warm, some for the fire to cook their food, then take the leftovers and make an idol that they would then bow down to and worship! Bizarre right? What have YOU received into your life that now consumes a great portion of your time, energy and resources to maintain, so that you now have much less time to spend in the Word of God and prayer? OUCH! Check yourself so that you can stay in that place of intimate fellowship with your LORD! The One, True,. Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Then verses 24-26:
24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and He Who formed you from the womb: I am the LORD, Who made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who spread out the earth by Myself [who was with Me]? -- 25 [I am the LORD] Who frustrates the signs and confounds the omens [upon which the false prophets' forecasts of the future are based] of the [boasting] liars and makes fools of diviners, Who turns the wise backward and makes their knowledge foolishness, 26 [The LORD] Who confirms the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers, Who says of Jerusalem, She shall [again] be inhabited (DONE!), and of the cities of Judah, They shall [again] be built (DONE!), and I will raise up their ruins.
He IS our Lord and personal Savior, IF we have received His free gift of Salvation. BUT, He is NOT done with Israel yet! He HAS blessed Israel, IS blessing Israel, and will CONTINUE to bless Israel in the future! He will also continue to bless all of those who will also bless and pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem! Be one of THOSE and be MOST-BLESSED! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
