Author: a writer Sharing Christ

6. Beloved Above All

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Gaze up into the starry heavens and behold the myriads of bright shining gems swirling endlessly into the infinitude of space. You are viewing the work of my Beloved!

Peer into an electron microscope (others aren’t powerful enough) and behold a strand of human DNA containing the blueprints for life. This is the wisdom of my Beloved!

Go to the place that marks eternity, a hill called Calvary, and behold a Man, the Son of God, in agony upon a tree dying for my sin. This is the wonder of my Beloved!

The very One who has all authority and created all things gave His all that He might offer salvation to all. God has given this special, unique and perfect Son a name above all others.

“I think that I shall never see
A hill so dear as Calvary.
Nor yet a tree so sweet and fair
As cruel man once planted there.
And oh, I know, I’ll never find
A love so gracious and so kind
A love so deep, so high, so broad
As issued from the heart of God
When He leaned down to you and me,
And hung His Son upon that tree.

“He hath loved thee, and He knows
All thy fears and all thy foes;
Victor thou shalt surely be
Ever through His love to thee.
Rest in quiet joy on this, —
Greater love hath none than His:
And may this thy life-song be
Love to Him that loveth thee!”

-Frances Ridley Havergal 

The love of God is a sea so immense
That at eternity’s end, we’d only commence
To have explored its every shore.
For as we muse on this, we glimpse still more.

This love we endeavor to show to others
To strangers, friends, sisters, brothers.
To walk in love as even He loved
Until He calls us to that endless shore above.

-Submitted

“What is thy beloved more than another beloved?”

Song of Songs 5:9

1)    Incomparable in His Person, His Worth

  • In Him “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” Col 1:19
  • God has given Him a name “above every name” Phil 2:9 “Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”  Eph 1:21
  • His purpose and path was always to please the Father (John 8:29)
  • He is the “Firstborn among many brethren.” Rom 8:29

2)   Incomparable in the Price He paid, His Work

  • He “sold all that he had” (Matt 13:46) What more could He give than His life? What more could He grant than life with Himself?
  • He gave Himself a ransom for all (1Tim 2:6)
  • He loved me, and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20)
  • He was “Exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” Mark 14:34. “Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.” Lam. 1:12
  • “He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” Col. 1:18

3)   Incomparable in His Power and Glory, His Wonder

  • “His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.” Mark 9:3, “Above the brightness of the sun” Acts 26:13
  • Rev 5:13  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
  • He is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” Eph 1:21
  • All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Matt 28:18
  • He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Col 1:15

4)   Incomparable in His Promises & Blessing to His own.

His gifts ought to bring us nearer to His person. If we receive a gift from our loved one on a special day, does it cause our heart to go out to the gift or to the giver?

  • “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.” 2Co 1:20 
  • “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature…” 2Pet 1:3-4

A) Our blessing in His Person:

  • Eph 3:19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

We should note that this is not in the same sense as Col. 1:19.

B) Our blessing in His Price:

  • And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39
  • As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Cor. 6:10
  • “For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” 1 Cor 3:21-23

C) Our blessing in His Power & Glory: 

  • And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2Co 9:8 
  • And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Dan 12:3 
  • “after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1Pet 5:10
  • “so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Eph 5:27 
  • “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Eph. 1:18-23

“…yea, He is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend”

Song of Songs 5:16

Quotations  ESV and KJV

5. “Bondage to Blessing”

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“I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:11

When sinners come to the Savior, they find a bright future. When saints return from backsliding, they find a forgiving father. The following could be applied either way… I’ll give a few of the thoughts that have come to me, and you can fill in more!

 

  • “A future and a hope” 29:11
    • At one time when we were “without Christ” we were “without hope.” (Eph 2:12)
    • After finding Christ, we have hope that is an anchor (Heb 6:19), armor (1Thes. 5:8), blessed anticipation (Tit 2:13), and it can be abounding (Rom 15:13)
  • “ye shall find me” 29:13-14
    • At one time we sought not God (Rom 3:11) and God’s truth was hidden to us (Luke 10:21, 2 Cor 4:3)
    • Now in Christ we discover wonderful things:
      • hidden life in God (Col 3:3)
      • hidden wisdom in Christ (Col. 2:3)
      • hidden revelations of God’s eternal plan (Col 1:26)
  • “your fortunes” 29:14
    • Christ met us in our poverty and became poor, and through His povery we become rich. (2Cor 8:9) He who said “shew me a penny” showed us His love in the giving of Himself. Now we can take up the work of “making many rich” (2Cor 6:10).
  • “gather you” – Fellowship 29:14, 30:21
    • Throughout our Bible we learn time and again that sin separates. But God gathers us unto Himself and with His people.
    • “who would dare risk his life to approach Me?” says the Lord. Yet consider what He has brought us into!
  • fearless 30:10
    • Once we feared God’s presence. But as believers God has not given us a spirit of fear (2Tim 1:7). Perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18)
  • fortification 30:10
  • forgiveness, healing 30:17, 31:34
    • In Christ, the incurable is cured, the unbridgeable is spanned, the unlovable is loved, the imperfect is perfected, the unknowable is known.
  • favor and love 31:3
    • Accepted in the beloved! Eph 1:6 “Behold what manner of love”! 1John 3:1
  • fruitful 31:5
    • Once we, like Onesimus, were unprofitable (Rom 3:12)
    • Christ, in death, has brought forth much fruit. (Jn 12:24)
    • Now we can be fruitful in knowledge (2Pet 1:8), holiness (Rom 6:22), the Spirit (Gal. 5:22– love, joy, peace…), goodness, righteousness & truth (Eph 5:9), good works (Col. 1:10), worship (Heb 13:15).
    • After the fall of man, the earth did not bring forth her fruit as it once did, and the tree of life could not be eaten. One day the tree of life will be seen again and this time enjoyed. (Rev. 22:2)
  • “I am a father” 31:9

    • “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!” 1John 3:1

  • ~NB 

4. Borne & Brought

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“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.” Exodus 19:4   

 

 

“I bare you” – “to lift”; let’s compare New Testament “to lift” (Strong’s #142) 

 

An old burden lifted 

Jn. 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  

In order to lift us up, He had to take away our Sin. 

 

A new blessing enjoyed 

Mat. 4:6 “He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”  

                  Now in Christ we enjoy His watchful care and Safety. 

 

A new burden of love 

Mat. 11:29  “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;” – Service 

Mat. 16:24 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Sacrifice 

 

The paralytic man in John 5 was so overjoyed to be able to walk that we have no doubt the new burden of the bed whereon he had lain was as light as a feather to take up (5:8). Thus the cross our Lord gives to us ought to be a joy to bear in the realization of what He has done for us. The paralytic’s habits had totally changed, and they were in stark contrast to the religious system around him. When we go from darkness to light, our lives become new and we become truly different from the religious system of works around us. He has taken out of the way the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (Col. 2:14). 

 

 

“on Eagles’ wings” 

 

Ruth 2:12, Ps. 17:8, 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 63:7, 91:4, Matt. 23:37 – In their shadow is safety and nearness to Him

Note: Did you know that Boaz, a wonderful picture of Christ, had “wings”? Can you find the second reference to this word in Ruth? (Hint: It is only translated once in Ruth as “wings”. You may need a Strong’s concordance.)

 

 

“and brought you unto Myself” 

 

As the Eagle brings her falling, faltering offspring into the nest, so our Father brought us safely to Himself. 

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son… 

 

Not only has the Father brought us into favor and fellowship with Himself, but the Son promises to bring us physically to Himself and the Father. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  

 

He came that we might go, 

He went that we might come. 

He died that He might save, 

He lives to bring us home. 

  

Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to the cross where Thou hast died 

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord to Thyself now glorified. – Fanny Crosby

 

~NB

3. “Follow Me”

a writer Sharing Christ Exhortation 0 Comment

 

What should the Lord’s words mean to the Christian, a follower of Christ?

 

Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

It means a new trade.

Not necessarily an employment change, but we have a new purpose in life: to live Christ before others and win them to the Savior.

 

Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

 

It means leaving familiar ties.

Not turning our backs on them, but choosing Christ over natural inclinations that would lead us away from Him.

 

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

 

It means leaving treasure.

Not necessarily giving away all we own, but what we are and have now belongs to Christ. We are stewards of His goods and we should be “willing to distribute.”

 

 

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

 

It means a trusting relationship.

Now this is what makes life worth living. A relationship with Christ is everything.

 

Joh 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps…

 

It means a tree.

Suffering comes before glory.

 

If we’re following someone, that means we’re doing similar works to those of our Master.

 

The Lord Jesus always did the will of His Father in Heaven.

What did this mean to Him?

 

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 

For Him it wasn’t a mere change of jobs. It meant a trip to planet earth, a whole new world, a life of humiliation and suffering. Because He came He is now able to be our Advocate and Great High Priest, our Helper and Friend.

 

 

Luk 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

 

The Lord Jesus taught the value of heavenly ties over earthly ones. On another line, though we would not say His communion with the Father was ever broken, the cry from the cross to a holy God who forsook the suffering Savior will always impress our hearts.

 

 

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

Who could give more treasure than the Lord Jesus? Who could pay the price that He paid?

We know none other could ever come close to His poverty nor to the riches He brought us.

He left the glories of heaven to rescue a sin-cursed earth. He paid for our forgiveness with His own blood and gave us a way to have a living, loving relationship with His own Father. He bore our weight of shame, suffering and wrath upon a cruel tree.

 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

~NB

2. Cursing to Blessing

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“The LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you.”

Deuteronomy 23:5 ESV

 

I am interested in thinking upon various instances where God turned what men thought (or could have thought) to be a curse into a blessing. There are many more like these.

1.   Crying to Crowning: Joseph’s circumstances were terrible, and he could have thought his situation to be a terrible curse. First hated by his brothers, then sold into Egypt, wrongly thrown into prison, and forgotten by those he sought to help, his situation seemed only to be one of defeat after defeat. Yet God had not forgotten him, and had a wondrous future prepared for him. Eventually God brought Joseph to be the head over all the land of Egypt, giving him the privilege of being the instrument to save many people (including his family) from death in a great famine. Through his trials his brethren are brought to repentance and his family is united without the previous hostility. Through Joseph’s experiences we have a wondrous Old Testament picture of the person of Christ.

2.   Hiring to Helping: In Numbers 23 Balaam was hired to curse Israel, but God turned his desired curse into a blessing. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

3.   Division to Distinction: In Genesis 49:7 the tribe of Levi is cursed; “Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” God turned this curse into a blessing, for though they were scattered throughout Israel, they became the priestly tribe because they stood for God in a day of departure (Exodus 32:26). As such they were provided for by the other tribes, and received the best Israel had to offer since a portion of certain offerings was theirs. Furthermore, they were chosen to bless others, Deut. 21:5.

4.   Plotting to Protecting: The book of Esther tells of wicked Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, and an edict was proclaimed to destroy them. This potential curse was turned into a great blessing: a second edict was made leading to the destruction of those who hated God’s people, and Haman was hanged upon his own gallows. “Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.” 1 Sam. 2:30

5.   Suffering to Shining: In Philippians 1:12 we read of Paul’s difficulties and persecutions leading to the furtherance of the gospel. His light affliction which was “but for a moment” prepared for him an eternal weight of glory without comparison.

6.   Crucified to Conquering: Ours was a curse too great for us to bear, but Christ was made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). Because of Calvary, for those who He redeems, death has lost its sting (1Cor. 15:55), sin has lost its dominion (Rom. 6:14), the second death has lost its power (Rev. 20:6), and the wicked one has lost his hold (1John 5:18).

I also enjoyed a recent article in Truth and Tidings which spoke of how a friend of Tyndale was ordered to collect all the Bibles he could get his hands on and send them to be burned, and in return he would receive a sum of money. He carried out the request, but sent the money to help print more Bibles. For every Bible burned, four more were made possible! God makes even His enemies to aid in the fulfillment of His good purpose.

Each of us has experiences where God brought good from what seemed to be a sad turn of events. How good is our God!

~NB

  

Readers’ Additional Thoughts:

1-17-08 This meditation makes me think of the verse, “all things work together for good to them that love God” Rom. 8:28. Jeremiah 18:4 also comes to mind, where the clay was ruined in the hands of the potter. A useful, good vessel was from that clay. “BROKEN TO BENEFICIAL” :)

 

1. Sorrow Before Song

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Passages Considered:

Psalm 22, Psalm 69, Isaiah 53, 2 Samuel 22, Song of Solomon

 

The Sorrows of Calvary must needs have come before we could sing Songs of Victory and Songs of Love.

Calvary‘s blood is the spring from which the blessing of God may flow to those who stoop to drink.

I trust you will readily see the New Testament applications that may be drawn from these Old Testament Songs.

 

Why must my Saviour sink ‘neath mire?

Why must the floods o’erflow?

Why must He cry, forsaken be,

in agony brought low?

 

It was my sin He had to bear,

there was no other way

for me to be brought nigh to Him,

Be brought from night to day.

 

From death He has the victory,

and I of Him shall sing;

He is my Lover and my Friend:

I will my praises bring.

 

No earthly beauty met their eye,

yet those who find Him see

the Chiefest of ten thousand bore

my load and set me free!

 

 

Our Savior passed through the

Sorrows of Death

 

A “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing

B I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” Psalm 69:2

C “O my God,

D I cry in the daytime… night season

E but thou hearest not;” Psalm 22:2

F “when we shall see him, there is no beauty

G that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2 “…this also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock” Psalm 69:31

H Garden of Languishing: “being in an agony he prayed more earnestly” Luke 22:44

I “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Psalm 69:21

 

J “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30

 

His Sorrows of Death enable us to sing

Songs of Deliverance – 2 Samuel 22

 

A “the LORD was my support” v19 ESV

B “he drew me out of many waters.” v17

C “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;… he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour;” v2-3

D “For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.” v29

E “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice” v7

F “thy gentleness hath made me great.” v36

G “he delighted in me.” v20

H Place of Liberty: “He brought me forth also into a large place” v20

I “For thou hast girded me with strength to battle” v40

 

J “Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD… and I will sing praises unto thy name.” v50

 

His Sorrows of Death fill us with

Songs of Delight – Song of Solomon

 

A “…leaning upon her beloved” 8:5

B “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” 8:7

C “My love“, “My beloved“

D “the day of the gladness of his heart.” 3:11

E “The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh…” 2:8,10

F “Behold, you are beautiful, my love” 4:1 ESV

G “in the day of the gladness of his heart.” 3:11

H Garden of Love: “Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.” 4:16

I “Let my beloved… eat his pleasant fruits.” 4:16

 

J “The song of songs” 1:1

 

~NB