The One who Lifts Up my Head

But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Psalm 3:3

                                Hang down your head, Tom Dooley

                                Hang down your head and cry                                                                                 Hang down your head, Tom Dooley    

                               Poor boy, you're bound to die.

                                                          From an American folk song

We've all done things we are not proud of. Worry, guilt, and shame are heavy burdens that bow us down before the god of this world who deceived us into thinking that sin is fun. Some people never get over it. They go through their lives with their heads hung down as slaves to their own self-destruction. Others come to Jesus, who is the One who lifts up their heads.

Christ is the one who is above it all: above the hustle and bustle of modern society, above the pettiness of what other people think, and above the circumstances that complicate our lives and pull us down.

Jesus is the “High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: " I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

The Apostle Paul totally understood it: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Things don't always go my way. I even remember failures from thirty and forty years in the past and shudder. But then, I also remember that Jesus took away my sin and my shame. He is the One who lifts up my head. 

King of Israel

"Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
John 1:49

Most Christians remember Peter's bold declaration of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), but Nathaniel's equally strong affirmation that Jesus was the Messiah is often overlooked even though it was given a year or two before the other. It might be because Nathaniel is called Bartholomew in the other gospels or that “King of Israel” is not recognized for what it is: a messianic title.

The Lord Jesus is a king many times over. When He returns to this planet, He will have to sit through many coronation ceremonies. He'll be crowned King of kings, King of Peace, King of Righteousness, King of the Jews, and King of the Saints. However, before any of these other honors can be bestowed, He will be given His long overdue position of King of Israel.

When King David crossed back over the Jordan after fleeing Absolom's rebellion, the tribe of Judah insisted that they be the first to welcome back the king, because they were of His kinsmen.

In the same way, the redeemed of every nation are ready to shout Hosanna and crown their Savior, King of the whole earth, but first and foremost the converted Jewish nation will receive their Messiah as the King of Israel.

                                  Crown Him with many crowns
                                  The Lamb upon His throne;
                                  Hark how the heavenly anthem drowns
                                 All music but its own.
                                 Awake, my soul, and sing
                                 Of Him who died for thee
                                And hail Him as thy matchless King
                                Through all eternity.

                                                              Matthew Bridges (1800-1893)

*see also Isaiah 44:6; Matthew 27:42; Mark 15:32; John 12:13

Fearful in Praises

"Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Exodus 15:11

The scene of the parting of the Red Sea in Ceal B. DeMille's epic film The Ten Commandments is one of the most famous and memorable special effects shots of classic cinematography. However, standing on the beach with the children of Israel 3,500 years ago would have been so much more impressive.

The emotional swing from the terror of fleeing from a huge Egyptian army to the elation of seeing all ones enemies totally destroyed would have been intense. Being eye witnesses of God's awesome power invoked a sense of gratitude that was spontaneously released in song: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (Exodus 15:1). There must have been great joy, but also a little timidity in their voices while singing to the One who is Fearful in Praises.

If God's triumph over Egypt was awe inspiring, Christ's victory over sin, death, and hell at the cross of Calvary was even more so. Satan and his demon army were defeated forever and they never saw it coming. The awesomeness of this victory makes Christians of all centuries want to sing: 

                           When He rolls up His sleeves
                          He ain't just putting on the Ritz
                          (Our God is an awesome God)
                          There's thunder in His footsteps
                          And lightning in His fists
                         (Our God is an awesome God)
                          And the Lord wasn't joking when He kicked 'em out of Eden
                          It wasn't for no reason that He shed His blood
                          His return is very close and so you better be believing that
                          Our God is ...“Fearful in Praises”

                                                 adapted from Rich Mullings (1955-1997)

The Door

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9

Doors come in many shapes and sizes. It can be as simple as a slab of ice that covers the opening to an igloo or an inlaid ivory and gold masterpiece before the throne room of the king. When all is said and done, a door is just a device that allows easy access to a place that was designed to keep other things out.

Some doors come equipped with locks or even armed guards which determine who can go in and who stays out. A bank would be worthless if everyone could go in and out anytime they wanted. 

         Heaven has a Door. His name is Jesus. In Luke 16, Christ told a story about a very rich man (unlisted name) and a very, very poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus was a believer and the other guy wasn’t. In the end, they both died. After his fancy funeral, the soul of the billionaire was cast into Hades. Lazarus died full of sores on some side street; no one paid much attention. That is, no one except for Jesus.

When his body was cold, the angels of God carried his soul to paradise and he was cradled in Abraham’s bosom. When the rich man saw that, he wanted to go there too – Not Allowed! Then, he wanted that lowly Lazarus to bring him some water – Not Allowed!

People don’t get to heaven just because they want in or even because they think they deserve it. The bottom line of the story is explained in the chorus of the African-American spiritual, “Rock my Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.”

          So high, you can’t get over it
                   So wide, you can’t get around it
                   So low, you can’t get under it
                   You gotta go through the Door

Seed of the Woman

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."
Genesis 3:15

          The words above come from the curse of the LORD on the serpent after the fall of Man in the Garden of Eden. The identification of the “Seed of the Woman” with Christ Jesus goes a long way back to at least the teachings of Irenaeus, a second century church father and apologist. For centuries it has been hailed as the earliest reference to the Messiah in the Bible and is considered a legitimate name of Christ.

          The interpretation of God’s pronouncement of judgment on the devil was that the Savior dealt a death blow to the “old serpent” at Golgotha, the place of the skull. Satan’s doom was sealed at that point, even though when Jesus died as a substitute for sinful man, the devil stuck Him at His heel when His feet were nailed to the cross. Christ rose from the dead and broke the evil one’s claim over death. Lucifer has not and will never recover from his defeat at Mount Calvary.

          It’s important to note that victory over the devil came through the Seed of the Woman and not the seed of man or Adam’s seed. Jesus was virgin-born and so, had no human father. He was God’s Son. In giving this very first recorded title of Christ, God eliminated every other man born on earth.

                   Verily God, yet become truly human
                   Lower than angels – to die in our stead;
                   How hast Thou, long-promised “Seed of the Woman”
                   Trod on the serpent and bruised his head!

                                                          H. D’Arcy Champney (1854-1942)

Wonderful

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

          This well-known “Christmas verse” contains seven important titles of Christ, most of which are unique to this passage. Perhaps the most wonderful of all is Wonderful. It’s not just my opinion of Jesus; it is one of His names.

          In a world where people pay top dollar for entertainment, production studios pay hundreds of millions of dollars to produce mediocre films. Plot and character development are not seen as important as flash and dazzle. Most movie-goers are bored if a film doesn’t have lots of pyrotechnics, sensuality, and computer-generated imagery. It takes an awful lot to impress the average American nowadays.

          These entertainment addicted individuals are usually turned off by religion and totally uninterested in the Lord Jesus Christ. Such a pity. He offers the excitement they seem to crave and can transform them in real and meaningful ways. They don’t know Him and they don’t know that He is Wonderful.

          All I can say to those who are addicted to stimulus and troubled by reality is that I can get them an appointment with a Great Counselor that can set them free from their vices. To those who think they’re all alone in their world, I’d like to introduce them to the Mighty God. To those who are afraid to die, I’d like to show them the Everlasting Father and to them who have given up on world peace, I know the Prince of Peace. Jesus is all these things and He is truly Wonderful!

Wonderful, Wonderful
          Jesus is to me
          Counselor, Prince of Peace
          Mighty God is He
          Saving me keeping me
          From all sin and shame
          Wonderful is my Redeemer
          Praise His name!
                              Haldor Lillenas (1885-1959)

Christ the Lord

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

There are two unusual facts about this title. The first is that it occurs only once in scripture. The second is that it came from a non-human source.

Lots of preachers and hymn writers use the phrase Christ the Lord. That's understandable, since it is a title combination of two of the most common names of God’s Son. In the Bible, it is only proclaimed at the birth of the Savior.

The birth announced of the Messiah emphasized the most significant event in human history, or in the history of the universe for that matter. God Almighty took on human form and even experienced childbirth to be able to reach his fallen creation. It made sense that the angel of the Lord would announce it backed up by a great celestial chorus. The surprising thing was that those who heard the news weren’t the movers and shakers of the world, but poor, cold, and frightened shepherds. The Who’s Who of the world weren’t worthy to receive the announcement that proclaimed a name found nowhere else in the Word of God.

The heavenly messenger proclaimed that Christ the Lord was born. The first part acknowledged that God's Anointed had finally arrived. By calling Him “Lord” the angel acknowledged that He was the boss and commander-in-chief of every angel present that day.

         Christ the Lord is risen on high!

Sing ye heav'ns, and earth reply

He endured the cross, the grave,

Sinners to redeem and save.

                                                         Unknown

Unchanging Lord

" For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”
Malachi 3:1

When people list the attributes of God, Immutability is usually there. That is the stuffy, theological word meaning “unchanging.” God’s character never changes and that’s a good thing. People on the other hand can become happy or sad depending on the time of day, room temperature, and degree of hunger. Mood swings can happen in an instant depending on circumstances, so immutability is not a human quality.

The book of Hebrews describes the Lord Jesus: “Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail"  (Hebrews 1:12). As our great Unchanging Lord, He can be counted on to always be holy, loving, approachable, understanding, forgiving, patient, available, comforting, and real. The exciting thing about this is that He’ll be the same way tomorrow and next year. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 

In the Muslim religion, Allah can change his mind and act differently with different people because he is "almighty" and answerable to no one. Although at times some Christians feel God has become distant and unresponsive, it is the human heart that changes and not the Unchanging Lord.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)

Morning Star

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19

The lights of the big cities make even basic astronomy difficult to observe. For that reason, modern man knows less about the night sky than the average person did a century ago. One thing, however, is still readily visible even for the least experienced observer – the morning star.

Although three celestial bodies will share the title at different times during the year, a morning star is the last star to be still seen shining as the sun begins to rise. The brightest star in the heavens is Sirius, found in the constellation Canis Major, but in July and August it’s hailed as the morning star. The planets Venus and Mercury also compete for the title at other times during the year.

The Lord Jesus shines in the hearts of believers and that light has gone into very dark places. Its brilliance can be seen through depression and despair. Even during divorce or the loss of a loved one, the Savior can be seen. When other points of reference seem to disappear, our Morning Star still shines in His full glory.

Who is this, who comes to meet me,

                   On the desert way,

As the Morning Star foretelling

God’s unclouded day?

He it is who came to win me,

                   On the cross of shame;

In His glory well I know Him,

                   Evermore the same.

Gerhard Tersteegen 1697

*see also Revelation 2:28 and 22:16

Sure Foundation

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: " Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Isaiah 28:16

Our home is built about 100 feet in front of a one acre man-made lake. The house itself is about six feet higher than the water to prevent flooding. In order to get that elevation several dump truck loads of fill dirt were brought in. All was done according to the architect's plan, however, over the years the ground settled and the porch has started moving away from the rest of the house.

The main house has a very deep foundation and is in good shape. The slab for the porch, however, was just poured over the tampered ground, so never really had a sure foundation. The porch has gradually pulled away from the rest of the house, leaving a 2 inch gap. I’ve filled in the crack with caulking and concrete but basically have only hidden the problem rather than fix it. To really fix it, I would need to tear out the porch and put in a new foundation.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the sure foundation for those who choose to build their lives on faith in Him. The Savior remains firm even though shifting sands of modern society  pull down the foolish ones who built their lives on the goals and values of popular opinion.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

“Keen” 1787

Shepherd

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1

           This psalm might be the most well-known portion of the Old Testament. It is commonly read at funerals, quoted in greeting cards, and has been set to music. But to most, it is just a pretty poem that doesn’t fit the reality of their lives. It says, “I shall not want,” but they have plenty of wants: money, things, power, fame, pleasure, and if they do get those things they want even more; they are never satisfied.

          The problem is that most people can’t say, “The LORD is my shepherd.” To do so would be to admit that they were like sheep and they needed to follow someone who actually knew the way. The prophet Isaiah nailed it: “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). A sheep that won’t follow the shepherd always gets lost, even if the shepherd brings it back to the fold. Sooner or later that sheep becomes wolf food. Sheep really can’t take care of themselves, especially the really dumb one who prides itself on its independence.  

        In 1868, Elizabeth Clephane wrote the following poem that later became a hymn: 
There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold;
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare;
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

           The next three stanzas describe how the Shepherd searches and suffers to find the sheep until it cries out for help. The last verse concludes:

And all through the mountains, thunder-riv’n,
And up from the rocky steep,
There arose a glad cry to the gate of heav’n,
“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne,
“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!”

Shadow of the Almighty

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

 The element Mercury is the only metal that is actually a liquid at room temperature. Just like other liquids it can evaporate even though the vapor is much heavier than air. Gaseous mercury is invisible, but it can be seen under the right conditions. To view mercury vapor, an open container of the metal is placed on a table. The lights in the room are turned off and a single goose necked lamp is pointed towards the wall. Since mercury as a vapor won’t let light pass through, its shadow can be seen slightly rising and then falling to the floor.

 God not only is invisible, He is spirit, so He is not bound by the laws of chemistry and physics as they are known today. Shadows of the Almighty are sometimes seen in nature. The intricate workings of a living cell demonstrate the complexities of the Creator and an F-5 tornado shows something of the power of the Omnipotent.

 We can see the Lord Jesus with the eyes of faith and although that image isn’t crystal clear, it is a well-defined Shadow of the Almighty. Aspects of the character of God that were unfocused in the Old Testament became well defined in Christ. The grace and salvation of God are brought to whole new levels when viewing the death of the Savior as the Passover Lamb. The teachings of the Master outline to us the mind of God and His way of life shows us the form of the father’s will.

                      O spotless Lamb of God, in Thee

                      The Father’s holiness we see;

                      And with delight Thy children trace,

                      In Thee, His wondrous love and grace.

                                                  Mary J. Walker (1878)

Our Guide even to Death

For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.
Psalm 48:14

  The Amazon rainforest can be a scary place with snakes, tarantulas, and jaguars. And then there are the really dangerous animals like stinging caterpillars and bullet ants. In spite of this, many people are curious to see the jungle, so they employ tour guides who are totally familiar with the territory and know everything there is to know about the great unknown.

Death is an even scarier place, because once you go there, you don’t come back…or at least, almost no one comes back. Christ has been there and done that, so is most wonderfully qualified to be our Guide even to Death.

Jesus is the Way, and we can’t get to heaven except through Him (John 14:6). He is also the Door to any place worth going to (John 10:9). He’s the way to salvation, abundant life, and victory over sin. To get there, He has to lead and we follow. The Lord can also take us through places that we don’t want to go: depression, persecution, tribulation, and grief. There is also that experience we are hard wired to avoid at any cost: death. In knowing Him, Christ can be our Guide even to Death.

 He leadeth me! O blessed tho’t!
           O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!
           Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
           Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me!
           And when my task on earth is done,
          When, by Thy grace, the vict'ry's won,
          E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
          Since God thro' Jordan leadeth me!

                                      Joseph H. Gilmore (1834-1918)

Mediator between God and Man

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:5

         

A mediator is only effective when both sides have confidence in their go-between. Divergent sides with no common ground cannot be brought together unless there is someone standing with one foot firmly in each camp - unless someone takes seriously the interests of both.

Job had many problems but he was afflicted most of all by his loss of fellowship with the living God. Feeling frustrated and rejected he cried out to his maker, “Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both” (Job 9:33). Job longed for a mediator who could get things settled.

Holy God and sinful man - a great gulf separated the two. The vast expanse was uncrossable so a cross was provided. The Creator took on his creature's form and bridged heaven and earth at the moment of the incarnation. Christ Jesus having both the divine and human natures became the true mediator between God and man.

                            God

                            Holy Omnipotent

                            All-seeing Ruling Judging

                            Jesus Christ Savior Lord

                            Feeling Searching Thirsting

                            Living Breathing

                            Man
                                                                         R. Khol

I AM

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

John 8:58

Talk about conversation stoppers. The Pharisees were shocked. They couldn’t believe their ears. Jesus of Nazareth had just called Himself “I AM.” Just moments before He said that He was older than Abraham and now, in effect, He was saying that He was the God of Abraham. They immediately picked up stones to throw at Him.

         

This was no inside joke or subtle allusion. Jesus had blatantly applied one of the most powerful names of God to Himself. They knew the scripture: “God declared to Moses ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'” (Exodus 3:14).

The Jewish leaders didn’t believe the Lord. They refused to have Him rule over them and by doing that, they were guilty of the crime of rejecting the Living God.

When Jesus called Himself the great I AM, He calls all humanity to respond to His claim. To reject or ignore the deity of Christ is to choose not to believe the Master. Believing Him is to praise, worship, and honor Him as the everlasting God.

 By the Spirit all pervading,

 Hosts unnumbered round the Lamb,

 Crowned with light and joy unfading,

 Hail Him as the great “I AM.”

                                 J.N. Darby (1800-1882)

Son of Man

(The favorite title of Christ for Himself).

"I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

Daniel 7:13,14*

The husband was an American and his wife Canadian. The child was both. He wasn’t a little of each, but 100% a citizen of both countries.

         

Jesus Christ is the God-Man. Conceived through the Holy Spirit, He is all that the Almighty ever was or is. Born of a woman, He is fully human and is a credit to His race. Not half God and half man, the Lord Jesus combines deity and humanity without diluting either.

         

As Son of God, Christ is of the family of God and the possessor of God’s nature. As Son of Man, the Lord couldn’t have been more human. There wasn’t an emotion or experience that He couldn’t feel.

Of the two titles, it was Son of Man that He chose to use the most. It was such a special title that with only one exception in the New Testament it always comes from the Lord’s own mouth. The term is powerful and most often refers to a time when the God-Man will reign forever over the human race. However, the Savior made it very clear that first, the Son of Man had to be lifted up, suffer, and die for His creation before this would be possible.

                                    Son of Man, His incarnation

                                    Opened first the tale of grace;

                                    Son of Man, in new creation

                                    Leader of a chosen race!

                                    Well may glory, well may glory,

                                    Give to Him the honored place!

                                                                                    Thomas Kelly

*see also Mark 14:62; Matthew 20:28; John 3:14; Acts 7:56 plus 80 other New Testament references

Jesus

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21*

          The Lord’s human name occurs 983 times in the Word of God. Two thirds of these are in the gospels where it is used most often in the narratives and very rarely in direct address. “Jesus” almost always appears in combination with other titles such as “Christ” or “Lord” when found in the epistles. However, it appears unadorned with any additional title all but six times in the gospels. The most logical explanation for this is that the histories of Christ’s life focus on the reality of His physical presence while the doctrinal books emphasize the relevance of His advent.

          Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua and literally means “Savior.” There was nothing unusual or unfamiliar about this common name in the Roman Empire. Many people hailed by that name to the extent that His detractors found it necessary to call him “Jesus of Nazareth” in order to single Him out.

          The same is true today. The name of Jesus is used as a curse by Christ-rejecters, but speaks of a wonderful Savior to those who love Him. The big difference is the reality of the encounter. For those who do not know Jesus, His name means nothing at all.  To those who love Him, it's beautiful!

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear.

                   John Newton (1725-1807)

*see also John 12:21, 19:19, 21:25; Ephesians 6:24; 2 Peter 1:1 plus 936 other references

The Shadow of a Great Rock

A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

Isaiah 32:2

          One curious fact that I still remember from third grade geography class was that in the Sahara Desert it gets to be 120 °F in the shade. “Boy,” I thought to myself, “I bet people try to stay out of the shade as much as possible.”

My impressions of the desert greatly changed when as an adult I saw one for myself. On the arid wasteland the sun is so intense you can fry an egg on a rock. There’s a lot of wind but it doesn’t cool. It just pushes hot dry air on your face. No trees grow anywhere and the only shade that can be found is what you bring for yourself.

The only relief from the hostility of the elements is found in the mountains at the very edge of the desert. Great walls of rock rise high above the burning sand and break the fury of the furnace-like air. Overhangs and huge cracks in the stone capture the coolness of the previous evening and the shadow of a great rock can provide a place of refuge from the heat even at noonday.

This sin-ravished world is like the desert. It’s a hard and unsympathetic place. We are like sun scorched travelers who are burned by their own ungodliness, as well as by the sinfulness of others. When the burden gets really heavy and life seems almost unbearable, people don’t want religion or even reformation, they want rest. Jesus said, “Come to me... and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

 Beneath the cross of Jesus
          I fain would take my stand,
          the shadow of a mighty rock
          within a weary land;
          a home within the wilderness,
          a rest upon the way,
          from the burning of the noontide heat,
          and the burden of the day.

                             Elizabeth Clephane (1830-1869)