Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 15.Sunday, July 29,2018
Title: Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 15.
Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David.
The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet."
Psa 110:2 The Lord will stretch forth Thy strong scepter from Zion, saying, "Rule in the midst of Thine enemies."
Psa 110:3 Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn [first light], Thy youth are to Thee as the dew [numerous and beautifully clothed priests].
Psa 110:4 The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, "Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
The Jews knew this as a Messianic passage, as Jesus shows us. How many of them thought it odd that this king of Salem, who has two verses written about his meeting with Abraham, would be the order of the eternal priesthood of the Savior?
The oddity of it should have prepared them for something, or rather someone, whom they didn’t expect.
They berated Jesus for being from Nazareth, from the family of a common merchant, not being educated in the famous universities, not acting and dressing like an important holy man. Shouldn’t they have known to expect the unexpectable?
Shouldn’t you and I in our lives? Doesn’t God show us this throughout the OT? Which one of the sons of Jesse would be king? The youngest who was a shepherd; even Samuel was shocked. Which one of the sons of Joseph should be blessed? The oldest or the youngest? Which of the twins from Rachel should be the heir? The youngest or oldest? Which army should win on the battlefield? The Israel or the Amorite? How many apostles should be elected to evangelize the world? 12 or millions?
If the people of Israel sought Him with all their heart, they would have known this truth; some of them did, but the leadership and most of the populace went about their lives as if the only important thing was getting the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. They were content with what the world expected of them. Their souls were emblazoned with the mark of the world, implanted thinking from without, and it was good enough.
There is a terrible dilemma happening in the western world concerning Christianity, in that many people believe that an in depth knowledge of the word of God is unnecessary. Studying line by line without pizzazz or fanfare has become droll. Church has been thrown in with the cinema, the theater, the smart phone, the internet, and now the news media – entertainment.
The strangeness of God should prepare you to ask, seek, and knock. He is not what you expect. Dig and dig into every letter of the WOG and do not fall for the superficial, entertaining presentation of Christianity.
Please do not fall into it. And please don’t fall asleep during it.
2Ti 2:14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
2Ti 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene.
Imagine if this passage was written during our age of social media and 24/7 news cycle. Isn’t it funny that we all know the same stories and the same happenings from the media on any given day?
Jesus knew that the Pharisees did not discern the truth concerning the Redeemer. Just a few days before His death He asked the religious leaders a question, which was very rare for Him to do.
Mat 22:41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
Mat 22:42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?" They said to Him, "The son of David."
Mat 22:43 He said to them, "Then how does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying,
Mat 22:44 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Until I put Thine enemies beneath Thy feet"'?
Mat 22:45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his son?"
Mat 22:46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question. |