Renewal of Youth

Psalms 103:5

This entire Psalm is worth your time in reading. In it, you will find David’s response after his prayer of affliction in the previous chapter. As if restored by the supernatural power of God, he comes roaring back in this song to give such high praise to his Redeemer. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalms 103:3, 4). It is so full of beauty and praise that no other words need to be added!

The great 5th verse should be applied to memory, for it contains a great promise for each believer. It tells us that God will satisfy our mouth with good things. This translation drops the ball so to speak, as the Hebrew word for mouth is “peh”; but here the word used is “ade”, which means “ornaments”. God is promising to satisfy your ornamentation with good things. What ornamentation do we have in His eyes?

Isaiah 61:10 holds the answer:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

The robe of righteousness that we wear is not of our own works, for our works are as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). These robes are given to us by our faith in Jesus and we can wear them because He was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). The comparison to bridegrooms and brides is due to the fact that we all dress and look our best on our wedding day. In God’s eyes, He always sees His children the same way you saw your spouse on the day of your wedding. In God, you are never the “wife”, but always the “bride”!

When we become satisfied by the robes of righteousness, our “youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalms 103:5). Don’t take the power out of this statement by calling it “young at heart”. We have a promise that as we are satisfied in the right standing that Jesus has given us we can literally have our youth restored to us in this body. I don’t presume to say that you will wake up and be 18 again, but the robe of righteousness that you wear is so powerful that the process of aging in this body can literally be slowed and in many ways reversed, due to His glory in you!

When an eagle is about 30 years of age, it ascends to a high place and begins the process of renewal. It claws at its face and tears out its old feathers. This process is very painful and causes much bleeding, but by doing so, it enables the eagle to live at least another 10 years. God put all of that scratching and clawing into Jesus, so that you could be clothed over with the robes of righteousness. When you rest in the folds of that robe, you have your youth restored to you just like the eagle.

Isn’t it exciting to know that your youth is in His cross? You are righteous in Christ, so let the ornamentation of that righteousness satisfy you today.

Spear Throwers

1 Samuel 18:8-11

David was loved by the people of Israel and Judah, not only for his exploits in defeating the giant Goliath, but because he was a man of the people, who dwelled among them (1 Samuel 18:16). The streets of the towns and villages all over Israel were filled with singing and dancing, praising the exploits of both King Saul and his trusted warrior David. They sang, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”.

Saul heard the lyrics to the song, and saw the admiration in the eyes of the people toward the young man, and envy and anger began to rise in his heart. His fear grew to the point of paranoia, as he began to envision the very kingdom turning to David to be its king. He had no knowledge that the old prophet Samuel had already visited David a few years before and anointed him to be the next king in place of Saul. The hand of God was obviously on this young man, and Saul was forced to respond.

We have many people cross our path; some to our pleasure and some we would rather forget! The story of Saul and David can be applied in our lives from both sides of the coin. From Saul’s standpoint, we may have encountered those who have an obvious touch and call of God on their life. Do we rise up in jealousy or envy that they are gifted or blessed or chosen in an area that we may not be? Saul took his jealousy to a whole new level; throwing a javelin at David in an attempt to kill him.

When we lash out at those around us with verbal attacks, or loft insults at them through the grapevine of gossip, we are throwing a javelin. These spears hurt to the core when they strike; doing damage to both the victim and to the one that throws it. Sometimes we even mask our spear-throwing with a form of Christian holiness and godliness, using scripture in our hurl. Saul could still prophesy even as he hurled the spear (1 Samuel 18:10), so having the touch of God on you does not ensure that your spear-throwing is of God.

Jesus told the accusers of the woman caught in the act of adultery to throw the first stone if they had kept the law perfectly (John 8:7). All men dropped their rocks, for no one had the authority to throw a stone under those conditions. Do we have that authority?

From David’s perspective, we have some options when spears of insult and hatred are thrown at us. We can continue on doing what we do, and act as if it never happened and then be on guard in the future. David chooses this action because he comes back into Saul’s presence after the first incident (1 Samuel 18:11). We can also decide to only take so much and then stay away from that individual if at all possible, which David obviously chooses to do eventually. Finally, we can do what David thankfully did not do; we can pull the spear out of the wall and throw it back. Returning fire with fire is us defending what only Christ and His glorious grace can defend.

Let the Holy Spirit be your rear-guard. It is His job to defend you and to shelter you. When accusations and attacks come against you, never lift a finger in retaliation. You are the righteousness of God in Christ, and you are better than becoming a spear-thrower.

When I See the Blood

Exodus 12:13

The blood of verse 13 is the blood of a spotless lamb that the Israelites were to mark on the doors of their homes so that the angel of death would pass over their house. This angel was coming through as the final plague of God against Egypt for its harsh treatment of His people. From this night forward, even until now, this moment is celebrated as Passover, for it is the night that God literally passed over all that were under the blood.

This is a perfect typology of Jesus, the spotless Lamb, shedding His blood for you and me. We deserve the death due to our sins, but a way has been provided that will not require our death, only the death of our surrogate Lamb. Jesus came to be that Lamb which would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). By dying on Calvary, He affords the world the opportunity to mark the doorway of their heart with His blood. When we accept Him by faith, God is righteous in justifying all of us based upon that action alone (Romans 3:26). That blood thus spares us the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).

As long as the blood was on the door of the house, the inhabitants were safe. No amount of fear and doubt inside of the house could taint the mighty power of the blood that marked the entrance. On the other hand, no amount of fasting, singing, praising, giving or rejoicing could improve the blood’s ability to stay the hand of the angel. The blood was perfect, for it screamed to the angel, “Move on! Something has already died here”.

Your faith may rock and waver, and be shaken with the winds of this world, but the blood of Jesus stays firm on your heart. No storm of life can wash His blood away; no winds of difficulty can blow the bloodstain from the door. There is no action in the house that embarrasses the blood, causing it to jump off and go find a more worthy home; nor is there any righteousness that can be performed that will cause the blood to work with more strength and fervor. The blood is a finished work; and it is enough.

The Apostle Paul, who was the carrier of the glorious New Covenant message to the world, found the blood of Jesus to be the most powerful of all gospel themes. He told the young church that there was no more separation holding them back from the Holy of Holies, where God dwells, but that now they should have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). He called this a “new and living way” (verse 20); proving that Christianity is not dead but very much alive and that Jesus’ death on the cross was not to be relived over and over, for the work was “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

Believer, do not fear the angel of death; nor fear punishment for your sins. Jesus took your punishment and marked your heart with His blood. Any wrath that should go to you is stopped by His blood. Someone has already died here, so there is no more blood to be shed. Stay in the house and rest in His finished work.

Renewal of Youth

Psalms 103:5

This entire Psalm is worth your time in reading. In it, you will find David’s response after his prayer of affliction in the previous chapter. As if restored by the supernatural power of God, he comes roaring back in this song to give such high praise to his Redeemer. “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalms 103:3, 4). It is so full of beauty and praise that no other words need to be added!

The great 5th verse should be applied to memory, for it contains a great promise for each believer. It tells us that God will satisfy our mouth with good things. This translation drops the ball so to speak, as the Hebrew word for mouth is “peh”; but here the word used is “ade”, which means “ornaments”. God is promising to satisfy your ornamentation with good things. What ornamentation do we have in His eyes?

Isaiah 61:10 holds the answer:

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

The robe of righteousness that we wear is not of our own works, for our works are as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). These robes are given to us by our faith in Jesus and we can wear them because He was made to be sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). The comparison to bridegrooms and brides is due to the fact that we all dress and look our best on our wedding day. In God’s eyes, He always sees His children the same way you saw your spouse on the day of your wedding. In God, you are never the “wife”, but always the “bride”!

When we become satisfied by the robes of righteousness, our “youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalms 103:5). Don’t take the power out of this statement by calling it “young at heart”. We have a promise that as we are satisfied in the right standing that Jesus has given us we can literally have our youth restored to us in this body. I don’t presume to say that you will wake up and be 18 again, but the robe of righteousness that you wear is so powerful that the process of aging in this body can literally be slowed and in many ways reversed, due to His glory in you!

When an eagle is about 30 years of age, it ascends to a high place and begins the process of renewal. It claws at its face and tears out its old feathers. This process is very painful and causes much bleeding, but by doing so, it enables the eagle to live at least another 10 years. God put all of that scratching and clawing into Jesus, so that you could be clothed over with the robes of righteousness. When you rest in the folds of that robe, you have your youth restored to you just like the eagle.

Isn’t it exciting to know that your youth is in His cross? You are righteous in Christ, so let the ornamentation of that righteousness satisfy you today.

Spear Throwers

1 Samuel 18:8-11

David was loved by the people of Israel and Judah, not only for his exploits in defeating the giant Goliath, but because he was a man of the people, who dwelled among them (1 Samuel 18:16). The streets of the towns and villages all over Israel were filled with singing and dancing, praising the exploits of both King Saul and his trusted warrior David. They sang, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”.

Saul heard the lyrics to the song, and saw the admiration in the eyes of the people toward the young man, and envy and anger began to rise in his heart. His fear grew to the point of paranoia, as he began to envision the very kingdom turning to David to be its king. He had no knowledge that the old prophet Samuel had already visited David a few years before and anointed to be the next king in place of Saul. The hand of God was obviously on this young man, and Saul was forced to respond.

We have many people cross our path; some to our pleasure and some we would rather forget! The story of Saul and David can be applied in our lives from both sides of the coin. From Saul’s standpoint, we may have encountered those who have an obvious touch and call of God on their life. Do we rise up in jealousy or envy that they are gifted or blessed or chosen in an area that we may not be? Saul took his jealousy to a whole new level; throwing a javelin at David in an attempt to kill him.

When we lash out at those around us with verbal attacks, or loft insults at them through the grapevine of gossip, we are throwing a javelin. These spears hurt to the core when they strike; doing damage to both the victim and to the one that throws it. Sometimes we even mask our spear-throwing with a form of Christian holiness and godliness, using scripture in our hurl. Saul could still prophesy even as he hurled the spear (1 Samuel 18:10), so having the touch of God on you does not ensure that your spear-throwing is of God.

Jesus told the accusers of the woman caught in the act of adultery to throw the first stone if they had kept the law perfectly (John 8:7). All men dropped their rocks, for no one had the authority to throw a stone under those conditions. Do we have that authority?

From David’s perspective, we have some options when spears of insult and hatred are thrown at us. We can continue on doing what we do, and act as if it never happened and then be on guard in the future. David chooses this action because he comes back into Saul’s presence after the first incident (1 Samuel 18:11). We can also decide to only take so much and then stay away from that individual if at all possible, which David obviously chooses to do eventually. Finally, we can do what David thankfully did not do; we can pull the spear out of the wall and throw it back. Returning fire with fire is us defending what only Christ and His glorious grace can defend.

Let the Holy Spirit be your rear-guard. It is His job to defend you and to shelter you. When accusations and attacks come against you, never lift a finger in retaliation. You are the righteousness of God in Christ, and you are better than becoming a spear-thrower.

When I See the Blood

Exodus 12:13

The blood of verse 13 is the blood of a spotless lamb that the Israelites were to mark on the doors of their homes so that the angel of death would pass over their house. This angel was coming through as the final plague of God against Egypt for its harsh treatment of His people. From this night forward, even until now, this moment is celebrated as Passover, for it is the night that God literally passed over all that were under the blood.

This is a perfect typology of Jesus, the spotless Lamb, shedding His blood for you and me. We deserve the death due to our sins, but a way has been provided that will not require our death, only the death of our surrogate Lamb. Jesus came to be that Lamb which would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). By dying on Calvary, He affords the world the opportunity to mark the doorway of their heart with His blood. When we accept Him by faith, God is righteous in justifying all of us based upon that action alone (Romans 3:26). That blood thus spares us the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).

As long as the blood was on the door of the house, the inhabitants were safe. No amount of fear and doubt inside of the house could taint the mighty power of the blood that marked the entrance. On the other hand, no amount of fasting, singing, praising, giving or rejoicing could improve the blood’s ability to stay the hand of the angel. The blood was perfect, for it screamed to the angel, “Move on! Something has already died here”.

Your faith may rock and waver, and be shaken with the winds of this world, but the blood of Jesus stays firm on your heart. No storm of life can wash His blood away; no winds of difficulty can blow the bloodstain from the door. There is no action in the house that embarrasses the blood, causing it to jump off and go find a more worthy home; nor is there any righteousness that can be performed that will cause the blood to work with more strength and fervor. The blood is a finished work; and it is enough.

The Apostle Paul, who was the carrier of the glorious New Covenant message to the world, found the blood of Jesus to be the most powerful of all gospel themes. He told the young church that there was no more separation holding them back from the Holy of Holies, where God dwells, but that now they should have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). He called this a “new and living way” (verse 20); proving that Christianity is not dead but very much alive and that Jesus’ death on the cross was not to be relived over and over, for the work was “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

Believer, do not fear the angel of death; nor fear punishment for your sins. Jesus took your punishment and marked your heart with His blood. Any wrath that should go to you is stopped by His blood. Someone has already died here, so there is no more blood to be shed. Stay in the house and rest in His finished work.