2 Samuel 22:1-20 - David's Song of Deliverance

2 Samuel 22:1-20

Moreover, Absalom would say, “Oh that someone would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has a lawsuit or claim could come to me, and I would give him justice!” (verse 4)

Message: David's Song of Deliverance

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: While this Psalm or Song appears after chapter 21, it does not necessarily follow the events of Chapter 21 but rather David records this song of praise following a battle victory, most likely. It is repeated in Psalm 18. There is a tradition among God's people to sing their praises to God. It is personal and also communal. 

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

Rock here is crag which means a steep or rugged cliff which is sought for refuge. The Hebrew word is Sela. Thus, God is unmoving. He is Strength. A fortress in these times was essential for survival against enemies. He is my deliverer. He is active in rescuing me from perilous situations. He saves. He liberates. 

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

This rock is a different Hebrew word. It is tsur. It is a strong rock or cliff or bedrock. He is my continual and unmoving refuge. The previous 'rock' is specific for a purpose. This 'rock' seems to be continuous. 

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;

A shield is for defense. Horn is a symbol of strength and is also a reference for Jesus (Luke 1:69). As a refuge, God is my sanctuary in times of trouble. 

My savior, You save me from violence.

God is my savior and in Titus 2:13, savior is also Jesus Christ. God intervenes to save us from physical harm, but also from spiritual harm. 

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

David calls because he knows God to be trustworthy and he is thankful to God. There is a response always to God after He provides of thankfulness and turning to Him. There is an immediate recognition that God is the source of our deliverance and so we return to Him praise and thanksgiving. We are thankful to God for his power, his faithfulness, his righteousness.

And I am saved from my enemies.

At numerous times, God intercedes. He is the reason my enemies are not victorious over me. Exodus 14:30, "That day the Lord saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians." Psalm 34:17, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." God hears and God acts. Sometimes in these days, it seems that our enemies are not as clear. Our true enemy is Satan today who wants to get us off track of our spiritual purpose in life. 

For the waves of death encompassed me;

Waves are sorrows. Water often symbolized chaos and destruction. 

The floods of destruction terrified me;

Floods are torrents in the King James Version. Thus, the danger is overwhelming. There is a disorder and confusion that I simply cannot face alone. In times of trouble, I need people close. It is no fun to be sick alone, to ache in pain, to experience a virus. 

The ropes of Sheol surrounded me;

The ropes or cords of Sheol refer to being ready to be devoured. This is being in a place of separation from God. It is darkness. Once again, it is overwhelming. 

The snares of death confronted me.

Snares are traps. "For the wages of sin is death." Sin results in death. Sin traps me. The reality in all of these phrases is the trap of falling into sin is real. 

In my distress I called upon the Lord,

So what does the Christian do in this situation of distress? Call upon the Lord. He is the reliable one. I have faith in Him. I can trust in Him. This should be an automatic response of God's people. 

Yes, I called out to my God;

It is a repetitious calling out. It is not one time. We often do not pray one time but continually pray for God to intercede. 

And from His temple He heard my voice,

The temple was not yet built in David's time. But it symbolizes God's dwelling place and in that place God is ready to hear me. Church is often this place for all people. Though we can call upon God anywhere, at any time, we always see Church is that place where God for sure hears us. 

And my cry for help came into His ears.

God hears me. It is one thing to cry out. It is another to be heard. The baby or child that cries out to its mother and the mother picks up the child. To be heard is to be known. I want to be know, to be seen, to be heard. 

Then the earth shook and quaked,

This is the earth responding to God's presence. This is God making himself known to His people. The natural disasters in life that are sometimes horrific in tearing apart lands - hurricanes, earthquakes - violent upheaval of land.  

The foundations of heaven were trembling

And the extent of these disasters are so immense they reach heaven. Here, judgment is real. It is interesting, we want God to deal with sin individually in a person's life, but not globally. And we are also quick to not ascribe famines or disasters to him. We don't want the judging God. We want the God to only be one of comfort. 

And were shaken, because He was angry.

But the reality is God's anger is real. This shaking and upheaval is in response to God's indignation and his anger towards sin. 

Smoke went up out of His nostrils,

This snorting. In movies or cartoons, this is anger where smoke is coming out of every opening on an animal or person's faith, often from his nose or ears. The anger is so intense. We will often say, "He is blowing off steam." 

And fire from His mouth was devouring;

Fire destroys. Fire purifies. With food, fires takes something raw and purifies it. 

Coals were kindled by it.

The hot coals kindle and let off heat to seer something, often food. Again there is purification. God is going to cleanse people. He is going to take that which is present and change it. 

He also bowed the heavens down low, and came down

God can manipulate the heavens for his purpose. And he came down, he appears, he makes himself known. In Jesus He made Himself known to people. John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and dwells among us." God makes himself known to his people. He is active in making himself known. He is clear. God is to be seen. In Jesus, he wants to make himself known. 

With thick darkness under His feet.

In Revelation 1:7, "He is coming with the clouds." Thick darkness in the King James is think clouds. The pillar of cloud guided the Israelites. There is God's mystery. There is God's majesty. The cloud is moving across the earth. There is authority and returning of God. In a storm, the clouds come down and are in the middle of us. He comes down to us. 

He rode on a cherub and flew;

Cherubim are often depicted as angelic beings. God rode beyond human limitations. He is omnipresent. He is omniscience. 

He appeared on the wings of the wind.

God moves, unhindered by earthly constraints. Wind often is the Spirit of God. He is swift in His movement. 

He made darkness canopies around Him,

This darkness is not evil but rather a representation of God's unapproachable holiness and glory. The canopy signifies protection and authority, much like a king's tent, indicating God's sovereign rule over creation.

Exodus 20:11, "Moses approached the thick darkness where God was."

A mass of waters, thick clouds of the sky.

The thick clouds symbolize God's ability to bring both judgment and blessing, as clouds can bring rain or storms.

From the brightness before Him

God's presences is often associated with brightness, overwhelming light. It is purity, holy, and unapproachable light. 

Coals of fire were kindled.

Fire represents divine judgment. And God has ultimate authority. 

The Lord thundered from heaven,

God intervenes. 

And the Most High uttered His voice.

He speaks into people's lives. God's message is clear to His people. 

And He shot arrows and scattered them,

God is precise in taking care of man's enemies. 

Lightning, and routed them.

God uses nature to accomplish his purposes. 

Then the channels of the sea appeared,

God makes a way where there seems to be no way. 

The foundations of the world were exposed

The beginning of the earth were laid bare. 

By the rebuke of the Lord,

God expresses disapproval. 

From the blast of the breath of His nostrils.

God's breath expresses his power. I think of a superman movie in which someone blows and people go swirling. There is a power in the breath. 

He sent from on high, He took me;

From His exalted position, God reaches down. 

He drew me out of many waters.

God removes me from the most difficult of situations. 

He rescued me from my strong enemy,

God intervenes on behalf of his people. 

From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

Believers are to rely on God's strength and not their own. 

They confronted me on the day of my disaster,

David experienced intense distress, trial and danger. 

But the Lord was my support.

But David can always rely on God for his strength in any situation. 

He also brought me out into an open place;

God took him away from confinement and moved him to open space to freely be. 

He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

God has a favor toward David. David is chosen and loved by God. 

I took my time in reviewing each line of this Song. What I saw are some consistent themes. God is my deliverer. I call on him. He hates sin. He will purify me. And He does this in a personal way. God comes to man. God comes down to man. God loves man. 

Summary: The author of 2 Samuel starts to conclude the life of David by offering here a song of praise with God as David's deliverer, fully expressing God's intervention in David's life.

Promise: Thank the Lord for His protection.

Prayer: O God, you are faithful. I thank you for the time today in further looking into this text and thinking about these words of Praise toward you. You are my Deliverer. I call on You and You answer. You purify me and rescue me. You are great and mighty. You hate sin and You will deal with it. I pray that I have not safeguarded my life to the point that I don't see your handiwork in my life, but also that I don't have reasons to trust in You for all your defeats of my enemies. Lord, let me continually see the active role you play in my life. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 4:39-42 - The Savior of the World

John 4:39-42

And from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." So when the Samaritans came to Him, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." 

Message: The Savior of the World

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: I love these passages for they have in them little nuggets that I have heard most of my life, like the last phrase, "Jesus is indeed the Savior of the World." Citing Jesus as Savior was most likely using terminology popular during the 1st century in describing the Greek gods as Saviors and Roman emperors as well. And so in describing Jesus as Savior it probably means a little more then because Jesus is above every other perceived leader or deity. And Jesus is the one over all. And yet this does not mean that all are saved because of that proclamation but rather it is only in and through him that people can be saved. 

This passage in John 4 is an example of the harvest being ripe and many coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Salvation has occurred for these people. The woman bore witness of her experience with Jesus and people listened to this woman. Again, women were not respected or their words valued during these times and yet her words had an impact on them and they sought to follow Jesus because of what she said. 

And now they have seen for themselves. It is not clear to me what Jesus said to them. The previous verses seem to be verses he is speaking to his disciples, explaining to them what is truly meant by doing the will of God and planting seeds and reaping what you sow to experience then the fruit of that labor. 

Summary: Many Samaritans put their faith in Jesus and they proclaimed Jesus Savior of the World.

Promise: Christ is the only Savior of the World and there is no hope apart from him for salvation and eternal life. 

Prayer: Lord, your message of renewal and salvation and eternal life continues to be shared. You Jesus are still making an impact today and saving souls and bringing good news. I want to praise you God and Jesus and Spirit for making me know and showing me the way. You are one God, the only true God and I praise You. Keep bringing people to the knowledge of You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Various Scripture - Names of Jesus

Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:20

Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.

Matthew 16:27

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then REPLAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.

Acts 13:23

From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus,

Message: Jesus the Christ - The Hidden Messiah - Jesus the Lord - Jesus the Son of Man - Jesus the Savior

What the Lord is Saying: In the first chapter of John, I am amazed at the different names that are given to describe Jesus, such as Word, Light, One, Him (masculine), Son of God, Lamb of God, King of Israel. Tabletalk in these last 5 lessons for this issue takes a moment to look at these names. 

The name that is attributed to Jesus the most is Christ. Tabletalk states, "“Christ” is simply the English translation of the Greek word christos, which is itself the translation of the Hebrew term mashiach or “Messiah,” which means “anointed one.” Although there are many anointed one's (prophets, priests, kings) in the Bible, Jesus is the fulfillment of a final or overarching anointed one of all. Matthew 16:16 states, "Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

As I also look at Jesus the Messiah, I see that in latter part of the BC period, after Judah fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC, they were not free again and they were eager for an anointed one or Messiah to give them freedom and reestablish an earthly Jewish Kingdom. Isaiah 53 also mentions that in addition to the Messiah restoring the kingdom the Messiah would also sacrifice by death on behalf of His people. Jews often overlooked redemption from sin and focused on political salvation. 

People stating they were Messiahs happened in the 1st century and so this is one of the reasons Jesus told others to not tell others that He was the Christ, as is stated in Matthew 16:20, "Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ."

From Tabletalk, -- “Lord” is the English translation of the Greek word kurios, which is typically used in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, to translate the Hebrew tetragrammaton—the covenant name of the God of Israel. That is, when the ancient Greek translators translated God’s name Yahweh, they typically did so using the Greek word kurios. Lord can be applied to persons but more enough it is ascribed to a deity. Peter and Paul called Jesus Lord and as monotheists they were claiming Jesus to be divine. As in Acts 2:36, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." 

Jesus Himself used the name Son of Man to refer to Himself 79 times, and 3 more by others. Some believe Son of Man refers to His humanity, but the reference is to Daniel 7:9-14 is "one like a son of man" who comes into the presence of the Ancient of Days---God Almighty---and receives a kingdom and authority over creation (see Acts 2:14-36). Daniel saw a vision of Jesus returning to the Father for his coronation as King of Kings and Lord of Lords after the completion of His earthly ministry. Matthew 16:27, "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then REPLAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS." 

Finally, we look at Jesus as Savior - our rescuer. 2 Samuel 22:3 David refers to the Lord as "my savior" and so rescues him from war and his enemies. Isaiah 38 refers to Savior as one being rescued from illness, such as healing. Also, saved from sin as in Ezekiel 37:23. Acts 13:23 From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus,

Summary: Jesus is the Christ, Messiah  Lord, Son of Man and our Savior. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the many ways we see you described and what it tells me about the reason Jesus you are needed as the Christ or anointed one that has saved us from our sins and even from all of life, the promised Messiah, our Lord and Only God, the Son of Man as you show me you are King of King and Lord of Lords and also Savior, saving me from enemies, illness and sin. You are holy and great. Thank you. 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 5th - His Agony and Our Fellowship

Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 

Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

Matthew 26:36,38

     We can never fathom the agony in Gethesemane, but at least we need not misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin. We know nothing about Gethsemane in personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary stand for something unique; they are the gateway into Life for us.

 
     It was not the death on the cross that Jesus feared in Gethsemane; He stated most emphatically that He came on purpose to die. In Gethsemane He feared lest He might not get through as Son of Man. He would get through as Son of God--Satan could not touch Him there; but Satan's onslaught was that He would get through as an isolated Figure only; and that would mean that He could be no Saviour. Read the record of the agony in the light of the temptation: "Then the devil leaveth Him for a season. (Matthew 4:11)" In Gethsemane Satan came back and was again overthrown. Satan's final onslaught against our Lord as Son of Man is in Gethsemane.

   
     The agony in Gethsemane is the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the world. The veil is drawn aside to reveal all it cost Him to make it possible for us to become sons of God. His agony is the basis of the simplicity of our salvation. The Cross of Christ is a triumph for the Son of Man. It was not only a sign that Our Lord had triumphed, but that He had triumphed to save the human race. Every human being can get through into the presence of God now because of what the Son of Man went through.

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

Jesus Calling: December 25

As you wait attentively in My Presence, the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines upon you. This radiant knowledge transcends all understanding. It transforms every fiber of your being: renewing your mind, cleansing your heart, invigorating your body. Open yourself fully to My Presence, be awed by My glorious Being.
     Try to imagine what I gave up when I came into your world as a baby, I set aside My Glory, so that I could identify with mankind. I accepted the limitations of infancy under the most appalling conditions--a filthy stable.That was a dark night for Me, even though angels lit up the sky proclaiming "Glory!" to awe-struck shepherds.
     When you sit quietly with Me, the process I went through is reversed in your experience. As you identify with Me, heaven's vistas open up before you--granting you glimpses of My Glory. I became poor so that you might become rich. Sing hallelujahs to My Holy Name!

2 Corinthians 4:6
English Standard Version
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
 
Philippians 2:6-7
English Standard Version
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
 
Luke 2:13-14
English Standard Version
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

2 Corinthians 8:9
English Standard Version
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

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Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Romans 10:4 - Christ, The Goal of the Law

Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Message: Christ, the end of the law

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome.

What the Lord is Saying:

I really love these verses. I think what I love is to notice things in life that are completely contrary to the message we often we receive in life through the world and its message.

I must admit, I have spent the past 3 weeks talking to a Muslim through GMO and he has asked some interesting questions.This message that Paul is speaking. Is it the same message of the Gospels? I don't know if I can really answer that right now, but I do know that Jesus was all about faith. And what he saw in others was faith. They had faith in Him. They believed in Him and because of that belief good things did happen to them. So, there is power in faith. And if there is power in faith then there is not power in works. We can't have both. Works are important, most definitely, but faith is what separates those who know Christ and those who pretend. And Paul is clearly mentioning a dividing line between the two.

The focus of the Old Testament and the Jew is pointing people to a Messiah. The Jews recognize this clearly. All the focus is on a Savior, on someone that will permanently take away sin.

From Precept Austin site:

Everything about the Jewish religion pointed to the coming Messiah—their sacrifices, priesthood, temple services, religious festivals, and covenants. Their Law, the Temple ceremonies, the sacrifices, etc were all "word pictures" given by God to tell His chosen people that they were sinners in need of a Savior. But instead of letting these "pictures" and the Law bring them to Christ (as mentioned in Galatians 3:24 "the law is our tutor, bringing us to Christ"), they worshiped their Law and rejected their Savior! The Law like the tabernacle, temple, and sacrifices was a signpost, pointing the way. It was a means to an end, not the end itself. It could never take them to their destination. The Law cannot give righteousness but only lead the sinner to the Savior Who Alone was the source of God pleasing righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30 - "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption").

So once again, Paul isn't saying anything new. He is instead looking at the Old Testament and bringing together the words and themes of the Old Testament with the Messiah.

Fulfillment of the Law by the Savior
In Matthew 5:13-20 Jesus talks about fulfilling the Law and the Prophets. He states that he did not come to abolish but fulfill. Paul reiterates this many times in Romans stating the Jesus fulfilled the Law. And by doing so that fulfillment is passed onto me through faith. Christ did the work, we receive it. But we are to be obedient to the Law. Don't think for a second that we are not to be about law fulfilling ourselves. This is clear in this passage in Matthew 5.

End of the Law for the Saints
Yet, in this verse, it states the end of the law. So, while what I have said above is true, Paul's words here are that the Law, as a means of attaining righteousness, has ceased.

Jeremiah 31:31-32 - “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.


Hebrews 8:13 - When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

But, I'm still not sure that the intent of the Law was ever to make a person righteous. It is a standard and it is something to be followed, but I don't think that what Paul is saying here is that something has changed. His audience is the Jews primarily, though he speaks to Gentiles as well. So, his focus is on speaking their truth and they believed the Law, in its entirety, was to be kept, for the purpose of being declared righteous? Is that correct?

Believe produces a new heart
Belief is an individual thing. Each person must have a belief. Each person must make an individual decision. We are not grafted into the faith because of the family we were born into or the people we hang around with.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 - Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.


I am made new in Christ.

Believe is really one of the most powerful words we have. People believe so many different things in their life. I think it is so interesting all the different ways in which people believe, in which they hold something to be true. Yet, the belief that is being talked about here produces a change, produces a new life, produces a difference in me. That is what I always see as incredible. Christ in me produced a change in me. And people all over take on a new life in Christ. It's a beautiful thing.

But, this end of the Law only occurs to those that believe.


Promise: Christ fulfilled the Law, not so we wouldn't have to, but because we couldn't.

Romans 4:24b-25 - Raised for our Justification

Romans 4:24b-25 - 24b as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Message: Jesus Delivered and Raised

Time: The date of the book is probably 60 A.D. written from Corinth on Paul's third missionary journey. The church in Rome seems to be established and Romans does not speak of any one error in the church that he is addressing. The church had a large Jewish element, but also filled with Gentile converts from paganism, both free as well as slaves. 

What the Lord is Saying:

Chapter 4 concludes the message of righteousness by faith. Chapter 4 has been the faith chapter and what faith really means in the life of a believer. The patriarchs of our faith, Abraham and David, had this faith and every person can later have it as well. Our faith doesn't make us righteous, but our faith brings the righteousness of Christ to us. 

Faith gets personal here. Faith has been descriptive and faith has been a story thus far, but now faith gets descriptive. 

And how is this done?

Verse 24b - Believe in God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead
Faith is centered on God and his work of raising Jesus from the dead. Jesus is our sacrifice. His sacrifice is possible because of his perfect life. His perfect life is necessary because man is sinner and never does good. Death had to be conquered and my believing in God then allows the righteousness of Jesus to be transferred to me; and all the sin I commit is transferred to Christ. But, it begins with belief.

Belief is not a work. It is analogous to a drowning man holding up his hand to be saved by someone pulling him to safety. And yet belief is not just in a story, but it is placing faith, in accordance with Grace. Belief transforms a person. It is intellectual consent followed by a surrendered life that then transforms a person.

Thus, Jesus is our Savior. We recognize what Jesus had done on the cross to save us. But, Jesus is also our Lord. What he has done transforms us. 

Raised is to awaken from sleep.

Verse 25a - Our lawlessness delivered Christ over to death
Delivered up means, in the Greek, to give alongside. It is to give up and hand over to another person. From the Amplified, he was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised from the dead to make us right with God. 

And he was delivered because of my transgressions. To transgress is to depart from the intended path.  God delivered Christ over because of my lawlessness. Jesus accepted his lot, but he did not choose his lot. As fully man, he accepted it, but it was God who delivered over Jesus.

So what is a Christian? A Christian is a person who personally believes in God who delivered over Jesus to pay for our sins and raised Him from the dead to confirm our justification.


Verse 25b - His resurrection justified us
This verse states it all. Our lawlessness or our sin Delivered Christ to Death. Our justification or being made right with God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was not merely a good prophet that lived a good life. The resurrection culminates it all. The resurrection must be real otherwise Jesus is a lunatic. If his life is only perfect as a standard then that standard can never be met.  

Faith is complete. It is all done. Once and for all.  

Promise:  I can be confident that my sin has been fully and finally atoned for because of the resurrection of Christ. There is nothing left to be done to pay for sin. If I trust in Jesus, I am covered by His blood forever. 

Jesus Calling: February 22

    You need Me every moment. Your awareness of your constant need for Me is your greatest strength. Your neediness, properly handled, is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice--deep dependence on Me, or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
New Living Translation
Never stop praying.

John 16:24
Amplified Bible
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.

My Prayer
Lord, I need thee, every hour I need thee. O bless me now, my savior, I come to thee. Either I rely on You for strength or I sink in despair. Lord, how easily it is for me to try and work out life away from you. How much I try to do this each day, relying on My own strength, not turning to You for strength. My wife who wanted to pray over the faucet we were changing out the other day and yet I shrugged and didn't give it value. Lord, I want You to be central in my consciousness. Lord, help me to stay faithful in praying. I can't do it on my own and on my own I will waiver. I need thee.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Hebrews 2:15

and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
(Hebrews 2:15 ESV)

Jesus frees us from the fear of death, from death, from a lifelong fear of not knowing freedom, not knowing comfort, not knowing peace. Why? Because God is our friend and our protector. And everywhere we are under the protection of our Savior.