Blog Archives
The kingdom of his beloved Son
Could a people be punished for their king’s sin? We see just such a thing happen in the Old Testament in 2 Samuel 24. And the last two verses of Psalm 51 indicate that God’s blessing on the kingdom is tied in with the actions and attitude of its king.
In those instances, the king’s sin was bad news for his people. However, we have a King who is without guilt and perfect in righteousness: “He [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).
Jesus Christ is our King. As people of his kingdom, we are represented by one whom God calls “beloved.” Our King is loved by God the Father, and so we too are loved by God. While once we were “following the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), now God has transferred us into a kingdom of redemption and forgiveness. May we remember each day that we are citizens of this kingdom, freed from sin and no longer subject to the wrath of God! Rather, we are loved by God and are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, our King.
Woo! Another life goal accomplished
This week, I finally finished memorizing Psalm 119. This was a challenge I took up with a few friends at the beginning of summer 2004. I was hoping to finish the chapter by the end of the summer, but then I got a job and was too busy. It’s been on-again, off-again ever since, but finally, with the help of my small group’s accountability, I finished all 176 verses.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a big chunk of scripture to memorize, I wouldn’t recommend this one. It’s very repetitive, there’s little progression of thought, and many verses are so similar that they get all jumbled up in my mind. (“Teach me your statutes” is a very common phrase, unless it’s “teach me your law” or “teach me your rules.”) Frankly, I doubt I’ll be able to remember it all a few months from now — though some sections will definitely stick with me, probably for the rest of my life.
With that said, there is a lot of depth and richness to this Psalm. Almost every verse mentions God’s law and how much the Psalmist loves it and relies on it. It’s a good reminder of the fact that we should love the Bible for the simple reason that it shows us who God is.
I’ll share some of my favorite verses:
When brothers dwell in unity
Here’s a little psalm that seems a bit weird at first, but lately, I’ve found it to be one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible:
Psalm 133
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
Christian love and unity cannot be taken for granted. I’ve been amazed lately at the love of God in bringing along brothers to encourage me when I’m at the point of despair. Praise God for His remarkable provision and care!
