|
GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue #499 May 23, 2002 Familiar Tunes Music has a funny way of sticking in our heads. People who have a hard time remembering other things will often respond to familiar tunes. For most of us, all you have to do is mention the first line, or most familiar line of a song and the words and music come to mind. It can be a secular song such as Stairway To Heaven or Blue Suede Shoes. It can be a favourite Hymn such as Amazing Grace or I’ll Fly Away or it might be a praise chorus like Romans 16:19 or The River of Life. Undoubtedly for many reading this morning, you can hear at least one of those songs running through your mind as you read. Quite often singing a familiar song will put us in a frame of mind to worship. It ushers us into the presence of God. The people of Israel and Judah were no different. They had praise and worship songs that they knew by heart. Undoubtedly if you mentioned the first line to them, they knew what song you were thinking of. There was a song of prophecy that many would have been familiar with. I’m just going to include a few snippets from the Psalm this morning, but it is worth taking the time to read the whole thing. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." Psalm 22:7-8 NIV Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. Psalm 22:13-18 NIV This song sings of the coming crucifixion of Jesus Christ, centuries before the practice of crucifixion was even known. Yet, it is accurate even to the soldiers gambling for the clothes of Christ. So what does this Psalm of prophecy have to do with familiar tunes? I doubt very much that most of us have ever sung it on a Sunday morning. In the telling of the crucifixion story, two Gospels clearly recall some of the final words of Christ. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34 NIV (see also Matthew 27:46) The first words of Psalm 22 are: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22:1a NIV) For all who would listen, Jesus in essence cried out: "go look at your Psalms, remember the old song. Compare them to what you have seen here today and know that I am the Messiah." Just like our familiar songs can remind us of who Jesus is, their familiar song predicted what would happen and through it Christ reminded them of who He was. God had a plan from the beginning. He told of the coming of His Son (in detail) hundreds of years before it happened. He came to pay for our sins two thousand years before we committed them and He promises to return. Whatever is happening in our lives is no surprise to God. He has it all under control. Until next time, rejoice in the faithfulness of God and the wonder of His plan. Be blessed today. Hallelu Yah Kevin Do you know that God is alive, well and still speaking today? He still desires to have a personal relationship with people; to offer them love, guidance, forgiveness and acceptance. Email me and I’ll share some Bible verses that explain why a personal relationship with Jesus is so important and a prayer that will make it possible. Or simply begin the relationship by saying a prayer along the lines of: Dear God: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer let me know and I will direct you to some free non-denominational resources that will help you grow in that newfound relationship. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your prayer concerns and praise reports email us at corbin_writer@shaw.ca If you enjoy this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/lists/ or email me at corbin_writer@shaw.ca Archived issues of Gleanings From The Word can be found on our web site http://gleanings.jesusanswers.com To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us at corbin_writer@shaw.ca or write us at Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2002 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Ministries International All Rights Reserved
SUBSCRIBE TO GLEANINGS FOR FREE
|
||||