05/29/10 The Lord is a Warrior

Sometimes
Romans 5:8 (New International Version)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The psalms are some of the most personal passages in all of Scripture. They are filled with confessions, cries for help, thanksgiving, praise, intercession, and many more cries for help. In the spirit of the Psalms, "Sometimes" is open, vulnerable, and ultimately grateful for a grace that lifts us up when we fall short of His glory. It reminds us that we are not going through life trying to earn the cross. It cannot be earned. The cross of Christ is not a matter of justice. It is, in fact, history's most unjust act, by which Christ chose to show his unrelenting mercy and love for His children. When we sing "Sometimes," we release our desires to be found worthy and embrace His ultimate Worth.


Everything Glorious
Genesis 1:27 (New International Version)
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

"Sometimes" reminds us of our unworthiness, while "Everything Glorious" reminds us that we do, indeed, have worth. It's a biblical paradox: in comparison to our God, we are nothing, yet He still finds value in us. He still delights in us. If you are struggling with depression, listen to this song and know that you are made in His image, you are significant to Him, and your significance to Him is the only true significance that can be found in this life. If you are still depressed, eat a healthy serving of Cap'n Crunch Berries. It's God's Love in a bowl.

Jesus Messiah

John 1:41 (New International Version) ⁴¹The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ)

These next two songs deal with two of God's names: Messiah and Warrior. Every once in a while, it's good to be reminded that the Scriptures were well aware of Jesus before He was ever born of a virgin. He is, in fact, the fulfillment of several Old Testament passages. For an extensive list, go to http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/prophchr.html. Here's an example

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)	born in Bethlehem	And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.... And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:4-5, 7)

Warrior
Exodus 15:3 (New International Version)
The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.

Three years ago, I read straight through the Old Testament. I tend to spend most of my time in the Gospels, Paul's Letters, and the Psalms, so it took discipline to go from Genesis to Malachi, but it was rewarding. Rewarding and confusing. How can the "Prince of Peace" condone such brutality? Just look at what happened in Jericho:

^{Joshua 6:21} They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it - men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Every living thing? God gave them permission to kill women and children? Why? In his sermon this morning, Gary answers this question. For those of you who won't be in the service, the sermon can be summarized like this: "God owns everything, God is just in everything He does, none are innocent, God takes sin seriously, the people of Jericho were caught up in sin, and God will do whatever it takes to keep sin from spreading and warn future nations of the dangers of sin." It's a difficult Truth to swallow, but it is Truth, nonetheless. God is a Warrior, and that is part of how He loves us.