My Life after South Korea
Well, it’s been over a month a now since I’ve been home from Korea and re-adjusting to American life has been easy and challenging in various ways. It’s never easy to leave your life for year and then try to pick it up again in the same manner as before. Because I am glad to say I am not the same as before. I’ve grown, changed, and developed deeper outlook on things since my travels around Asia these past 52 weeks, which is normal with global travel I’d say.
Moving on to other topics, I’ve got my apt here on State Street in Erie as well as my 2000 Toyota Corolla. I started working on my Masters in Education from Liberty University Online while in Korea. Since back, there were a few classes I could not do online and got to go Lynchburg, Virginia to take them. While there, I had a chance to go visit Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and Patrick Henry’s Estate, which is pretty cool.
I have my Praxis tests for teaching at the end of July, and if all goes well I hope to start student teaching in the Spring in graduate by like May, which would be nice since Ash and I are getting married that following August. Speaking of which, that is our next big task this summer starting the wedding plans. yay! :-/ (So much work for one day; shame most people don’t put half the time and effort into their marriage that they put into wedding day.)
That’s pretty much my life in a nutshell right now: learning, teaching, wedding planning, and ash… “ashing”..lol
(PS I miss you all my Korean and other Foreign Friends!)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
That's My King
A Classic, but Always Chillingly Powerful!
That's My King
Dr.Shadrach Meshach Lockridge
My King was born King. The Bible says He's a Seven Way King. He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King. He's the King of Israel - that's a National King. He's the King of righteousness. He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that's my King.
Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. That's my King. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's saviour. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He's honest. He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's supreme. He's pre-eminent. He's the grandest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That's my King.
He's the miracle of the age. He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He's the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. That's my King.
Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. He's the master of the mighty. He's the captain of the conquerors. He's the head of the heroes. He's the leader of the legislatures. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of governors. He's the prince of princes. He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King.
His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you . . . but He's indescribable. That's my King. He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible.
I'm coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some man explain Him. You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hands. You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him. The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him. That's my King.
He always has been and He always will be. I'm talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor. There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him. You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign. That's my King! That's my King!
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God's power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever. . . And when you get through with all of the ever's, then . . .Amen!
That's My King
Dr.Shadrach Meshach Lockridge
My King was born King. The Bible says He's a Seven Way King. He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King. He's the King of Israel - that's a National King. He's the King of righteousness. He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that's my King.
Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. That's my King. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's saviour. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He's honest. He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's supreme. He's pre-eminent. He's the grandest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That's my King.
He's the miracle of the age. He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He's the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. That's my King.
Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. He's the master of the mighty. He's the captain of the conquerors. He's the head of the heroes. He's the leader of the legislatures. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of governors. He's the prince of princes. He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King.
His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you . . . but He's indescribable. That's my King. He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible.
I'm coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some man explain Him. You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hands. You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him. The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him. That's my King.
He always has been and He always will be. I'm talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor. There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him. You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign. That's my King! That's my King!
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God's power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever. . . And when you get through with all of the ever's, then . . .Amen!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Psalm 22 and Jesus' Last Words
So many know that Psalm 22 is a highly prophetic little song. many believe because it is so vivid and powerful that this Psalm could have been what Christ was thinking while crucified. I have taken it one further and have inserted where the last saying of Jesus would have fit. normally we think before speak. Well, i think it speaks for it self.
Jesus’ Thought: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. ~Psalm 22:1-2
Jesus’ Words: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? ~Matthew 27:46
Jesus’ Thought: Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. ~Psalm 22:3-5
Jesus’ Words: Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise~ Luke 23:43
Jesus’ Thought: But I am a worm, not a human being; I am scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. "He trusts in the LORD," they say, "let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." Psalm 22:6-9
Jesus’ Words: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do ~Luke 23:34
Jesus’ Thought: Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me feel secure on my mother's breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother's womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Psalm 22:10-11
Jesus’ Words: Woman, behold your son: behold your mother ~John 19:26-27
Jesus’ Thought: Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear 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 within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. ~Psalm 22:12-15
Jesus’ Words: I thirst ~John 19:28
Jesus’ Thought: Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. ~Psalm 22:16-18
Actions Happening Around Christ: John 19:23-24
Jesus’ Thought: But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. ~Psalm 22:19-25
Jesus’ Words: It is finished ~John 19:30
Jesus’ Thought: The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him— may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
Jesus’ Words: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit ~Luke 23:46
Jesus’ Thought: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. ~Psalm 22:1-2
Jesus’ Words: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? ~Matthew 27:46
Jesus’ Thought: Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed. ~Psalm 22:3-5
Jesus’ Words: Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise~ Luke 23:43
Jesus’ Thought: But I am a worm, not a human being; I am scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. "He trusts in the LORD," they say, "let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." Psalm 22:6-9
Jesus’ Words: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do ~Luke 23:34
Jesus’ Thought: Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me feel secure on my mother's breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother's womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Psalm 22:10-11
Jesus’ Words: Woman, behold your son: behold your mother ~John 19:26-27
Jesus’ Thought: Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear 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 within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. ~Psalm 22:12-15
Jesus’ Words: I thirst ~John 19:28
Jesus’ Thought: Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. ~Psalm 22:16-18
Actions Happening Around Christ: John 19:23-24
Jesus’ Thought: But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. ~Psalm 22:19-25
Jesus’ Words: It is finished ~John 19:30
Jesus’ Thought: The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise him— may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
Jesus’ Words: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit ~Luke 23:46
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
History Repeating
European Union Growth
<-----
Roman Empire Growth
---->
I am not really try to imply anything, and plenty of people before
and after me have already made this comparison, I just happen to enjoy the photos of the two "empires" and how history repeats itself. As the verse goes: Nothing new under the sun.
Also mind that the EU growing is a bit outdated, as several Eastern European countries, including Turkey, have been approved for EU candidacy or potential candidacy. So in reality, its only a matter of time, a few years really, before the EU looks more like it does blow, when these new counties join. This map seem familiar!?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
God's working in my life: A Record (Part A)
In recent days, I have been reading Genesis, particularly enjoying Joseph, but I’ve been about all the extraordinary ways that God answered the man’s prayers, and how even the things done against him that his own brothers met for evil, God used for good. As I begin to mediate on this Scripture, God showed me many things, one most important thing was he reminded of all the ways he has manifested himself in my life, both in big and smalls ways, some subtle and some as gentle whispers.
As such, I taken upon myself to make an account of all the amazing ways God has answered my prayers, or just shown up in my life in just clear and powerful ways. If for no other reason that my own posterity and the Glory of our Creator I present such account. These won’t be detailed of all the facts, but have enough context to convey the excellence of God. So here are a few examples I know of, about how God has Provided.
On October 16, 2003, my heavenly eternal destiny and earthly purpose changed one night after a class. When at 9:25pm Thursday night when given the choice between 2 pathways, one leading outside to my car and a 5 minute drive to my house and the other up a set of stairs to an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Meeting that had ended but where people love to hang around and talk. Like a fool arguing aloud with myself at this pathway about to go home or visit; a little voice inside my head said “just go up what do you have to lose”. So I did. Once there a friend named Tim Perkins, says in the most sincere voice I have heard before “what is keeping you from a personal relationship with Christ?” Not wanting to give a halfway answer, I replied after several moments of thought…”nothing”. So I went and accepted Christ with Tim’s help. Later, I got home at 11pm to turn on the news with report of a car accident right beside my home, in fact the very intersection I just drove through. The next morning as I read the paper looking for info about the wreck, the time of the accident was 9:30. As I said, it takes me 5 minutes to drive home and at 9:25 I looked at my watch deciding to go up those stairs and have life and soul forever changed, as my jaw dropped, that same voice I heard before spoke to me again saying “I saved you twice last night Brad, I am real, and I love you”.
A side from my testimony God has revealed himself to me in other situations in the past 7 years. Besides providing me to the funds for 6 years of college, bills, and other expenses, including $2000 worth of mission trip the Dominican Republic; for which I had no parental help, mostly just me and God, 2 examples of his financial provision stands out in my mind more clearly than all others. Once at IVCF conference in Pittsburgh in 2006, before I left I found I had accidently overdrawn my account by like 1 dollar, which meant that recent checks I had just wrote were going to bounce, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of bounced checks and over drafted charges. I was utterly sick to my stomach about how I could let this happen and had no clue about how I was going to pay it all, since I had no job at the time. So that night, the conference had a retreat of silence I went back to room, and poured out my heart and tears to God, asking for help, he lead me to Eph 3:20, which says God do immeasurable more than we could ask or imagine. The next morning as I called bank computer over the phone, to check the dmg, the computer voice said +300.00 dollars, again my jaw dropped. I was speechless. I hung up and called back and put all the info again just to make sure I did it right the 1st time. Sure enough, she said the same amount. I started to cry again, my tears of sorrow became a weep for joy. Later, I found that Penn State had acquired another scholarship for me, of which I knew nothing about at all until the money has shown up. Praise be to God.
The 2nd example, as I said I went to the DR a few times, one of times I went I had problem raising the funds about 3 days before I was suppose to leave I was still about ½ short on the required funds. That night for my Quiet time I was reading John 11, where Jesus, tells mary and Martha that he is the resurrection and that if they believe, they will live, “then he says do you believe this?” That caught my attention as the Spirit asked me “brad, do you believe this? That I can provide for you?” I said “Lord, I want to and do, show me, help me please” with that I fell asleep. The next day I went to the mailbox, and sure enough a check from a friend for the amount I needed. Again God came through for me. That night as I finished John 11 for my QT, I read verse 40, which says “Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" With that I cried again and gave him the glory. Also, as I am writing this I recalled a 3rd time, God came through for me, the 1st time I left for the DR, the night I left, I checked the atm I had like an extra 200 dollars in my account, I didn’t know why, when I looked online my IRS tax refund had come in about 2 weeks ahead of time. As with Abraham, My God is Jehovah-Jireh.
A few cool ways that God has provided for me is by having the right people show up along my path when I need them the most. Suddenly they are just there and it goes beyond a fluke or chance. Once i got dropped off at a diner coming back from Christian Retreat in Michigan (CFW). Anyhow, my dad was suppose to pick me up at such and such a time and place, but due to communication error and no cell phone, he never came. I waited for an hour. Deciding I would walk to my grandma’s house which is all I could think of, since she was like 5 miles away. So I started walking with Luggage toward her house. As I walking down the road like a homeless man, I prayed “Lord, please provide me someone that I know to drive by and give me a ride, please..” and before I could even finish my prayer, a pickup truck slows down beside me and parks off to the side, and sure enough my cousin jumps out offering me a ride…That’s my King!
As such, I taken upon myself to make an account of all the amazing ways God has answered my prayers, or just shown up in my life in just clear and powerful ways. If for no other reason that my own posterity and the Glory of our Creator I present such account. These won’t be detailed of all the facts, but have enough context to convey the excellence of God. So here are a few examples I know of, about how God has Provided.
On October 16, 2003, my heavenly eternal destiny and earthly purpose changed one night after a class. When at 9:25pm Thursday night when given the choice between 2 pathways, one leading outside to my car and a 5 minute drive to my house and the other up a set of stairs to an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Meeting that had ended but where people love to hang around and talk. Like a fool arguing aloud with myself at this pathway about to go home or visit; a little voice inside my head said “just go up what do you have to lose”. So I did. Once there a friend named Tim Perkins, says in the most sincere voice I have heard before “what is keeping you from a personal relationship with Christ?” Not wanting to give a halfway answer, I replied after several moments of thought…”nothing”. So I went and accepted Christ with Tim’s help. Later, I got home at 11pm to turn on the news with report of a car accident right beside my home, in fact the very intersection I just drove through. The next morning as I read the paper looking for info about the wreck, the time of the accident was 9:30. As I said, it takes me 5 minutes to drive home and at 9:25 I looked at my watch deciding to go up those stairs and have life and soul forever changed, as my jaw dropped, that same voice I heard before spoke to me again saying “I saved you twice last night Brad, I am real, and I love you”.
A side from my testimony God has revealed himself to me in other situations in the past 7 years. Besides providing me to the funds for 6 years of college, bills, and other expenses, including $2000 worth of mission trip the Dominican Republic; for which I had no parental help, mostly just me and God, 2 examples of his financial provision stands out in my mind more clearly than all others. Once at IVCF conference in Pittsburgh in 2006, before I left I found I had accidently overdrawn my account by like 1 dollar, which meant that recent checks I had just wrote were going to bounce, resulting in hundreds of dollars worth of bounced checks and over drafted charges. I was utterly sick to my stomach about how I could let this happen and had no clue about how I was going to pay it all, since I had no job at the time. So that night, the conference had a retreat of silence I went back to room, and poured out my heart and tears to God, asking for help, he lead me to Eph 3:20, which says God do immeasurable more than we could ask or imagine. The next morning as I called bank computer over the phone, to check the dmg, the computer voice said +300.00 dollars, again my jaw dropped. I was speechless. I hung up and called back and put all the info again just to make sure I did it right the 1st time. Sure enough, she said the same amount. I started to cry again, my tears of sorrow became a weep for joy. Later, I found that Penn State had acquired another scholarship for me, of which I knew nothing about at all until the money has shown up. Praise be to God.
The 2nd example, as I said I went to the DR a few times, one of times I went I had problem raising the funds about 3 days before I was suppose to leave I was still about ½ short on the required funds. That night for my Quiet time I was reading John 11, where Jesus, tells mary and Martha that he is the resurrection and that if they believe, they will live, “then he says do you believe this?” That caught my attention as the Spirit asked me “brad, do you believe this? That I can provide for you?” I said “Lord, I want to and do, show me, help me please” with that I fell asleep. The next day I went to the mailbox, and sure enough a check from a friend for the amount I needed. Again God came through for me. That night as I finished John 11 for my QT, I read verse 40, which says “Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" With that I cried again and gave him the glory. Also, as I am writing this I recalled a 3rd time, God came through for me, the 1st time I left for the DR, the night I left, I checked the atm I had like an extra 200 dollars in my account, I didn’t know why, when I looked online my IRS tax refund had come in about 2 weeks ahead of time. As with Abraham, My God is Jehovah-Jireh.
A few cool ways that God has provided for me is by having the right people show up along my path when I need them the most. Suddenly they are just there and it goes beyond a fluke or chance. Once i got dropped off at a diner coming back from Christian Retreat in Michigan (CFW). Anyhow, my dad was suppose to pick me up at such and such a time and place, but due to communication error and no cell phone, he never came. I waited for an hour. Deciding I would walk to my grandma’s house which is all I could think of, since she was like 5 miles away. So I started walking with Luggage toward her house. As I walking down the road like a homeless man, I prayed “Lord, please provide me someone that I know to drive by and give me a ride, please..” and before I could even finish my prayer, a pickup truck slows down beside me and parks off to the side, and sure enough my cousin jumps out offering me a ride…That’s my King!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Another cool prophecy that Jesus was and is the Messiah.
Anyone who as taken the time to go through their Old Testament will and probably has seen the dozens and dozens of Messianic prophecies, and in the NT how Jesus fulfilled them. As one pastor has proclaimed "the NT is the OT concealed and the OT is the NT revealed.Anyhow, recently I discovered a prophecy i had never understood until now, which is just utterly fascinating as a believer and Historian.
In Genesis 49:10, Jacob prophesizing over his 12 sons before he dies, says to his son, Judah "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people".
(Let us remember that Judah is the line of the kings David. Also, in a few verses before that Jacob even says that Judah will rule his brothers.)
So, the King and "scepter" from the verse represents his right to rule, administer justice, carry out the Law, and punishments, etc...all the power of King. The king had given the daily administration of the country and part of his authority in such manners to the Sanhedrin and experts of Moses' laws, hence the "lawgivers" serving at the king's feet idea.
Also, most of the ancient Rabbis viewed the part about "until Shiloh comes" to mean the Messiah. There are many reasons they believed this, but the point is they did believe it to messianic. In modern language, I think we could understand this prophecy as "when the kingdom of Judah finally loses it's sovereignty as a nation to make and enforce its own laws, the Messiah will appear and draw the people toward himself". Now of course Judah the nation has been destroyed and rebuilt a few times, but when it did exist it was always allowed to carry out the law's Moses had given, even when they were ruled by Alexander and the Greeks.
However by 6-7 A.D. the tension between Rome and the Jewish leadership had come to a head. Rome crushed the Jewish revolts. Archelaus, the king of the Jews was dethroned and banished. Coponius was appointed Roman Procurator. Moreover, Sanhedrin lost their ability to administer its authority, especially crushing was the ability to carry our capitol punishment on lawbreaker. When the Jewish leaders realized that indeed the "scepter" had departed from them, many put on sackcloth and ashes weeping, and thinking that word of God had been broken, as Judah's sovereignty was gone, but the Messiah had not yet come; or so they thought.
One Rabbi Rachmon observed at that time: "When the members of the Sanhedrin found themselves deprived of their right over life and death, a general consternation took hold of them; they covered their heads and their bodies with sackcloth, exclaiming, 'Woe unto us, for the sceptre has departed from Judah and the Messiah has not come.'"
Little did they know the Word of God had not been broken, but rather a few miles north of Jerusalem in hills Galilee, a small ~10 year old boy was in his father's shop learning to make new thing and fix the broken, who in a few more decades would come calling, his name: Yeshua Ha-Mashiach.
The Word of God was not broken, for the Word himself had come down and was dwelling amidst us, furthermore, "The Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." ~ Isaiah 55:11
In Genesis 49:10, Jacob prophesizing over his 12 sons before he dies, says to his son, Judah "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people".
(Let us remember that Judah is the line of the kings David. Also, in a few verses before that Jacob even says that Judah will rule his brothers.)
So, the King and "scepter" from the verse represents his right to rule, administer justice, carry out the Law, and punishments, etc...all the power of King. The king had given the daily administration of the country and part of his authority in such manners to the Sanhedrin and experts of Moses' laws, hence the "lawgivers" serving at the king's feet idea.
Also, most of the ancient Rabbis viewed the part about "until Shiloh comes" to mean the Messiah. There are many reasons they believed this, but the point is they did believe it to messianic. In modern language, I think we could understand this prophecy as "when the kingdom of Judah finally loses it's sovereignty as a nation to make and enforce its own laws, the Messiah will appear and draw the people toward himself". Now of course Judah the nation has been destroyed and rebuilt a few times, but when it did exist it was always allowed to carry out the law's Moses had given, even when they were ruled by Alexander and the Greeks.
However by 6-7 A.D. the tension between Rome and the Jewish leadership had come to a head. Rome crushed the Jewish revolts. Archelaus, the king of the Jews was dethroned and banished. Coponius was appointed Roman Procurator. Moreover, Sanhedrin lost their ability to administer its authority, especially crushing was the ability to carry our capitol punishment on lawbreaker. When the Jewish leaders realized that indeed the "scepter" had departed from them, many put on sackcloth and ashes weeping, and thinking that word of God had been broken, as Judah's sovereignty was gone, but the Messiah had not yet come; or so they thought.
One Rabbi Rachmon observed at that time: "When the members of the Sanhedrin found themselves deprived of their right over life and death, a general consternation took hold of them; they covered their heads and their bodies with sackcloth, exclaiming, 'Woe unto us, for the sceptre has departed from Judah and the Messiah has not come.'"
Little did they know the Word of God had not been broken, but rather a few miles north of Jerusalem in hills Galilee, a small ~10 year old boy was in his father's shop learning to make new thing and fix the broken, who in a few more decades would come calling, his name: Yeshua Ha-Mashiach.
The Word of God was not broken, for the Word himself had come down and was dwelling amidst us, furthermore, "The Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." ~ Isaiah 55:11
Monday, February 1, 2010
Jesus, what a guy
He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men. Yet, he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at His coming. Yet He was so genial and winsome and approachable that the children loved to play with Him, and the little ones nestled in His arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding was like the presence of sunshine.
No-one was half so compassionate to sinners. Yet no-one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about sin. A bruised reed He would not break, His whole life was love. Yet, on one occasion He demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions. Yet for sheer stark realism He has all of our self-styled realists soundly beaten.
He was the servant of all, washing the disciples feet. Yet, masterfully He strode into the temple and the hucksters and the money changers fell over one another to get away from the mad rush and the fire they saw blazing in His eyes. He saved others. Yet at the last Himself He did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrast which confronts us in the gospels. The mystery of Jesus is the mystery of Divine Personality.
– James Stewart, Scottish theologian
No-one was half so compassionate to sinners. Yet no-one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about sin. A bruised reed He would not break, His whole life was love. Yet, on one occasion He demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions. Yet for sheer stark realism He has all of our self-styled realists soundly beaten.
He was the servant of all, washing the disciples feet. Yet, masterfully He strode into the temple and the hucksters and the money changers fell over one another to get away from the mad rush and the fire they saw blazing in His eyes. He saved others. Yet at the last Himself He did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrast which confronts us in the gospels. The mystery of Jesus is the mystery of Divine Personality.
– James Stewart, Scottish theologian
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