Law

 Today we begin worship with:

Romans 8:1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ

Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus

from the law of sin and death.

Not even a little bit (oudeis).  In Christ there is nothing that condemns us. 

Right now (nyn). While most of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-10) point to a future blessing, the first and last bless us instantly with citizenship in the Kingdom, when we acknowledge we need the Spirit of life and are willing to be persecuted for that citizenship.

With this new citizenship comes a new law.  Death is no longer on the throne.  The life-giving Spirit reigns instead.  Ironically, we are then asked, as part of this citizenship, to sacrifice ourselves, but not in death, rather in life.

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Gaze

Today we begin worship with:

Psalm 11:4, Habakkuk 2:20

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 

The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.

Back in the day, we as kids would challenge each other who could hold their breath the longest and who would keep their eyes open the longest.  The first one to breathe or blink would lose.

These verses describe God as ever with His eyes open.  Job's complaint included:

Job 7:17-19

What is man, that you make so much of him,

    and that you set your heart on him,

visit him every morning

    and test him every moment?

How long will you not look away from me,

    nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?

Job felt examined so closely that he did not have a moment outside His gaze.

But this Psalm is not a complaint.  

At camp, we know the day at the beach is ending when the lifeguard announces with their bullhorn that they are going off-duty and that if you swim, you swim at your own risk.  

God does not go off-duty, and in this Psalm David was enjoying his protective gaze.

Psalm 11:1,7
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
    the upright shall behold his face.

Veil

 This morning we begin worship with:

Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

The two previous verses describe how this is to be done:

Isaiah 25:6-7

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

    of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

And he will swallow up on this mountain

    the covering that is cast over all peoples,

    the veil that is spread over all nations.

    He will swallow up death forever; 

No longer will the wailing sound of mourners be heard.  The veil of death will be removed to reveal a feast for His people.  

The reproach (ḥerpâ) that has been the constant derision from our enemy will be removed and replaced with honor as we take our seat at the table.

Sword

This week we begin worship with:

Micah 5:4

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

A shepherd must stand to watch over their flocks. They must defend them from robbers and predatory animals.  The whole time the sheep are grazing they must stand watch. Only when they return to the sheep fold, could the shepherd lie at its gate and rest.

But this passage speaks of a different time, when the sheep need not fear at all, anywhere.

Micah 5:5-6
When the Assyrian comes into our land

and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
and eight princes of men;
they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;
and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian
when he comes into our land
and treads within our border.

Not simply within their borders but “to the ends of the earth”, our Great Shepherd will shepherd with a sword.

Rescue

 This week we begin worship with:

Habakkuk 3:2

O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

When a king would take up his army and go off to war, they would not be a surprise for their enemy.  They would slowly advance on foot with their supplies and weapons.  And what would speed forward in front of them was "the report" (šēma).  Many a surrender occurred simply because of the report of what took place in the previous town.

Based on that report, the prophet's prayer was that the LORD's army would once again break camp and advance, for another army has invaded (Habakkuk 3:16).  He was calling for their rescue.

"In the midst of the years", our years, there is an enemy, our enemy.  We need God's wrath.  We need God's mercy.  We need His rescue.