SUBJ: The saint's recognition of
Christ Jesus as their God, manifest in the flesh and their claim to
salvation in Him both now and forevermore.
AIM: That we might see Him now and
delight in the prospect of future recognition of Him.
INTR: Christ alone has always been the
hope of true believers.
1. Old Testament saints knew the Lord as both
their God (Elohim) and Redeemer (Jehovah) and so the Spirit of the Lord
spoke through the prophet of such hope to be found in their hearts.
2. New Testament saints (we are included) recognize Jesus as the
revelation of the promised Seed. See Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto
them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
3. True
believers recognize Him now (my sheep hear my voice & c.) and will more
so in the time to come at His appearing - Titus 2:13 Looking for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ...
THESIS:
The simple fact is that the Lord's people recognize Him, know Him and
acknowledge Him and so shall it ever be. They declare of Jesus "Lo this
is our God; we have waited for Him!"
I. Past judgments lead to
future confidence (vv. 1-5)
1. Praise and the reasons of it (v. 1)
1) What He had done - wonderful things
2) The nature of His counsels
(purpose) -Vfaithfulness and truth.
2. The evidence of judgment (vv.
2-3) -Vremember Jericho and the declaration of desolation
1)
Fortresses of evil destroyed (defended cities, a palace of strangers)
2) The enemy glorifying God for His strength
3. His identity with His
people (v. 4)
1) He was strength to the poor and needy.
2) Their
refuge from the storm
3) Shadow from the heat - the blast of the
terrible ones
4. Continued defense - the enemy brought down.
II. The nature of future blessedness (vv. 6-8)
1. A feast of fat
things and c. - Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the
waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy
wine and milk without money and without price.
2. The coverings of
oppression and deception swallowed up there (we would note here that
such is the effect of dwelling with Him and He with us even now)
1)
Consider enslaving religion and oppressive government
2) The work of
the deceiver against the Lord's people.
3. Death is swallowed up in
victory - 1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall
be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in
victory.
1) The Death of Death in the Death of Christ - John Owen
2) Tears wiped away - such as are shed for sins, indwelling sin,
unbelief and sorrows in general.
3) The rebuke of His people - from
Satan, accusations, from persecutions and even from ourselves -
assurance given now and confirmed in the future.
4. The Lord hath
spoken it!
III. Victory in Jesus seen and proclaimed (vv. 9-12)
1. This is our God for Whom we have waited - a present and future
declaration.
1) The reaction of those who first recognized Him:
i.
John the Baptist - Saw Him as the Lamb of God
ii. The disciples:
Andrew and Peter; Jesus and Philip: Philip and Nathanael.
iii. Peter
at Pentecost: Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ.
2. The Lord for Whom we have waited - present
and future realization.
1) The cause of gladness and rejoicing
2)
Not with His salvation, but in His salvation:
i. That which was
ordained and carried out by Him alone.
ii. That which always
incorporates His presence and attendance.
iii. That in which only His
people can rejoice because He is their sole attraction.
3. The hand
of the Lord in this mountain (v. 10) - present and future (the place
where the Lord dwells with His people.
4. All enemies swept away
5. A final thought: The martyrs (of whom the world was not worthy)
know the blessedness of these things and so should we - Hebrews
11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,
that they without us should not be made perfect.
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