"Thus says the LORD: 'Do not deceive yourselves ... For though you had defeated the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only wounded men among them, they would rise up, every man in his tent, and burn the city with fire.' "
~ Jeremiah 37:9-10 (NKJV)
So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh ..."
~ Jonah 2:10-3:2 (NKJV)
"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place ... Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
~ Esther 4:14 (NKJV)
If you hadn't already noticed, I'm a huge fan of the Old Testament. The stories which many Christians consider obsolete in the light of the New Covenant are what I instead see as illuminating the New Covenant—the New Testament—more fully.
A recurring theme is God's sovereignty. Paul assures that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 NKJV) Jeremiah warned not to resist God's inevitable will. Care for more vivid illustrations?
The Lord called Jonah and enlisted his cooperation by making him fish vomit. The Lord called Esther and enlisted her cooperation by making her a queen. Is the harmony of human will and God's sovereignty evident yet?
Once the Lord has determined what He intends to do and calls us to do it, our disobedience will not frustrate God's will. Our obedience confers upon us the high privilege to cooperate with His will, and thereby exalt God's sovereignty.
Father in heaven, You are sovereign over all the world and all that is in it, above it, below it. You have dominion over all we are, all we do, all we have. How foolish we are when we resist Your good and perfect will! How privileged we are to cooperate with it. Please move our hearts ever closer to Your own.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Such a good word spoken here my friend, love you.
ReplyDeleteThis is sound doctrine and yet it sometimes takes years for believers to realize this. (Case in point me.) I'm reading a study on Collosians and it begins with the hammering in of this concept. I'm so thrilled to let the Lord move me in His perfect will! Thank you Anne. I love the OT as well. I glean just as much from it most days as I do with the NT.
ReplyDeleteDenise, I love you too. Thank you for your faithful friendship. Today was my 500th post.
ReplyDeleteT. Anne, I'm not sure why this is so difficult to grasp. I guess it's like riding a bike--it seems to defy natural laws when you're trying to learn, but once you've got it, it seems as natural as breathing.