Jesus Christ in Judges

~ Jesus Christ is The Sacred Judge & More ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

Overview  ~  The Book of Judges is named after the men and women who were the leaders, or judges as they were called, of Israel from the time of Joshua through the time of the first king. 

Christ Is The Law Giver  ~  God (Jesus Christ is fully God) was the giver of the Law which was the basis of society.  The judges were to lead the people of Israel—some were good judges and some were bad. 

Christ Is The Ultimate Judge  ~  We can see a picture of Jesus in this book as we read of the individuals who “judged” Israel and rescued the people.  More than a judge, Jesus Christ is the ultimate or Sacred Judge. 

Christ Is The Divine Deliverer  ~  God used these leaders to rescue the people from their enemies. “Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them” (Judges 2:16). 

Christ Is Seen As The Messenger Of Jehovah  ~  “Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said:  ‘I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, “I will never break My covenant with you”’” (Judges 2:1). 

Christ Is Seen As The Angel Of The Lord  ~  He is the angel of the Lord appearing unto Manoah.  “Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.’  And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her.  Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, ‘Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!’  So Manoah arose and followed his wife.  When he came to the Man, he said to Him, ‘Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?’  And He said, ‘I am’” (Judges 13:8-11). 

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in Judges. Much more could be said about each of the previous examples.

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

(5)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 104

~ Messiah Would Be Seated At God’s Right Hand ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1). 

The Messiah  

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

God’s Jewels

~ Differences Between a Pearl and Other Jewels. ~

Do you understand Biblical jewels?

The following is an excerpt from a book.

Jewels  ~  In contrast we find that Israel is God’s chosen and “peculiar treasure,” and the Jews are referred to as “jewels.” For instance, we read at the close of the Old Testament concerning the faithful remnant, “a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘on the day that I make them My jewels’” (Malachi 3:16-17 NKJV). At the close of the New Testament we read regarding the New Jerusalem: “The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone” (Revelation 21:19, emphasis added).

Pearl  ~  There are a number of interesting differences between precious stones and the gem that we call a pearl. We will not take time to develop these but only mention some aspects for your contemplation. Jewels are faceted by man, suggestive of the Law, but anything man does to a pearl reduces its value. Jewels may be observed before their final state or condition, but the formation of a pearl is a mysterious, hidden process, unknown until finished—only a small percentage of oysters produce a pearl, and once removed from the mollusk it cannot be improved upon.

Pearls are gently built, layer-by-layer, as the oyster adds a coating of its very nature to a foreign particle—eventually transforming it into an item possessing the same kind of beauty as that which formed it; the Church is being formed individual by individual, and eventually will possess the beauty of Christ. Jewels are typically formed by intense pressure, heat, or chemical action that transforms what exists into a different form. They are among the most durable and permanent objects known to mankind. The Jewish nation is a survivor; the nation of Israel has throughout history been subjected to greater and more intense pressure from surrounding nations than any other nation on earth.

Pearls are among the most delicate of gems, with a relatively short lifespan of about 300 years; the Church is God’s instrument for a relatively short time in history between our Lord’s first and second comings—after that the Church will be with all the saints of all time in the New Jerusalem.

~ from “ONE PRECIOUS PEARL: God’s Design for His Church, pgs 98-99  (ISBN: 9780741462329)

Learn more about this important book at Amazon, the Publisher, or the Author’s website.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

7 Doubles

~ God Sometimes Makes a Double Call ~

Every word in Scripture is inspired by the Spirit of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16a). When the Lord spoke a person's name twice in calling him, He did it for greater emphasis. Consider seven examples.

“Abraham, Abraham!”—a call for deliverance  ~  “But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:11-13). 

“Jacob, Jacob!”—a call for blessing  ~  “Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ So He said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there’” (Genesis 46:2-3).

“Moses, Moses!”—a call to reverence  ~  “So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground’” (Exodus 3:4-5).  

“Samuel, Samuel!”—a call to service  ~  “Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for Your servant hears’” (1 Samuel 3:10).

“Martha, Martha”—a call of reproof  ~  “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42).

“Simon, Simon!” (Peter)—a call of warning  ~  “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’” (Luke 22:31-32). 

“Saul, Saul” (Paul)—a call for conviction and conversion  ~  “Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do’” (Acts 9:4-6). 

 ~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW