'Unconditional Love'
"Jehovah-raah" The Lord Is My Shepherd
*Isaiah 40:11, "Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arms He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes."
It has been said that the three most precious words spoken in any language are, "I love you". By these three words great songs have been composed, sonnets have been written, and poets have mused. Love is something that we cannot beg, borrow, or steal. It is what makes the world go 'round.
Love is what nurtures us from our conception. It is what gives our life purpose and meaning. Love is what brings us into the world and what motivates us throughout our entire life. Love is what attracts us to the one special person who can fill the void in our life and make it complete.
Love is what builds dreams and hopes in a marriage. It is what establishes the homes which we build and the purpose of raising a family. The bond we have to the home which we build gives our children deep foundational roots in which to grow. We fill that house full with precious possessions that will one day be part of our children's heritage. We remodel and rebuild and keep the foundation in tact throughout all the years of our life in order that one day our children will have a home to call their own.
Love can move mountains and cause the heart to sing; but, as great as love is it can be as unsettling as being caught in a maelstrom. Jealousy, lies, and deceit can often follow a bittersweet or one sided love affair. These things can destroy our lives and our homes. They can wreck havoc among our children causing distress and distrust toward even those who have their best intentions in their thoughts and on their hearts.
The covenant that God made with Abraham concerning his seed was in the form of a marriage agreement. He literally came to Abraham with a marriage proposal for the children that he and Sarah would conceive. He told Abraham that his seed would be enslaved in a land that was not their own. He had promised Abraham that after 400 years He would judge the nation they would serve and they would come out with many possessions. He further said that when the iniquity of the Amorite was finished they would be delivered in the fourth generation. The nation of Israel was called into an everlasting covenant as God's chosen wife. *Isaiah 54:5, "For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."
According to Hebrew wedding traditions, after the marriage proposal was accepted, the bridegroom would go away until he had a place prepared for his bride. The bride would remain in her parent's home where she would keep her possessions neatly packed and prepared awaiting the groom who could arrive at any minute. Because the time of his arrival was not known, she would keep a light in her window so he would know in which room to find her. When the place was completed the groom would send a messenger, with great fanfare, announcing his arrival. The bridegroom would literally steal her away, often in the middle of the night. He would then take her to the place that he had prepared for her, usually in his father's house.
For four hundred, thirty years the nation of Israel had remained in bondage to a nation that hated and distrusted them. A people that had no love for them or fear of their God. Four hundred years of building the great columns and cities of Egypt. Great edifices that glorified their gods and self. Four hundred years of being fed from the coffers of Egypt and serving their gods. All with the promise of a deliverer who would come and set them free and redeem them from the house of bondage in which they served. A deliverer, in the form of Moses, who had come and announced the arrival of their Redeemer. Now they were faced with what they considered to be the insurmountable odds of man against the elements. What was worse they had seen the giants who inhabited their new home that God had given them.
Because their bondage had been great they were unable to fathom the deep love that their God had for them. He had led them by the hand, but they could not see the rewards of their new home. Because of their distrust and disobedience they were returned to the wilderness from which they had come. Now the time had come for their children to move into the land of their inheritance. The fourth generation who was no longer enslaved by the world. The iniquity of the lust of the eyes, of the flesh, and the pride of life was finished.
After forty years were accomplished God lead the nation of Israel to the banks of the Jordan River. He told Joshua to take the people over the river and possess the land which He had given them. After the preparations had been completed, Joshua led them across the river and one after another the nations who inhabited the land were defeated by the hand of God. The land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel according to God's plan.
The nation of Israel now thrived and was feared by the other nations surrounding her. God raised up a king full of wisdom. Rulers of nations flowed to her and brought priceless gifts to honor her king. She was the wealthiest nation in the center of the known world. But God tested the nation of Israel to find out if they would obey His commandments and they did evil in the eyes of the Lord. There were promises they had made that they did not fulfill. They left the land not cleansed and married their sons and daughters to the nations that God had cast out before them. They worshipped the gods of the nations that God had rejected.
Israel turned back to the bondage from which she had been divorced. The glory of God which inhabited her borders departed from her. She was left an estranged wife without a husband to protect her.
V
Two thousand years ago God sent another messenger in the form of John the Baptist to the banks of the Jordan River announcing His arrival. There was One Who would come after him Whose shoes he was unworthy to fill. After Jesus was baptized of John, He set His feet upon the dry ground and the Spirit of God descended upon Him in the form of a dove. The glory of God had returned to Israel.
From the water of the Jordan River the Spirit of God led Him into the wilderness. For forty days He fasted without any food. Then the devil came to Him and tempted Him with food saying, "If you are the Son of God turn these stones into bread." But He refused saying, "Man cannot live on bread alone but by every word that God speaks." Then the devil took Him to a mountain top and showed Him all the wealth of the world and said, "If you worship me all this will I give you because it is mine to give." But He refused to worship him saying, "It is written You should worship the Lord your God and only serve Him." Then the devil took Him to the top of the temple and said, "If you are the Son of God jump off because it is said that His angels will protect you so you will not fall." But Jesus responded saying, "It is written you should not tempt the Lord your God neither put Him through a test." Then the devil left to find a time for a better opportunity.
For three and one-half years Satan tried again and again through trials and tribulations to destroy and corrupt the Son of God. To keep Him from becoming the Lord and King of the whole earth. To keep Him from the inheritance that God had promised Him. Finding someone willing to accept his offer in the form of Judas Iscariot, he bribed him with money and the promise of freedom from tyranny through Barabbas. Satan's plan now set in order, Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and the Son of God was given into the hands of the authorities for trial and execution.
But what the devil didn't understand was that Jesus' destiny was appointed for a throne in heaven. To be seated at the right hand of God with all things under His feet. After three days in the tomb God brought Jesus back from the dead. He ascended into heaven and has been given an eternal kingdom and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
Because of His sacrifice we are no longer strangers or foreigners in a strange land. We are no longer enslaved to the world or bound by our fleshly desires. By His resurrection we are able to live victoriously because He has won the victory over all our enemies. He has conquered the devil and put him under our feet. Jesus ascended into heaven in order that we may be there with Him. He is preparing a place for us because in His Father's house there are many mansions. We have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven.
Jesus is the bridegroom Who is preparing a place for those who believe in Him. One day soon, very soon He will return to take His bride home. Are you prepared? Is there a light shining in you? Put your faith in Him and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Enter into His land of promise through the love of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
God's love toward us is unconditional. Whatever condition you are in right now He is there willing to accept you. All you have to do is ask. He has already prepared the way for your redemption. His terms are as unconditional as His love. Enter His covenant of love through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
P Prophesy is defined in Webster's Dictionary as, "the divinely inspired declaration of divine will and purpose". The prophets of both the Old and the New Testaments had a definite view of the will and purpose of God, the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The Old Testament prophets looked forward to the cross. The New Testament prophets looked back at the cross.
*March 4, 2006