“No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessing flow, far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, and wonders of His love.” “Joy to the World” Isaac Watts
“A few years ago I had taken the “Old Testament Survey” course at the Keswick Institute of Biblical Studies (KIBS). For my final exam I had to write an essay based on the last two verse’s of “Joy to the World”. They are not sung very often but they are very significant to the hymn. For the next few Freedom Fighters I am going to share with you what I wrote in that essay. If you have any thoughts or disagreements I would like to hear them.” Here is the last of my essay….
The Assyrian threat brought us Isaiah and offers the clearest need for the Messiah. Jeremiah wept while a nation was carried off and warned a nation about the need to repent and return to God. Ezekiel brings a dual message of condemnation and consolation. Daniel convinces us that despite mans rebellion, Gods plans and purposes are sovereign. Even when it looks like the affairs of men and nations are, at times, outside of Gods divine control. Daniel also prophesied the demise of four empires, the Babylonian, the Syrian, the Greek and the Roman Empires.
These four prophets not only offered a view into their own people but we can find the ways of a modern world mentality resonating in their writings. As nations come and go, Gods will prevails. His people come back to Him. But it will be over and over again. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Gen 3:15)
Job had pleaded for an intercessor. The Prophets tell of His coming. A man from the lineage of David comes to fulfill a promise. The King of Kings… The Lord of Lords… A man of God’s own Heart. Jesus Christ comes. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let the earth receive its King!!! But wait we have problem. The nation of Israel thought Elijah on a white horse to slay Caesar and crush the Roman Empire. Born in a Manger? WHAT?! Not the King they were looking for. Israel wanted freedom from the Romans then peace with God. Nope!! Not in the right order.
So Jesus still goes forward with Gods plan. The true new “Adam”, the example of true obedience that still must occur. Where it failed in the garden it found success on the Cross. Throughout the Old Testament God’s people could have had life better with simple obedience. They either just didn’t see it or want it. The idea of “death to self” to bring God glory got drowned out by all those shouts of “I WILL.” But praise be to God that through the shed blood of Christ we can be reunited with the Creator. -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a frequent contributor to Freedom Fighter
DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 8; Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6:19-34
DIG THIS QUOTE:“You ask for comfort, but you do not see that you have been led to the edge of the fountain and refuse to drink. Peace and comfort are to be found only in simple obedience. Be obedient without a lot of talk about how obedient you are. You will soon find rivers of living water flowing within you. If you believe much, you will receive much. If you believe nothing, you will receive nothing, and continue to listen only to the stories your empty imagination tells you.” The Seeking Heart Fenelon
DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1: Deuteronomy 7:9 Level 2: Joshua 1:6-9
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