Thursday, August 13 2020 Devotional
"Say also: 'Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.'" 1 Chronicles 16:35 At the time that David wrote this song for the Sons of Asaph to sing at the celebration bringing the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem, the people of Israel were not scattered among the nations. They were all living right there in the Promised Land. Why did David have them sing such a request? Throughout the Bible the recurring theme resounds of God saving, gathering and delivering His own from among the nations. Centuries after the time of David, Israel itself will actually be physically scattered among the nations so that God can gather them and bring them back. Israel is God’s prophetic nation. He speaks to the world through Israel, making Israel a prophetic type of the Church, which is the gathering of His elect from among all the nations of the earth, a spiritual “assembly-of-the-called-out-ones.” Israel becomes a graphic illustration of what God was planning from the very beginning. Why does God want to do this? The answer is right there: "that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise." For years I have been visiting with my Christian brothers and sisters from South America, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, and Asia, from cities, mountain-tops, jungles, remote islands and deserts. I ask them for their story. “How did you come to know Jesus?“ The stories vary in their details in delightful ways but the central theme is the same: “Jesus saved me, called me to Himself, forgave my sins and delivered me from...” And we praise the God of Israel together. Lord, You have been calling, gathering, enlightening, and setting a people apart for Yourself from among all the nations ever since the Garden of Eden. Thank You for making me part of it. Thank You for saving me! Amen!
Pastor Dan Giles