Paul has a verse, 2 Timothy 3:7, that describes many in the last days, “perilous times!” You’ve read it before: “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This is “always learning” in a bad sense.
But what I mean by today’s Lesson title … “Always Learning” … is framed in a “good sense.” The Bible is such a glorious Book, all 1189 chapters, that one soul will NEVER master it, not even in a lifetime! So each of us as Christian students will be “always learning,” but in our case as a result of having come to the Truth, to the personal knowledge of Jesus Christ our Saviour!
Honestly, I still experience a little “thrill” every time I see a new verse (as in “I’ve read this before, but never understood it like today”) of Scripture. Such an “a-ha” Moment occurred earlier this morning, in a motel room here in west Georgia. (A Holy Spirit induced “thrill,” I am pretty sure!)
Let me show you.
“Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; NOW WILL I LIFT UP MYSELF.” Isaiah 33:10
God “lifting up Himself,” new to me! “He Himself!”
I’m in favor of this, to be sure!
And I did remember that God already has “exalted/magnified His (Own) Word, even above His Name,” Psalm 138:2.
But God uplifting Himself, astounding!
In Hebrew our little “Gem” today is even more captivating. Watch the verbs the Holy Spirit uses: “Now will I rise (qum), saith the LORD; now will I be exalted (rum/ramam); now will I lift up (nasa) myself.” Three different action words, nearly exhausting the Hebrew language of its vocabulary in that area!
But the more I think about God’s “Movement” here, I feel a bit “convicted!” In this sense … “Do I lift Him up as I ought?”
Do I exalt His Name properly?
If He is ultimately going to do so (the ultimate fulfillment of this verse being yet future) should not I daily be involved in His noble Goal, Plan?
Mike Bagwell, this Thursday … obey Psalm 98:6 … and live this vital truth: “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring (nasa) an offering, and come into his courts.” Worshipping Him!
Or Psalm 118:28 … “Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt (rum/ramam) thee.”
Why can’t I pray this? “Arise (qum), O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.” Psalm 82:8
Knowing such Exaltation/Lifting up is God’s Plan anyway … might I not already be employed in so doing?
And can’t I also pray such? “Even so, come Lord Jesus … and hasten the great Day when God will “lift up” Himself!”
Amen!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
God exalting/lifting up Himself!
Then ironically, I’ve found this verse. Psalm 140:8 … “Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt (rum/ramam) themselves. Selah.”
Far, far better God be lifted up, than the wicked!
One more Verse today, the best yet I think! “Lift up (nasa) thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.” Psalm 94:2
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