True, Paul does teach us that some day (at the end of Armageddon, the beginning of the Millennium) … “All Israel shall be saved.” Quoting Romans 11:26. He then immediately bases that Statement on Old Testament Scripture: “As it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” alluding to Isaiah 59:20. That’s solid Bible Background.
But (notice the Lesson title again, “That Believing Remnant”) today I’d like to emphasize the participle “BELIEVING” more than the noun “remnant.” Yes, though a small nation for sure (due to the ravages of the Tribulation) … Israel is going to believe!
And this morning’s Text, Isaiah 25:1, is likely a prophetic “quotation” (sounds like a “paradox,” but it’s just Bible Prophecy in action) of this small band of now saved Jews!
“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” Isaiah 25:1
Wow!
That sounds as spiritually mature as just about anything in the New Testament, folks!
Beginning with God’s two most frequently used names, “Jehovah” (here printed as “LORD”) and Elohiym (in our Bible, “God”) … the speakers here certainly know their God!
Note too the personal nature of this burst of praise … “MY God!” Yes, somebody has been born-again!
Then come two parallel verbs, “exalt” and “praise.” Meaning, respectively, “to lift up on high” and then “to lob, toss words of thanks and confession” heavenward! “Exaltation” can be done silently, but “praise” cannot! So both inwardly and outwardly these Jews are fervently worshipping Jehovah God!
Wow!
Then three (at least) Attributes (Characteristics, Traits) of God are specifically mentioned. His Power (Omnipotence) … what He has done! (“Wonderful things!”) Then His Faithfulness (meaning “Immutability,” never changing Stability) as well as His Truth (“Veracity” … He being unable to lie)!
Are these newly saved Israelites (babes in Christ) … or are they theologians (seasoned Bible students) of some kind?
Wow!
Who God is!
What God does!
True Worship gets no fuller than acknowledging those two Aspects of our dear Lord!
The verse again, today’s Meditation … “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
May we all subscribe to the spirit of these words!
Millennial Worship can inform our Monday-after-Easter worship, too!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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