November 30, 2021

The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah

The above comment relating to the Messiah is the caption of Psalms 22, in my New King James Bible; which this devotional will comment on for inspiration and encouragement for believers.

This Psalm is also attributed to King David. King David was also known as a Prophet; Yeshua was said to be “Prophet, Priest, And King.” For extended reading on this, see this link.

There are other Scriptures that relate to this subject, but I want us to look at David’s comments in Psalms 22 concerning his contemplation of the thoughts and anguish of Messiah’s last hours on earth… as a living man, born of woman, although He was the Son of God [Yahweh]. We know from New Testament witness that what David wrote surely was the truth. If David was not inspired of Yahweh, he could not have been so meticulously informed in order to write this Psalm.

Yahweh has fathomless wisdom and foresight… He knows the end from the beginning:

“Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,” Isa 46:10 nkjv

The life of the Messiah and His assignment for redemption of mankind from the power of darkness and the evil intentions of the Devil to devastate humanity, are clearly elaborated upon in the Scriptures. One might ask, “why does God do things like He does?” Well, I can’t answer that, but Yahweh makes the rules, and we can only make the choices… interestingly enough, He tells us which are good/right choices and which are not. Thereby, by faith, we believers obey the rules and if we remain faithful, we will get our reward in the end… otherwise, the end will be irrevocably tragic. While we are saved by Yahweh's Grace, through faith in Messiah’s work at Calvary, we can’t disregard the rules of Truth that have sanctified us. jn 17:17 nkjv

Have you ever considered that in time immemorial, the Creator of the Universe knew you and He knew everything you would do (and be) in your life… He knew your end from your beginning. There is reason to believe He actually guides our footsteps…

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.” Ps 37:23 nkjv

"A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” prov 16:9 nkjv

The same omniscient Creator that instructed David to pen the words of the days of the Messiah’s sufferings, is the same Creator that works in our lives for our best interests. We need to be careful not to mistake difficult times for happenstance or bad luck, etc… they may be experiences we are given for reasons Yahweh understands that we don’t. It may be for Yahweh’s purpose that we play a role for a people yet to come… Just as Messiah was a predestined deliverer, that David foresaw and wrote about… look at David’s last two verses in Ps 22.

“A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, 31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.” ps 22:30-31

It is my reading of this Scripture that you and I, and all other believers, ARE THIS POSTERITY that shall serve Him, that we ARE TO DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS to a people who will be born.

As you ponder these things, I hope you see the value you are to the plan that Yahweh set in place from the beginning… knowing YOU and I, and OUR role in His wondrous plan.

Shalom... John