"(His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men)" Isaiah 52:14

OLD TESTAMENT PARENTHESES (21)

"(His visage was so marred more than any man, and
his form more than the sons of men)" Isaiah 52:14

THIS the most dreadful and the most sacred of all the Bible parentheses. It stands between the prophecy of the world's amazement at the horror of the cross and its startled realisation of its glorious outcome. What can we say about this dreadful reduction of the perfect Son of Man to a being so maltreated as to be hardly human any more?

I do not find it spiritually profitable to dwell too much on the actual physical sufferings of the Saviour. Enough is said in the New Testament to impress us with their reality, so that we know that Isaiah's words are not poetical hyperbole but a sober prediction of the literal agonies which Jesus suffered. We get little spiritual gain from trying to imagine them, for such an exercise may harrow our emotions without transforming our character. It may well be that the chief purpose of this parenthesis is to stress the sheer humiliation and degradation of it all.

SEEMINGLY it had to be. Abel had shed his life's blood for God, but his death was swift and unexpected. Stephen laid down his life for the truth but although his was a painful death it was mercifully soon over. Christ's death was quite different. Even when we accept that He had to die for our sins we still cannot begin to understand why that death had to be accompanied by such excruciating agonies. This atoning death evidently had to be in the context of horrifying agonies, physical, mental and spiritual. And it was my sin that made all this so necessary.

MERCIFULLY I will never see the marred condition of that holy countenance, for in resurrection glory it is now radiantly beautiful. No word of pity or sadness came from those who saw their risen Lord.

THE couple were not aware of anything unusual in the face of the Companion who went with them to Emmaus. His feet were marked but not mangled, for He walked freely on the road. They sat with Him at the table, but only recognised Him when those nail-marked hands grasped the loaf and broke it. It seems that while the scars of His passion remained, they left no disfigurement -- rather the reverse.

WHEN it is sanctified, suffering can impart an extra quality to a beautiful face. The dreadful pains of Calvary have surely done this to our beloved Saviour. All the ugliness of His brutal treatment has somehow been displaced by an added beauty which might not have been there without the cross.

WHAT incredible joy will be ours when we are permitted to look on His blessed face in the eternal realms of glory! "His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my Beloved and this is my Friend" (Song of Songs 5:15-16).

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Eric Ludy Hold the Position July 7, 2013)

A COVERT FROM THE TEMPEST

By Bible Names of God


Isai 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. {great: Heb. heavy}

There never could be but one Man to whom this title could be applied, and that is, the Man Christ Jesus. We must face the storms of life, and we are defensless in ourselves, but we can always snuggle up close to Him who has said, "Come unto Me and I will give you rest." He will shelter us from the storms of temptation which threaten to overwhelm us, for "In that He Himself hath suffered, being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." {Heb 2:18} Only trust Him and give Him the joy of ministering to His own trusting ones.


Thou blessed "Covert From The Tempest", cover us with Thy Wings, and keep us ever close to Thy wounded side. Amen.

The Life of Trust By George Mueller

The Life of Trust

By George Mueller

Table of Contents

› Preface - THE LIFE OF TRUST: BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE LORD'S DEALINGS WITH GEORGE MÜLLER, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. EDITED AND CONDENSED BY REV ...read

› Introduction - What is meant by the prayer of faith? is a question which is beginning to arrest, in an unusual degree, the attention of Christians. What is the signi ...read

› Chapter 1 - Boyhood and Youth - 1805-1825. BIRTH--EARLY DISHONESTY--INSENSIBILITY--CONFIRMATION IN THE STATE CHURCH--DISSOLUTENESS OF LIFE--THE HARD WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS--THE G ...read

› Chapter 2 - The Prodigal's Return - 1825-1826. A TREASURE FOUND--DAWNING OF THE NEW LIFE--THE PEACE OF GOD--"I AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE AGAINST HIS FATHER"--"LET HIM THAT H ...read

› Chapter 3 - Self-Dedication - 1826-1829. DESIRE FOR MISSIONARY LABOR--PROVIDENTIAL RELEASE FROM MILITARY SERVICE--VISIT AT HOME--LED TO THE LAND OF HIS FUTURE LABORS--PROGRES ...read

› Chapter 4 - Leaning On Jesus - 1830-1832. A DOOR OPENED--TOKENS FOR GOOD--TRUST EXERCISED IN THE STUDY AND MINISTRY OF THE WORD--THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT--TRUSTING IN GOD FOR D ...read

› Chapter 5 - Ministry at Bristol Begun - 1832-1835. "HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY"--CAUTION TO THE CHRISTIAN TRAVELLER--NEW TOKENS FOR GOOD--THE WAY MADE CLEAR--MEETINGS FOR INQUIRY--N ...read

› Chapter 6 - The Scriptural Knowledge Institution - 1834-1835. UNSCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES--A NEW INSTITUTION PROPOSED--GOD'S WORD THE ONLY RULE, AND GO ...read

› Chapter 7 - Home for Destitute Orphans - 1835-1836. FRANKE'S WORKS FOLLOW HIM--GREAT UNDERTAKING CONCEIVED--REASONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN ORPHAN HOUSE--PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE--TREASURE LAID UP ...read

› Chapter 8 - The Field Widening - 1836-1837. AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE--IMPLICIT SUBMISSION--A SECOND ORPHAN HOUSE PROPOSED--AN ENCOURAGING TEXT--THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE OPENED--COMPLETE ...read

› Chapter 9 - Trial - 1838. THE MINISTRY OF SICKNESS--PEACE OF MIND--JESUS A PRESENT HELP--DEEP POVERTY--PLEADING WITH GOD--UNITED PRAYER. January 6, 1838. I feel lit ...read

› Chapter 10 - Deliverance - 1838. "PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR"--FAITH JUSTIFIED--A LESSON OF OBEDIENCE--BOUNTIFUL SUPPLIES--SPIRITUAL INGATHERING--A DAY OF MERCIES--TIMELY ...read

› Chapter 11 - Asking and Receiving - 1839. HELP FOR THE POOR SAINTS--THE UNFAILING BANK--MEANS EXHAUSTED--LIBERALITY OF A LABORING SISTER--"HE KNOWETH OUR FRAME"--REDEEMING THE TIME-- ...read

› Chapter 12 - Plenty And Want - 1840. A PURE OFFERING REQUIRED--A JOURNEY PROPOSED--SEASONABLE PROVISION--LOOKING ONLY TO THE LORD--THE WRATH OF MAN PRAISING GOD--A PROMISE FULFI ...read

› Chapter 13 - Faith Strengthened by Exercise - 1841. A WANT SUPPLIED--RESOURCES EXCEEDING THE DEMAND--EVIL OF SURETYSHIP--POWER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE--GOD'S WORD THE FOOD OF THE SOUL--PREPARATION F ...read

› Chapter 14 - Walking in Darkness - 1841-1842. "GOD'S WAY LEADS INTO TRIAL"--GROUNDS OF THANKFULNESS--PROTRACTED DARKNESS--CAST DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED--TRUST IN GOD COMMENDED--THE M ...read

› Chapter 15 - Prosperity - 1842-1843. ABUNDANT SUPPLIES--RESTING ON THE WRITTEN WORD--"SEEKING AND FINDING"--ERRONEOUS IMPRESSIONS REMOVED--PERSEVERING AND PREVAILING PRAYER ...read

› Chapter 16 - Stewardship - 1844. EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY TREASURES--SEEKING THE KINGDOM OF GOD--FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER--THE CHRISTIAN MERCHANT--EXAMPLES--MISTAKES. In con ...read

› Chapter 17 - Reaping Bountifully - 1845-1846. AN UNEXPECTED REQUEST--DELIBERATION--A GREAT UNDERTAKING--RELIANCE ON THE RESOURCES OF THE LIVING GOD--AN ANSWER EXPECTED AND RECEIVED- ...read

› Chapter 18 - Faith Confirmed by Prosperity - 1846-1848. THE SPIRIT OF SUPPLICATION BESTOWED AND PRAYER ANSWERED--THE TIME OF MAN'S NEED AND OF GOD'S BOUNTY--FAITH NOT SHAKEN--DEALING ONLY WIT ...read

› Chapter 19 - Continued Mercies - 1848-1850. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS--DEVISING LIBERAL THINGS--THE ORPHANS PROVIDED FOR--A MEMORABLE DAY--MONEY "AT INTEREST"--MEANS FROM AN UNEXPECTED SO ...read

› Chapter 20 - A New Victory Of Faith - 1850-1851. PAST MERCIES AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO NEW UNDERTAKINGS--A HOUSE FOR SEVEN HUNDRED ORPHANS PROPOSED--WALKING BY FAITH--COUNSEL SOUGHT FROM GO ...read

› Chapter 21 - Unvarying Prosperity - 1850-1852. DESIRES FOR MORE ENLARGED USEFULNESS GRATIFIED--A LARGE DONATION ANTICIPATED AND RECEIVED--REVIEW OF 1851--PERSONAL EXPERIENCE--BUILDIN ...read

› Chapter 22 - Reaping in Joy - 1852-1854. EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM GOD--MUNIFICENT DONATION--INCREASING USEFULNESS OF THE SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE INSTITUTION--ACCESS TO GOD THRO ...read

› Chapter 23 - Three Years of Prosperity - 1854-1857. THE SITE SELECTED--SIX THOUSAND ORPHANS IN PRISON--HOW TO ASK FOR DAILY BREAD--REVIEW OF TWENTY-FOUR YEARS--"TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR THE MO ...read

› Chapter 24 - Conclusion - 1857-1860. THE HOUSE FOR FOUR HUNDRED OPENED--PRAYER MORE THAN ANSWERED--THE RESORT IN TROUBLE--AN OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT ON THE ORPHANS--LAND F ...read

› Appendix - Mr. Müller is constantly receiving not only contributions in money, but a great variety of useful articles, which are regularly sent to a shop pr ...read

Vision

By Oswald Chambers


'I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.'
Acts 26:19

If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage. If we do not run our belief about God into practical issues, it is all up with the vision God has given. The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost for God's highest, and this can only be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision. The test is the sixty seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings.

"Though it tarry, wait for it." We cannot attain to a vision, we must live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision. At the beginning we saw it but did not wait for it; we rushed off into practical work, and when the vision was fulfilled, we did not see it. Waiting for the vision that tarries is the test of our loyalty to God. It is at the peril of our soul's welfare that we get caught up in practical work and miss the fulfilment of the vision.

Watch God's cyclones. The only way God sows His saints is by His whirlwind. Are you going to prove an empty pod? It will depend on whether or not you are actually living in the light of what you have seen. Let God fling you out, and do not go until He does. If you select your own spot, you will prove an empty pod. If God sows you, you will bring forth fruit.

It is essential to practise the walk of the feet in the light of the vision.

John Piper - God's Glory in his Creation

Charles Spurgeon Sermon - Justification by Faith