- araratchurch
- Apr 8, 2022
- 3 min read
“O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.”
Psalms 16:5-6 NKJV
If you haven’t read about the Hebrew tradition (specifically, Galilean tradition) of marriage during the times of Jesus, you really need to do that. It is stunning to see the direct comparison between the things Jesus did and said with that marriage tradition. He and His disciples—being from the Galilean area—assure that He knew what He was saying; and the disciples knew what He meant. For our purposes today we will focus on the part of that marriage tradition known as the betrothal.
From what I understand, when a young man decided (or his parents decided) that he would like to marry a particular young woman, he and his father would write out a contract, clearly proposing the price of the bride as well as what would be provided for her. The hopeful groom would then go and visit the intended bride’s house where, in the company of her father, the groom would go over the marriage contract drawn up by his father. If the intended bride’s father agreed to the terms, the hopeful groom would pour a cup of wine and offer it to the intended bride. If she accepted the proposal, she signified this by drinking from the groom’s cup. If she did so, she was as connected to him as she would be after the marriage ceremony, taking place one to two years later. [Spoiler alert: the groom did not know when he was coming back. Only his father would determine that when the place the groom had built in his father’s house was ready. His coming would be a surprise to the bride, who—knowing the season in which he would come—would be watching for him, and listening for the sounding of the shofar. The bride would then go out to meet the groom with her attendants. Those who were not ready to go out at the time of the groom’s coming, would not be able to go into the wedding back at the father’s house. Now just let all that sink in.]
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:26-28 NKJV
Jesus offered the cup to His disciples. This cup of the new covenant was purchased by His own blood. Drinking from His cup signifies that we are accepting His offer and becoming fully His.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 AMP
The apostle Paul apparently understood what Jesus did for us, having offered us a cup of betrothal, and paying the price to make us His own.
Referencing back to the Galilean wedding tradition: once the bride drank from the groom’s cup, she was fully His. She would now wear a veil indicating that she was no longer “available.”
“You cannot drink [both] the Lord’s cup and the cup of demons. You cannot share in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons [thereby becoming partners with them].”
1 Corinthians 10:21 AMP
The price Jesus paid for us: His own blood, is remembered every time we partake of the Lord‘s table. We are not often making that covenant when taking from the Lord’s table; but we are often remembering that we are not our own, being bought with a price. As such, we cannot make ourselves available to the world. That would be spiritual fornication and adultery; the Lord will not allow that.
In our portion from Psalms today we see that David gloried in the drinking of the Lord’s cup, no matter what that involved for him. He was truly aligned with the Lord. Additionally, he knew that with that covenantal relationship, came a wonderful inheritance.
Think about it: the bride (mentioned above), betrothed to her groom, was now—not just his possession—but also possessed the things promised to her by the groom.
Just so, being betrothed to our Lord by accepting His cup, is an awesome honor and privilege, accompanied by unimaginable promises benefits!
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
Drinking from the Lord’s cup comes with a wonderful inheritance.
- araratchurch
- Apr 7, 2022
- 3 min read
“As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.””
Psalms 16:3 NKJV
My father used to speak often about the fact that when he was very young, he would seek out the old men with whom to associate so that he could listen to what they had to say. He desired the wisdom that they could perhaps impart to him. As he became an older person himself, he was stymied that it seemed that younger people no longer were seeking out the wisdom of their elders. Now, I know that there has “always” been a tendency for young people to think they know more than older people, but, it seems as though the honor and respect once aimed toward the elders, has been redirected toward those who are “popular.” Sadly, many professing Christians don’t allow godlessness to disqualify those they choose to admire, venerate, and emulate.
I truly believe that a sure sign of a society’s moral decay is the ubiquitous hero worship of scoundrels. I understand that these people are not generally admired BECAUSE they are scoundrels. However, the fact that they are morally bankrupt often doesn’t matter if there is something else they possess that their admirers desire to have or to be.
Until very recently, who ever heard of the title, “Influencer,” as being a thing? Now, an Influencer is someone on social media who—having no other claim to fame except for having possibly hundreds of thousands of followers—are paid big bucks to endorse or promote products or ideas to their “followers.” Sadly, the opinions of these Influencers is swallowed undiluted by their captivated audience.
It is a tragedy to see girls wanting to be like young women who exhibit very lewd behavior. Young boys also get caught up in admiring those who seem to get the awards, applause, accolades, and yes, money.
Now, our own government is exalting people who are actually very troubled individuals. In an attempt to normalize—or actually promote evil behavior—people are put into positions of power who would never have even been considered before. Please understand me, I don’t believe in abusing or treating any individuals in a disrespectful way. However, to go to the other extreme and make role models of people who basically need deliverance, is mind boggling. Again, even more tragic is that many professing Christians keep righteous living corralled in its “proper” place with “God stuff.”
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
I John 2:15-17 NKJV
If we continue to embrace the ungodly as heroes, it won’t be long before our country crumbles under the weight of its own corruption.
In our portion from Psalms today we see that David knew the importance—not only of associating with the righteous (which we find as a theme in many of his writings)—but of also making those people the ones you honor and respect.
“I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.”
Psalms 26:4-5 NKJV
We must all be honest with ourselves. If we find that we enjoy the company of the wicked, or being entertained by wicked people, we must face the fact that our affections have shifted away from the Lord. And, if we do not correct the object of our affections, we will find our behavior following after the spirit of the world and not the Spirit of our God.
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
Righteous people should be the heroes and role models of those who belong to the Lord.
- araratchurch
- Apr 7, 2022
- 3 min read
“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”
Psalms 15:1-5 NKJV
Near where I was born, there is a place called “Rock City.” Over the years, many people have enjoyed walking the rocky trails and taking in its natural beauty. On one part of the trails there is a place called “Fat Man Squeeze” (most people reference it as “Fat Man’s Squeeze”). This is where the trail goes through opposing rock shears, between which, you literally have to squeeze yourself through. Additionally, if your girth exceeds the basic chubby guy level, you will not make it through. It is not suggested for those who have claustrophobia in that there are sections where the squeeze is 15 to 20 feet long and there are often people on either side of you. (OK, before you break out in a sweat, I’ll move on.)
In our portion from Psalms today we find David questioning as to who can actually dwell in the presence of the Lord; then he gives a list of qualifications, a description, as to who would be able to do that. We also see David entertaining this line of questioning elsewhere in the psalms:
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
Psalms 24:3-5 NKJV
When I was much younger I took this as being a description of what state of being good Christian people could attain. But, as I became more mature in the Lord—and as He revealed my own need of a Savior—I realized that these verses are a “Fat Man’s Squeeze” through which none of us could ever actually fit. You see, fallen man is too “fat” to walk the trail to God’s presence. But praise be to God, Jesus Christ has made a way—where there was no way—for us to do just that! Through Him we can lose that “girth of flesh” disqualifying us from walking that trail! And, beyond that, one day—soon and very soon—we will be like Him so that we may dwell in the presence of our Lord, FOREVER!
“Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory].”
1 John 3:2 AMP
So, if you can’t seem to find that “miracle diet” to help you shed the “weight” keeping you from God’s presence, just look to Jesus; He has made a Way for you. Just enter in!
For today let us know and understand what David knew:
The pathway to God is too narrow for us; but it is not too narrow for Jesus.