December 3, 2011

• come sinners, make consideration of Israel's Consolation ~letter 132 on assurance & fighting for joy

  Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13  And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

  Luke 2:25  Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27  And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28  he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

  29  “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
  according to your word;
  30  for my eyes have seen your salvation
  31  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
  32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
  and for glory to your people Israel.”

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation

  His sword has pierced
  your soul now grieves

  to the true Tabernacle flee
  make haste! His Salvation see

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission

  in Christ, grace and justice did meet
  Lamb's heel bruised, devil's sound defeat

  God's blood poured on the mercy seat
  atonement perfect and complete

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission

  Comfort for all Israel's seed
  Christ never breaks the bruised reed

  pardon for all your iniquity
  Comfort from the Lord's hand receive

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission

  for your captive soul, release
  praise for all your heaviness

  away to the great High Priest
  in your desert, a lavish feast

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission

  Consolation full and free
  for lost and tired, thirsty sheep

  Consolation strong, not weak
  everlasting Comfort seek

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission

  His sword has pierced
  your soul now grieves

  away to The Temple, drink
  into Love's vast ocean sink

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission

  at throne of highest Majesty
  be bold, find Grace in time of need

  Glory bursts at the mercy seat
  exceeding Joy your gloom will greet

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission

  in your arms hold Him and bless
  bless the LORD, your Righteousness

  exult in His excellent greatness
  to the praise of His glorious grace

  come sinners, make consideration
  of Israel's Consolation:
  Jesus Christ, the Incarnation
  God's Ransom, revealed Salvation

  with your mouth make confession
  and with your heart adoration
  to Israel's Consolation
  by His Blood receive sins' remission
  

  * * *

  Isaiah 40
  1  Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
  2  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
  and cry to her
  that her warfare is ended,
  that her iniquity is pardoned,
  that she has received from the LORD's hand
  double for all her sins.
  3  A voice cries:
  “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
  make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
  4  Every valley shall be lifted up,
  and every mountain and hill be made low;
  the uneven ground shall become level,
  and the rough places a plain.
  5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
  and all flesh shall see it together,
  for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

  Isaiah 9:1  But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

  

  2  The people who walked in darkness

  have seen a great light;
  those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
  on them has light shined.
  3  You have multiplied the nation;
  you have increased its joy;
  they rejoice before you
  as with joy at the harvest,
  as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
  4  For the yoke of his burden,
  and the staff for his shoulder,
  the rod of his oppressor,
  you have broken as on the day of Midian.
  5  For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
  and every garment rolled in blood
  will be burned as fuel for the fire.
  6  For to us a child is born,
  to us a son is given;
  and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
  and his name shall be called
  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
  7  Of the increase of his government and of peace
  there will be no end,
  on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
  to establish it and to uphold it
  with justice and with righteousness
  from this time forth and forevermore.
  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
  
  

  
  Luke 4
  16  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17  And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

  18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
  because he has anointed me
  to proclaim good news to the poor.
  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
  and recovering of sight to the blind,
  to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
  19  to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

  I Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

  Galatians 3:23  Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24  So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26  for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

  II Thessalonians 2:16  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17  comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

  Have you come to know Israel's Consolation, Jesus Christ, as YOUR consolation?
  

  II Corinthians 6:1  Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2  For he says,

  “In a favorable time I listened to you,
  and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

  Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

  Isaiah 49
  8  Thus says the LORD:
  “In a time of favor I have answered you;
  in a day of salvation I have helped you;
  I will keep you and give you
  as a covenant to the people,
  to establish the land,
  to apportion the desolate heritages,
  9  saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
  to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
  They shall feed along the ways;
  on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
  10  they shall not hunger or thirst,
  neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
  for he who has pity on them will lead them,
  and by springs of water will guide them.
  11  And I will make all my mountains a road,
  and my highways shall be raised up.
  12  Behold, these shall come from afar,
  and behold, these from the north and from the west,
  and these from the land of Syene.”
  13  Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
  break forth, O mountains, into singing!
  for the LORD has comforted his people
  and will have compassion on his afflicted.
  
  Have you come to know the JOY of Israel's Consolation –do you joy in Jesus Christ to the glory of God?

  Where do you seek consolation, comfort and joy?

  If you are a Christian and you continue to seek consolation, comfort and joy apart from Jesus Christ, not only are you robbing yourself as you settle for infinitely less than God can provide for you, but you are also robbing God of the glory due His Name!

  Should not a people seek consolation, comfort and joy in their God?

  Isaiah 61
  1  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;
  because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek;
  he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
  to proclaim liberty to the captives,
  and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
  2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
  and the day of vengeance of our God;
  to comfort all that mourn;
  3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
  to give unto them beauty for ashes,
  the oil of joy for mourning,
  the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
  that they might be called trees of righteousness,
  the planting of the LORD,
  that he might be glorified.

  ... that HE might be glorified!
  

  Here is love, vast as the ocean,
  Lovingkindness as the flood,
  When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
  Shed for us His precious blood.
  Who His love will not remember?
  Who can cease to sing His praise?
  He can never be forgotten,
  Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

   (from "Here Is Love," verse 1 by William Rees)

  ... that HE might be glorified!

  Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

  A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
  (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

   

  ---

  Related:

  My other letters on assurance & fighting for joy including:

  • Letter 1 on assurance and fighting for joy
  • Letter 3 on assurance and fighting for joy (Jesus' desire vs. Satan's desire)
  • "But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish." Isaiah 9:1-7 | letter 92 on assurance & joy
  • Are you rejoicing before Him & singing freedom songs? Isaiah 9:1-5, Charlie Hall | letter 93 on joy

  Two Fountains ~ Where are you drinking? What is flowing? Don't waste your drinking!
  Sovereign Glory (An Advent Hymn)
  Blessed Be God for His Kindness Which Leads Us to Repentance
  Bible Reading: Ezekiel 7–"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more"
  Advent #1 WHY HAS JESUS COME? that we might have life & life more abundantly
  Advent #2 WHY HAS JESUS COME? to give his life as a ransom for many
  Advent #3 WHY HAS JESUS COME? not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance
  A little child shall lead us: Christ died for our sins (precious penal substitution)
  The Gospel: Penal substitution? Really? Yes, really!
  First Week of Advent: The Most Scandalous Bailout Ever
  Why preach the Gospel? # 1: Bad men need Good News!
  Why preach the Gospel? bad men need Good News (abridged)
  Why preach the Gospel? # 2: Dead men need Life!
  you say you want Jesus
  Dealing with past sins & guilt: God does not despise the broken & contrite heart
  Ash Wednesday: Do you despise yourself? | Job 42
  Have you believed with your heart ... all your heart? (Acts 8:37)

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Photo credit: "Simeon in the Temple" by Rembrandt (1669) found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:61049_Simeon_in_the_Temple.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0 / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}

   

  • 3:30 PM
  • 3 Comments