Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Palm Sunday - A Sobering Thought

Continuing in my study of the Psalms, with one Psalm per week, I come this week to Psalm 118. What a (ahem) “coincidence”!

Psalm 118 is the last of 3 Psalms, or songs, that the Israelites would sing every year during the Passover. The phrase in verse 25, “O LORD, do save” is the Hebrew phrase “hoshia-na” or as we would pronounce it, “hosanna”.

So, on that first day of the week, nearly 2000 years ago, when the crowds and children shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” Everyone within earshot would have recognized the words to this Psalm.

On that “tenth day of the month of Abib”, what could be called “The choosing of the lamb day”; when over in the Temple the “special lamb” was being chosen and set aside for each family for the coming Passover meal, our Saviour – our “Special Lamb” was coming into Jerusalem amid shouts of “Hoshia-na!” “Hosanna!” Oh LORD, do save!”

What an “eye-opening” thought.

However, what really touched me this morning was verse 27 of Psalm 118. “The LORD is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.” (NASB)

I read that earlier this week and yes, I recognized that it referred to “the atonement for sin”, which yes, I recognized as Jesus.

But this morning as I read it in the New Living Translation (as I often read scripture in several translations to get the fuller meaning) I read the following: “The LORD is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.” (emphasis added)

And Paul’s words immediately rang in my ears, “You are not your own, you were bought with a price!” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Although I know this doctrine “intellectually”, it has been “sinking into my soul” in the past week or so as I have been reading “The Normal Christian Life” by Watchman Nee. I am really beginning to realize – to understand - that “I” (the “old me”) was crucified in Christ. I am no longer my own, but Christ’s to do with as He pleases.

Not only do my heart and my soul belong to Jesus, but my hands, my feet, my eyes, my mouth, my whole being.

What a sobering thought… Everything I do, everything I say, think or see – I do using His hands, His mouth, His mind and His eyes…

And all I can say is God forgive me for where I’ve put You and how I’ve used Your possession. Forgive me for trying to “take back” something which cost You so dearly. Amen.