Feed on
Posts
Comments

August 16, 2010

I am amazed at the precision of God’s promises.

Even more, though, I am amazed at the foreknowledge and power demonstrated by God in protecting those promises.

Here is the promise that deeply stirred me this morning:

“For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!” Psalm 34:20.

To think that this was written 1,000 years before Christ was crucified is mind-blowing to me. Rome didn’t even exist as a political power at the time and the practice of crucifixion was reportedly unknown at the time of David, according to historical records.

David’s words here could not be directed at believers because bone-breaking accidents happened then just like bone-breaking accidents happen now.

So what was David describing? I believe that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was providing a Messianic prophecy and he likely didn’t even know it.

You see, if Jesus were to later serve as the perfect, sacrificial, atoning lamb of God, He could not have the flaw of a broken bone while on the Roman cross. The Old Testament is filled with verses that stipulate that lambs used for atoning sacrifices HAD to be without defect in order to be acceptable to God.

Even the original sacrificial lamb each Hebrew family used on Passover night had to be without broken bones (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12).

And, I believe, that’s the reason that Jesus said, “It is finished” and then gave up His life on the cross before the soldiers came to hasten His death by breaking His legs.

I’m glad that God protected the bones of the righteous Redeemer during all those beatings Jesus received before the crucifixion, some of them even with rods. Ribs could have easily been broken during those beatings, but God prevented that, protecting Jesus’ place as our Sacrificial Lamb.

In protecting Jesus’ bones, God protected our hope.

In giving that promise to David 1,000 years before it played out on Calvary, God also provided an incredible reminder to me of His providence, His purpose, His love and His power to get the atoning job done for me and for you.

Thanks, Abba Father. You are amazing.

As always, I love you
Martin

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
  • Share/Bookmark

Leave a Reply