Triumphal Procession
One day you will see that God has had a plan all along your journey.
“Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages: The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians...They left Pi Hahiroth and passed through the sea into the desert...On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess...But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live."
Numbers 33:1-8, 11, 15, 36-38, 41, 48-53, 55-56
When was the last time you reflected on the road you have traveled? Can you see clearly how God's hand was at work in your triumphs and your trials? Life has seasons and stages that we pass through. Time does not stand still for anyone. Truth tells us that God has always been and will always be at work. Consider taking time to look back today at where you have come from and give thanks to God.
The Israelites are reminded of the many stages of their journey from the time they set out from the life of slavery in Egypt. It was a long and winding road. We read their story with a historical bias able to see how each piece subsequently fit with the next as part of God's mysterious puzzle to rescue His people. Why do you think He wants them to take time to remember? Is it not because He wants to grow their trust in Him so that they will believe He has been and will be faithful?
Before the people reach the promised land, God gives them a loving command. He says make sure that you take full possession of the land and do not leave anything that could cause you trouble later. If you know how the story goes, you will know that they do not listen. Are we that different? Does God not call us to a life of holiness and devotion to Him, yet the question remains have you fully taken possession of your inheritance as a child of God?
Have you done all that He calls you to do so that you could be free of the trouble that can arise? Many people take possession of the promised Savior, but fail to make Jesus Lord of all areas of their life. It is human nature to want your cake and to eat it too. God is a good Father and He tries to protect us from ourselves and the trouble caused by sin. Where in your life do you need to take possession and purify your life? What is a step you could take today to prepare your heart to receive the full promise so the perils of sin will not trip you up later?
“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”
Psalms 150:1-2, 6
David had a long and winding road from forgotten son and shepherd boy to God's anointed king. He could have written songs about all he had accomplished and how powerful he was, but he didn't. Mark Batterson says anything we don't turn into praise turns into pride.
David chose to praise with all his heart. He was fully devoted to God so he sang only of praising the Lord and he said everything that has breath should praise the Lord. The whole earth, all that God made, should use their breath to praise God. Can you imagine a world like this? Can you imagine if all we heard was praise that glorified God? Sounds like heaven on earth. Isn't that what Jesus invites us to do? Ask yourself how you can help heaven come down with how you fully praise today?
“Eat, friends, and drink; drink your fill of love...How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us? His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend"
Song of Songs 5:1-2, 6, 9, 16
The bride is asked how the love of her beloved is better than others. It is a great question. How is the love of Christ different that any other love you have experienced? How does His unconditional, eternal love differ from what you have known? Each of us has a story to tell of how the love of Jesus has transformed or is transforming our lives. There is a story of who we were and who we are today. Have you shared your story? Are you prepared to answer the question?
The bride says that his words are sweetness. He is my beloved and my friend. The new covenant offers a different inheritance than what the Israelites received. Rather than a place, we are promised a personal relationship with our perfect Savior. In Him, we find abundant life. His love is so much greater and His grace so much sweeter so that we would desire relationship with Him above all other desires.
Solomon uses the love as a comparative and clarifier. Why should the Israelites take full possession? Because the promised land is so much better than any other place they have lived. Why should we choose Jesus? Because His love and relationship with Him is so much better than anything we could imagine.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “You say, Tyre, “I am perfect in beauty.” Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection...But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea. Your wealth, merchandise and wares, your mariners, sailors and shipwrights, your merchants and all your soldiers, and everyone else on board will sink into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck...When your merchandise went out on the seas, you satisfied many nations; with your great wealth and your wares you enriched the kings of the earth. Now you are shattered by the sea in the depths of the waters; your wares and all your company have gone down with you."
Ezekiel 27:1-8, 25-27, 31-34, 36
Sometimes we need to learn from a real world example of what not to do in order to know what we should do. The Bible is full of stories of people who chose not to listen to God's call to take possession of His promises. Tyre was one of them. This was a city of prosperity and influence. People there chose to trust in their wealth and in worldly ways. The comforts and culture moved the people away from following God's commands. What was the outcome?
The people perished. The wealth that they relied upon meant nothing when judgment came upon them for how they were living. We all face the same decision. Will we rely on our worldly ways and our wealth for our peace and purposes? Or will we rely on God's living word, Jesus, the only way to the Father and kingdom living? Jesus said you cannot serve both the Living Eternal God and the god of money that people worship on earth. God wants to give us a heavenly perspective that we might see that money is a tool that is used during the stages of our life on earth, but not what helps us eternally.
“If anyone has caused grief...you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."
2 Corinthians 2:5-11, 14-15, 17
Paul asks a simple question. Will you stand the test and be obedient in everything? How do you respond to that question? Do you start to make excuses or justify why obedience in everything is unreasonable or not a requirement for you? Jesus said love God and others with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Does all really mean all?
God told the Israelites to take full possession. He said to take it all and be devoted to Him where they lived with all their hearts. He cautioned them that if they didn't it would cause them trouble later. Paul calls out one of the most common traps that the enemy uses to trip us up. Offense. Paul says that forgiveness is not an if you feel like it choice if you are to be a follower of Jesus. Paul says forgive fully. He says take full possession of forgiveness in your heart so that you don't get tricked by the enemy. How many relationships have been ruined by the tricks of offense and unforgiveness in the lives of Jesus followers?
Paul reminds us to look back and to look ahead. Look back and remember how Christ died for you. Look back and remember how you have been forgiven. Look back and remember the gracious words He spoke to you when you were dead in your sin. Then Paul invites us to look ahead. Paul says we are part of a triumphal procession that Jesus is leading. He says that we are to be a pleasing aroma with how we live to others.
How do we do this? We can choose to let Jesus Christ take full possession of our hearts and not hold anything back. We can choose to let the Holy Spirit lead us to the promised land and secure our spot in the triumphal procession. We can reach out our hands and grab hold of anyone who will respond to the message of grace as we share the stories of how Jesus transformed our lives. We can praise the Lord Jesus with every breath we have and let our praise fully glorify His name.