"The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: 'This one was born in Zion.' " Psalm 87:6
I have found great comfort in these words. The grace of God extended to all people. ALL PEOPLE regardless of their nation of origin. And this Psalm teaches us that from every nation, God has people written in the Book of Life - people He has received as His own from all places in the world. If you have a chance to read Psalm 87 you will see God records people from Rahab (a term used to represent Egypt) as well as Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Cush and writes their names in "the register of the peoples." At the time this was written, these nations were fierce enemies of the God of Israel. But this one portion of the scripture shows us that God has redeemed people "among those who acknowledge me" out from these places and a future picture of multinational worship will take place in one city - the city He loves - Jerusalem.
How can that be if nations today don't honor or reverence one God? According to the scripture it isn't about nations recognizing God. It is about people out of the nations recognizing God individually...and God is recording the names of these people based on their 'knowing' God. And He records them when HE says, "This one was born in Zion." A new birth - not a physical birth as in the nation of their origin. The prophet Jeremiah said, " This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."
An example; Jesus was approached by one of the religious elite of his day, a ruler of the Jewish faith. This man, Nicodemus, recognized that Jesus had authority from God - a teacher - one who could do things that no one could do unless they were sent by God. Jesus' reply to this revelation was, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." What!? Jesus went on to explain that this birth would be not of man, heritage, nation, or religious ancestry, but of Spirit. This would be a spiritual birth - one that produces a change from the inside of your soul to the outside of your being. Nicodemus was zealous for the external and internal rituals of faith, so this birth was difficult for him to comprehend. Yet, he was humble enough to seek after the Truth. And he met it face to face in Jesus who had the answer to this heart searching question. This new birth would be a spiritual transformation or regeneration produced by the holy spirit; not by works or religion - no matter how good those might be.
When I ponder God telling us that out of the nations He will redeem people that are 'born in Zion'; I understand that the birth He refers to is Spiritual. Is your name recorded in the register of the peoples of God? Have you been born of the spirit, yet? This blog is read by peoples from all nations - Russia, Singapore, Israel, Croatia, the UK, to name a few, and the USA. We represent the nations of our day. This word from God is still relevant. How has your life changed from the inside of your heart to the outside? Do your words and actions reflect a new birth of change from your old ways? Truly, the one who has been born of the spirit, 'born in Zion', will show a transformation of heart and a new life from the old. Of this place we need to desire residency.
References: Psalm 87, John 3:1-21, Revelation 21:22-27, Jeremiah 9:23-26
I have found great comfort in these words. The grace of God extended to all people. ALL PEOPLE regardless of their nation of origin. And this Psalm teaches us that from every nation, God has people written in the Book of Life - people He has received as His own from all places in the world. If you have a chance to read Psalm 87 you will see God records people from Rahab (a term used to represent Egypt) as well as Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Cush and writes their names in "the register of the peoples." At the time this was written, these nations were fierce enemies of the God of Israel. But this one portion of the scripture shows us that God has redeemed people "among those who acknowledge me" out from these places and a future picture of multinational worship will take place in one city - the city He loves - Jerusalem.
How can that be if nations today don't honor or reverence one God? According to the scripture it isn't about nations recognizing God. It is about people out of the nations recognizing God individually...and God is recording the names of these people based on their 'knowing' God. And He records them when HE says, "This one was born in Zion." A new birth - not a physical birth as in the nation of their origin. The prophet Jeremiah said, " This is what the Lord says: 'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."
An example; Jesus was approached by one of the religious elite of his day, a ruler of the Jewish faith. This man, Nicodemus, recognized that Jesus had authority from God - a teacher - one who could do things that no one could do unless they were sent by God. Jesus' reply to this revelation was, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." What!? Jesus went on to explain that this birth would be not of man, heritage, nation, or religious ancestry, but of Spirit. This would be a spiritual birth - one that produces a change from the inside of your soul to the outside of your being. Nicodemus was zealous for the external and internal rituals of faith, so this birth was difficult for him to comprehend. Yet, he was humble enough to seek after the Truth. And he met it face to face in Jesus who had the answer to this heart searching question. This new birth would be a spiritual transformation or regeneration produced by the holy spirit; not by works or religion - no matter how good those might be.
When I ponder God telling us that out of the nations He will redeem people that are 'born in Zion'; I understand that the birth He refers to is Spiritual. Is your name recorded in the register of the peoples of God? Have you been born of the spirit, yet? This blog is read by peoples from all nations - Russia, Singapore, Israel, Croatia, the UK, to name a few, and the USA. We represent the nations of our day. This word from God is still relevant. How has your life changed from the inside of your heart to the outside? Do your words and actions reflect a new birth of change from your old ways? Truly, the one who has been born of the spirit, 'born in Zion', will show a transformation of heart and a new life from the old. Of this place we need to desire residency.
References: Psalm 87, John 3:1-21, Revelation 21:22-27, Jeremiah 9:23-26
No comments:
Post a Comment