DAY 158
Old Testament reading: 1 Chronicles 25-27
“Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth” (Psalm 127:4). 1 Chronicles 25:5 contains an interesting phrase. It says God a gave Heman the king’s seer (prophet) fourteen sons and three daughter “to exalt his horn.” Some mistakenly attribute “horn” to the playing of musical instruments. This is not correct, as the horn under consideration was not an instrument of the priests. The text gives testimony to the greatness of Heman’s work and character, thus he was blessed by God with many children who could assist and carry on in his great work for the Lord. Having numerous offspring was considered a Divine blessing, but this text explicitly says so. All parents should be so fortunate as Heman so as to have God’s express blessing.
New Testament reading: Galatians 4-6
Galatians 4:4-5 sets forth three immutable attributes of God. First, Paul’s statement testifies to God’s impeccable timing – “when the fullness of time was come.” God’s timing is always perfect. For example, His land promise to Abraham’s descendants was contingent upon the Amorites’ complete apostasy, when God would use Israel as the instrument of His wrath. Also, the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom waited upon “the days of these kings” (Dan 2:44), namely, the days of the Roman emperors. Second, we find God’s faithfulness in the completion of His promises – “God sent forth His Son, made of a woman…” (Yes, even promises made to the Devil – cf Gen 3:15). Paul began his letter to Titus with these words, “In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2). Our God keeps His promises! Finally, we see the eternal purpose of God’s works – “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons.” This reveals to us that God’s plan to send Jesus to die for our sins was always known to Him and was central to all His dealings with mankind. “Known to God from eternity are all His works” (Acts 15:18). God had been waiting patiently to send His Son to earth, but “in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6). May we be always patient to trust in God’s time, be hopeful in God’s promise, and be steadfast in the assurance of His eternal purpose.
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