SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 3-20-03
My
Worship Time Focus: A different kind of
Priest
Bible
Reading & Meditation Reference: Hebrews 7:15-16
Message
of the verse: “15 And this is
clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of
Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical
requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.” (NASB)
“The change in God’s law is even more evident from the fact that a
different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has now come. He became a priest, not by meeting the old
requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that
cannot be destroyed.” (NLT)
The word
for another in the NASB, and different in the NLT is a Greek word that means
another of a different nature: “1b1) another: i.e. one not of the same nature,
form, class, kind, different.” (Strong’s
Concordance) The writer is saying that
there is a definite difference between the priesthood of Levi and the
Priesthood of Melchizedek, and that difference is that the first one was only
temporary while the second Priesthood is eternal. In verse sixteen when the writer uses the
phrase “law of physical requirement” he is arguing “the OT Law dealt only with
the temporal existence of Israel. The
forgiveness which could be obtained even on the Day of Atonement was
temporary. Those who ministered as
priests under the law were mortals receiving their office by heredity. The Levitical system was dominated by matters
of physical existence and transitory ceremonialism.” (Note from MaCarthur study
Bible) The phrase, indestructible life”
in verse sixteen is speaking of Jesus Christ who will never die again, for He
is the eternal Son of God.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: On a day
like this when the whole world is so on edge because of the war that was
started yesterday in Iraq I am so blessed to be a part of the family of God, a
blood bought child of God. I am so glade
that I have a High Priest who is eternal and who understand all the things that
I have gone through, and will go through in my life and He feels my pain and
can give me comfort and encouragement too.
The
Word of God was refreshment for my soul today as I studied these two verses.
My
Steps of Faith Today: Continue
to trust the Lord with the events of this war in Iraq, trust that He not only
has the outcome of this war in His control, but He has all of the people who
are involved in every situation of this war in His control and we are promised
that for all that love Him He will work these events out for their good and for
His glory.
Memory verses for the week:
Psalm 40:1-5
1.
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and
heard my cry.
2.
He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the
miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3.
And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our
God; Many will see and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
4.
How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And
has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.
5.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which thou hast done,
And thy thoughts towards us; There is note to compare to Thee; If I would
declare and speak of them they would be too numerous to count.
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