Tag Archives: The Lord’s glory

SOME RAMDOM THOUGHTS…PRAISE – 11

Bible Study, ,

One last thought in this series is to understand the significance of praise. As the pinnacle of God’s creation, the greatest thing we can do on earth is to praise God perpetually and continually. 

From an ancient Hebrew perspective, praise is far more than mouthing our appreciation of God’s greatness and worth. Praise is the compass by which we set the direction of our lives. Let me explain. 

The Hebrew word “halal”, from which we get the word “hallelujah”, has an interesting meaning. 

“In Hebrew, halal (הָלַל) means to praise, boast, or shine brightly. It conveys a sense of exuberant or even “foolish” celebration and is a root word for “Hallelujah”. The meaning can also extend to shining or flashing forth light, which is seen in its use for heavenly bodies.” (Source – Google, article “meaning of halal in Hebrew”)

According to Jeff Benner, expert on paleo Hebrew…(source Google),

“The verb הלל (halal) means to “shine”as seen in Isaiah 13:10 – “and the moon shall not cause its light to shine”.

In ancient times, before the invention of navigation instruments, sailors would navigate by the light of the stars. They would follow the light which guided them to their destination. 

So, “halal” often refers to the “shining of a star”.

How did this come to be translated as “praise”? By association… Just as starlight guided the sailors, so the light of God’s glory which we contemplate and verbalise in our praise, guides His people towards their destiny. 

What is our destiny?

Our destiny, according to Paul, is to be transformed into the image of Jesus so that He and all who follow Him are alike in nature and character, and are members of His family. 

“For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How does this happen? Again, according to Scripture, we become like what we love. Israel loved idols. As early in their history as their journey to the Promised Land, they were already in love with the idols of the nations they were to exterminate. 

“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.”

‭‭Hosea‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(Baal Peor was the place where the Israelites worshiped the Midianite god, influenced by the prophet Balaam, in defiance of God’s commandment to have no other gods before Him). 

We become like whatever we give our attention to, be it good or bad. So, Paul shows us how we can become “like Him”. 

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we contemplate His glory? By gazing at the “Morning Star”, the last bright star to be seen in the east before dawn. 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Jesus is called the “bright morning star” in Revelation 22:16 to signify his role as the light that ushers in a new day of salvation and eternal life.” (Source: Google). 

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, to praise, “halal”, Yah, as in “hallelujah”, is a call to focus our attention, to gaze on or contemplate His glory, (everything that constitutes Jesus’ shining), through our contemplation and our words of adoration and worship. In this way, we set the course of our lives towards our destiny of becoming like Him. 

…and John assures us…

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

THE REAL EVOLUTION

Christian Life, ,

Psalms 23:1 NLT
[1] “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”

The Hebrew word translated “need” or “want” as in, “I shall not want”, can also mean “diminished” Did you get that? As long as we are in the Good Shepherd’s care, He will never allow us or do to us anything that makes us less than who we are. On the contrary, everything He allows or uses in our lives works towards recreating us into the image of Jesus.

Evolutionists believe that creatures are evolving upwards, based on the “survival of the fittest” theory. Despite their observation that some animals, for example, certain reptiles, are unchanged after “millions of years”, according to the evolution theory, everything is getting better.

Well, I’m not sure how that is working in reality when all we see is change and decay!

However, in God’s realm, creation and God’s people have His promise that everything will be better. Trouble is, creation and people don’t get better by evolving, but will be transformed only by His power.

You see, sin intervened after God created a perfectly functional planet, populated by perfectly functional animals and people. Sin messed up everything. God didn’t introduce the process of evolution to correct the problem. Death was the judgment and the outcome of sin. Death can only be reversed by the death of a sinless person dying in the place of sinners to pay the penalty for all the sin of every person that wrecked God’s plan and ruined creation.

Once the sin question had been settled… God’s own Son came to earth, lived sinlessly and died as a sinner… God could resume His plan to recreate humans into the likeness of His Son.

It’s a slow, lifelong process, spiritual evolution if you like, but instaneously completed when Jesus returns.

What’s the process of upward evolution?

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
[18] “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
[18] “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

Seeing…contemplating…gazing…

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
[1]”Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

This is God’s evolutionary process in a nutshell. Say an emphatic “No!” to the sin that ensnares us and keep contemplating Jesus who is the way to the Father. Slowly changing, then instantaneously transformed!

1 Corinthians 15:51-58 NLT
[51] “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! [52] It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. [53] For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. [54] Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” [56] For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. [57] But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

So, says Paul, never give up. It will happen. God said so.

Scientists’ evolution is only a theory. It isn’t happening. God’s evolution is a fact. It is happening because God doesn’t lie. He guarantees that it is and will happen because He is doing the changing in us as we gaze, contemplate, see Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 NLT
[6] “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Romans 8:28-29 NLT
[28] “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. [29] For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”