Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 24
January 2012
Hi all,
Today’s
Scriptures speak about fruit; mainly the fruit of the vine. It’s also something
of a panoramic view of Israel and Judah from the time of Jacob’s prophetic
words over his sons to the time of Jesus Christ and beyond.
I
don’t recall of anyone speaking about the words of Jacob to His sons shortly
before he died. It’s a shame that this is so. In some magnificent way, it was
as though Jacob was looking forward down the years to the reign of King David
and ultimately to the time of King Jesus. Jacob’s words were both inspirational
and prophetic in a way that Christians today should be far better acquainted
with.
The
Daily Light Evening Scripture only quotes a short portion of Jacob’s blessing
on Judah, his fourth son by Leah. The previous three, Reuben, Simeon and Levi
had so disgraced themselves in the eyes of their father (Jacob) that the
blessings of the first-born son, was bestowed on Judah. These words constitute
one of the most awesome prophetic words we can find anywhere in the Old
Testament. Not surprisingly, Jacob speaks of the future king – King David and
The Future King; King Jesus. So, for today’s meditation, I’ve tried to blend
Jacob’s words with Jesus’ words into a double reflection. Part of the
reflection is by Jacob looking forward and backward over his life. The other
part is a reflection by Jesus on the vineyard of Israel.
Distinguishing
the one from the other is not difficult. Apart from a short introduction, it
“picks up” from the point where Jesus corrects the nation’s idea that they were
God’s vine. The Lord Jesus states that He is the True Vine. He then adds that
it is His desire and His Father’s desire that His people bear much fruit. The
Scripture concludes with comments on the fruit of the Spirit, rather than the
fruit of the vine.
Jacob’s
prophetic words were given about 800 years before King David and about 1800
years before the first advent of Jesus Christ. This amazing man, who started
life as a noted deceiver and cheat, met The Lord at Pniel. The change in Him
was extraordinary. The Lord touched his hip and from that time on, Jacob walked
with a limp. Furthermore, his words were no longer intended to deceive but to
bring truth; truth for which Christians, some 3800 years later, are indebted.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland.
Jacob and Jesus Reflect
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Of all the children from my loins there’s two of them stand out.
Ephraim and Judah. It’s true without a doubt.
Judah came from Leah, Ephraim’s Joseph’s son.
They will lead my people till life on earth is done.
Rachel was my favourite wife and Joseph came from her.
They’ll be at each other’s throat, and conflict will occur.
Both of them are special; each in a different way.
Judah will bring forth the King whom Ephraim will obey!
There’ll be separation. The grandson of the King,
Will so offend the Ephraimites, they will do their thing.
So, instead of one of them, the kingdom will be two.
Both will look in envy at what they both can do.
But the first intention was they should be a vine.
Planted in a vineyard the Lord would say, “It’s mine.”
There upon a hillside, in the finest richest soil,
They’d produce the finest wine that couldn’t ever spoil.
You’d think they’d make a go of it. You’d think the wine would be,
The very finest vintage in all of history.
But that is not what happened. The grapes they picked were sour.
The wine was more like vinegar and worsened every hour.
They were not even suitable to dye the royal robes red.
And so the Lord would deal with them a different way instead.
That’s when the Lord decided to chop the whole thing down.
No longer would they prosper in that rather special town.
They’d be in captivity for seventy long years.
This would be their punishment, in spite of all their tears.
Of course, they all pretended that the nation was God’s vine.
The Son of God corrected them. He said, “The title’s Mine.
Indeed I am the true vine. My Father makes it grow.
He cultivates and prunes it in ways you’ll never know.
And He is looking out for a special kind of fruit.
That no one in their right mind could possibly refute.
The fruit is of the Spirit and character is seen,
Not in the normal way of man. That way is just unclean.
That way is filled with vices and is utterly corrupt.
But those who have the Spirit will find that they have supped,
The bread of life eternal and on the choicest wine.
In fellowship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God Divine.
And walking in the Spirit, in harmony with Me,
Will bring a revelation of what they aught to be.
A people who will follow right to the very end.
And in that certain knowledge, they’ll see Me as their friend.”
Jim Strickland – Written Tuesday 24th January 2012.
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