Jesus the Just

12/26/11 Sabbath Snapshots from Colorado finally posted.
http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2011/12/sabbath-snapshots-colorado.html

Meditation on "Jesus the Just" and "Jesus our Justifier" to follow.
The scripture will be 2 Samuel 23:1-7 if you want to begin on your own---which is a great idea!

1 These are the last words of David:
“The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse,
the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High,
the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
the hero of Israel’s songs:

2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me;
his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock of Israel said to me:
‘When one rules over people in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God,
4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth.’

5 “If my house were not right with God,
surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant,
arranged and secured in every part;
surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation
and grant me my every desire.
6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns,
which are not gathered with the hand.
7 Whoever touches thorns
uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear;
they are burned up where they lie.”

Insights from Pastor Cole's Christmas Eve Meditation, "Of the House and Lineage of David: in 2 Samuel 22-23
v.3 Men who fear God rule justly.
There is much blessing when a ruler takes God seriously and doesn't place himself in a god-like position
v. 4 Reign of the "Just" ones= harvest of sweet, tender grass, nourished by sunshine and rain
v. 6 Worthless men don't like justice.
Reign of "unjust" ones = a goodness drought, like a perpetual cloudy morn---as CS Lewis says, "always winter, never Christmas." (PTL, God's benefit (Jesus) lightens our darkness!)
But God.....in a world of injustice ruled by worthless men, there is still a "just" ruler who is unbounded by time and death. Jesus. The One who came in the fear of God as God Himself. One who knows our name and calls us friend. The Just One. Not only the Just One, but our Justifier.
v.5 ....our blessing and "everlasting covenant."
Our well being is found in the "just" reign of Jesus!