TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 62:1-12
My soul finds rest in God alone. . . . He alone is my rock and my salvation. - Psalm 62:1-2
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Rock of Gibraltar stands guard over the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. The world's most famous rock is nearly 1군 feet high and covers almost all of the 2.3 square miles of the Gibraltar peninsula. Gibraltar has been a military prize for centuries, because whoever controls this narrow neck of land at the southern tip of Spain controls access to the Mediterranean. Great Britain has an important naval base at Gibraltar, which it used during World War II to launch attacks on German and Italian forces in North Africa.

For most of the world, the Rock of Gibraltar is an instantly recognized symbol of strength and stability. David knew much about rocks and the symbolism they provide. He spent years hiding from King Saul among the rocks in the wilderness of Palestine--painful but valuable years of testing in which David learned to trust God alone as his strength and salvation.

We pointed out yesterday that some of the passages we are studying this month, especially the Psalms, are filled with images and names of God. Today we want to focus on the name God our Rock, the One who is the source of strength, stability, and protection.

Twice in this psalm David linked the term rock with salvation in reference to God. Salvation in the Old Testament often included the idea of God's deliverance from trouble or from enemies, which is the way David was using it here. God was not only David's hope for forgiveness of sin, but his place of asylum or safety where David could come for protection.

This aspect of God's salvation is obvious in David's song of praise after his enemies had been defeated. ""The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!"" (2 Sam. 22:47). David was praising God his Rock for spiritual and physical deliverance.

We are also invited to put our trust in God (v. . David had learned by experience that no other person, and no amount of material wealth, could provide what he found in the Rock of his salvation, and he warns us against misplacing our confidence.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There's an interesting progression in Psalm 62.

The psalm begins with David looking up, making a confident declaration of total trust in God (vv. 1-2). But then he looked around at the enemies trying to topple him (vv. 3-4) and seemed to be shaken. So he had to look up again and remind himself to find his protection in the Rock (vv. 5-6).

Can you identify with this? If you have stopped looking up and are looking around at your circumstances, look up again and reaffirm your trust in the Rock of your salvation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 16:1-16
From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth. - Psalm 33:13-14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Using a digital camera and computer analysis, researchers in New Jersey have uncovered several lines of text previously obscured on a leather fragment from the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. The camera is sensitive to the minute differences in the light reflected from background material as opposed to ink. Using computer analysis of the data, the researchers found the lines of what is being called a ""harvest hymn,"" an ancient Jewish psalm.

There's very little that escapes the eye of such sophisticated equipment. One of the names of God in His Word reminds us that nothing escapes His attention. He is ""the God who sees"" all of us (Ps. 33:13).

We might not expect the story of Hagar, Sarai's Egyptian servant, to give us an important name of the God of Israel. The account is one of failed faith on the part of Abram and Sarai, frustrated at the delay in the fulfillment of God's promise. Sarai proposed the plan, and Abram went along in a moment of weak faith. After all, he must have reasoned, it had been ten years since God told him he would have a son (v. 3).

Hagar became pregnant, and a jealous Sarai drove her new rival from the home. Hagar must have felt her life was over. A pregnant woman alone in the desert, with no place to call home and no prospects for the future, could not expect to survive for very long.

God saw Hagar, however--but not the way we might casually glance at a stranger standing by the side of the road. God took note of Hagar's plight, and heard the desperation in her cry for help. He provided her with a home and care by telling her to go back to Abram's family.

God also promised Hagar a future for her son, although the descendants of Ishmael would prove to be long-standing enemies of the Israelites. These descendants are the Arab peoples, and we are witnesses to the fulfillment of God's prophecy.

Hagar named the place where God saw her ""the well of the God who sees me"" (Beer Lahai Roi). Years later Isaac, Abraham's son of promise, chose to live at this location (Gen. 24:62; 25:11). He seemed to understand that something special happened there, and that he too was under the watchful eye of the God who sees.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You can take comfort in knowing God sees you today--that is, He knows where you are and what you need, and He is attentive to your cries for help.

God knows your name, He sees you, and He is in control of your circumstances. Why not celebrate God's attentive care for you by singing one of your favorite hymns of praise to Him?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 29:17-24
Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. - Isaiah 29:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Robert Bogucki set out last summer to ride his bike across the Great Sandy Desert in western Australia. Two weeks later, his bike and camping gear were found, and a huge search was launched for the 33-year-old American. Australian police called off the search after twelve days. But Bogucki's parents helped fund another search team--and a news helicopter following the searchers later spotted the lost man. Bogucki had been in the desert for forty-three days, surviving by eating plants and drinking muddy water.

We don't know what might have happened if Robert Bogucki's parents had given up hope that their son was still alive. But they would not let Robert go, reaching out to rescue him--just as God reaches out to rescue those He loves.

God's special relationship to His chosen people is clearly demonstrated in His name, ""the Holy One of Israel,"" a God whose holy character demanded holiness from His people. But God identified with His chosen nation even when the people were living in sin and rebellion against Him.

This was the situation described in Isaiah 29. The southern kingdom of Judah was under siege by the great Assyrian king Sennacherib, whose armies had already swept the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity. God delivered Jerusalem from the Assyrians (see Isa. 37:36), but He also warned them that if they did not repent and worship Him in sincerity (v. 11), He would bring judgment.

Placed in the middle of this warning, today's verses are a refreshing promise of blessing for Israel in Christ's kingdom. Notice that the Lord's work in restoring Israel will inspire in the people a desire to keep His name holy, and ""acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob"" (v. 23). As believers in Jesus Christ today, we share in the delights of His kingdom. The anticipation of ruling with Christ should produce in us the same desire to honor His holiness by the way we live in this world.

We know that it is God who makes us holy (see the November 2 study). And since we ""participate in the divine nature"" (2 Pet. 1:4), we have the capacity to honor Him through holy living.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How do we know when our daily lives are reflecting the kind of holiness God's holy character demands?

There's no quick and easy answer to that question, but it's worth some effort. Try this experiment. Write down three or four key areas of life, such as marriage, family, work, personal life, etc. Beside each category jot down several attitudes or actions that you feel would be characteristic of a holy life. Then take a ""mini-retreat"" with the Lord today. Read His Word, and pray to Him for His strength in pursuing holiness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Job 19:23-27
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. - Job 19:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
Representatives of several Western humanitarian organizations are dealing with Arab slave traders and middlemen in the north African nation of Sudan. The visitors bring stacks of Sudanese currency to dusty meeting places, using the money to buy back and set free women and children kidnapped and enslaved by Muslim raiders. The slaves are mostly Christians living in southern Sudan, and they are defenseless against the heavily armed raiders. Most of the families of those enslaved are also far too poor to redeem their loved ones from servitude.

This program of buying back slaves in Sudan illustrates the concept of redemption. The name ""Redeemer"" celebrates the wonderful truth that God has bought us out of slavery and set us free. But redemption comes at a cost. It took an unbelievably high price to redeem us: the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:17) poured out in His death.

The Old Testament word translated ""redeemer"" is the kinsman-redeemer, illustrated so beautifully in the story of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:1-12). The kinsman-redeemer would pay the price to restore the redeemed person's fortunes, and become that person's defender and protector.

Job needed a defender. He was defending his innocence in the face of his friends' accusations, and he longed for the day when his Redeemer would stand up as a witness to Job's innocence. Then everyone would know Job was not guilty of sin.

This was not arrogance or self-confidence. Job's confidence was in God the Redeemer. Job knew that even after he was dead, his Redeemer would live on. Job also expected to see God after his death. There is some debate as to how clearly verse 26 anticipates the New Testament doctrine of a bodily resurrection. Yet Job was confident that he himself (v. 27a is emphatic) would see God beyond the grave.

Job's confidence was well placed. It's inconceivable that the God who paid such a high price to redeem us would allow us to be dragged back into the devil's market and sold into slavery again. Jesus paid the price for our freedom, and our redemption is for eternity!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Because we belong to the Redeemer we can't be enslaved again. But sometimes we can live like people who are still in chains.

Sin has an enslaving power to it, even for Christians. If we play around with sin at all, it will soon tie us up. Take the opportunity today to do serious soul searching and make sure there is no ""pet"" or hidden sin lingering around the edges of your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Joshua 5:13-15
O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you. - Psalm 89:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
After demonstrating his brilliance as a military commander in the early years of the Civil War, Ulysses Grant was called back to Washington in March 1864 to be made a lieutenant general and put in command of all Union forces in the field. When Grant checked into his hotel in Washington, the clerk failed to recognize the general, who was rather shabbily dressed. The clerk was about to give his guest a back room on an upper floor of the hotel when someone saw Grant in the lobby and called out his name in greeting. The startled clerk quickly reassigned Grant to a better room.

Joshua did not immediately recognize the imposing ""commander"" who met him outside Jericho as Joshua planned his attack on that walled city. Most Bible teachers agree this was one of several appearances of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

Jesus appeared to Joshua as the ""LORD God Almighty,"" the Lord of hosts or armies. Even though this name of God does not appear in today's reading, the word ""army"" here is the same word translated ""Almighty"" in Psalm 89:8.

Not surprisingly, this name emphasizes God's might as the Leader of heaven's armies. The shepherd boy David came against the fearsome warrior-giant Goliath in the power of this name (1 Sam. 17:45). Dr. Tony Evans says of Jesus' appearance to Joshua, ""He did not come to take sides, but to take over.""

Joshua saw a drawn sword in the hand of this Commander. Clearly, Joshua and his forces were merely foot soldiers in this outfit. God was in command of His army. Joshua didn't know how the Israelites could conquer the impregnable city of Jericho. But with God at the head of Israel's army, that would be no problem. The Lord would defeat Jericho without an arrow being fired.

Joshua did the right thing when he realized who was speaking to him. He fell on his face in worship, and made himself available to God. The Lord Almighty deserves the same from us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
God Almighty has a countless army of angels at His disposal, ready to go to battle for Him at any time.

God has called us to battle too, against ""the devil's schemes"" and ""the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms"" (Eph. 6:11-12). We have all the power of heaven available to us in this spiritual warfare, but we have to be faithful in using the armor God has given us. This weekend would be a good time to review your spiritual armor (vv. 13-17) and make sure each piece is in place in your life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 15:22-27
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. - Psalm 103:2, 3
TODAY IN THE WORD
The great Native American athlete Jim Thorpe won several gold medals at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden--prompting Swedish king Gustav V to tell Thorpe, ""Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world."" But Thorpe's sweet Olympic moment turned bitter about a month later when it was discovered he had played professional baseball prior to the Games. Thorpe's amateur status was voided and he was stripped of his gold medals.

Jim Thorpe's post-Olympic experience reminds us how quickly circumstances can change. Israel's post-Egyptian experience went from sweet to bitter too, and in record time. Just three days after crossing the Red Sea, watching God destroy the Egyptian army, and singing an incredible song of praise to Him, the nation was complaining to Moses about a lack of water.

Their travels brought them to a place called Marah, where they encountered a spring of bitter water. Moses prayed to the Lord in response to the people's complaint, and God graciously provided His people with a miraculous answer. He ""healed"" the bitter waters of Marah so the people could drink.

But God had more than just a miracle for the Israelites. He had something to teach them. While they were enjoying a cold drink, He set before them a very simple principle. Obedience to His law, which would soon be given to Moses, would bring both physical and spiritual health.

The Israelites had seen the horrible plagues God had inflicted on the Egyptians, including the painful boils (see Deut. 28:27), so it's safe to assume they didn't want any part of that suffering. God's guarantee of health was theirs in return for faithfulness to Him.

God could make this promise because He is ""the LORD, who heals you"" (v. 26). Here is another wonderful name of God that speaks of His loving care. It's clear that this promise to the Israelites included their physical health.

But God's primary focus was their spiritual well-being, and the healing provided in the death of Christ is spiritual (Isa. 53:5). God can heal anyone at any time as He chooses, but His greatest act of healing came when Jesus was bruised and shed His blood on the cross for our sins.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's convicting to know that the Israelites went from sweet singing to sour griping in just three days.

It's convicting because very often we're so much like them. But before circumstances have a chance to overcome us this week, let's start the week off right by deliberately deciding to make this Lord's day a day of joy. If you need a place to start, thank the Lord for the remedy He gave us for the fatal disease of sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 17:8-16
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him. - Isaiah 11:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
After General Henry Arnold became chief of the Army's air forces in World War II, he requested permission to conduct daylight bombing raids on Germany. Prior to that time, raids had been carried out at night on the theory that they were safer. But Arnold's daytime raids allowed for precision bombing because bomber crews could actually see their targets. The new leader's decision gave the army a great advantage.

Having the right leader in charge can make all the difference in battle. The Israelites saw that demonstrated in a dramatic way soon after Marah, in their battle at Rephidim against the Amalekites, their oldest and most persistent enemies. The real leader of the Israelites wasn't Joshua, who was the commanding general on the battlefield. And it wasn't Moses, even though he was definitely a key to the victory. The Leader who made the difference, of course, was the Lord God, whom Moses named ""The LORD is my Banner."" God was the standard lifted up against the enemy.

This battle wasn't won on the field, but up on the hill where Moses stood with Aaron and Hur. Moses' hands were stretched out toward God, but this was more than a gesture of prayer. Moses was lifting ""the staff of God"" over the battlefield (v. 9).

This was ""the rod of God,"" the staff Moses had used to strike Egypt with plagues. As long as Moses held the staff over the battle, God gave Israel the upper hand. When Moses got tired, Aaron and Hur supported his hands to ensure victory.

As a visible symbol of God's presence and power, Moses' staff became a banner to the Israelites that day. Banners in biblical days weren't like a flag or pennant, but a pole with some identifying symbol or ornament at the top. These banners were rallying points both in times of war and peace, and they became identifying symbols for tribes and nations.

The name Moses gave to his altar testified to the truth that God was the Israelites' banner, their rallying point and identification. He is our standard too, our source of victory in the presence of our enemies. Our job, as we said yesterday, is to be faithful in the battle and look to Him for the victory.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Amalekites were actually close relatives of the Israelites. Amalek was the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:10)--making Jacob, the father of Israel's twelve tribes, Amalek's great-uncle.

Even people close to us can sometimes be a detriment. There's a balance point between being salt and light to others, and allowing people to influence us the wrong way. Keeping that balance isn't always easy, but if this is an area of struggle for you, God can give you wisdom in handling it.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Judges 6:1-24
He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Christmas season is near. The time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the ""Prince of Peace"" prophesied in the Old Testament. He is God's final revelation of peace (in Hebrew shalom) to a world that is openly hostile toward God and in desperate need of His peace.

Gideon wasn't living in open hostility toward God, but this fearful Israelite needed God's assurance. We think of Gideon as a mighty deliverer, but when we meet him in Judges 6 he is hiding from the powerful Midianites just like the rest of his Israelite brethren (v. 11).

Wheat was normally threshed out in the open, not in a winepress. But the Midianites and their allies had such a free hand in Israel they came whenever they felt like it and ruined the crops. Gideon was trying to salvage his small harvest.

The anonymous prophet, sent by God, pinpointed the reason for Israel's misery. The people had not obeyed the Lord, and were suffering for their sin. But God had heard their cries, and was ready to raise up a deliverer--timid Gideon (v. 15).

In fact, God Himself came down to call Gideon into His service. The visit by ""the angel of the LORD"" was another Old Testament appearance of Christ (see the November 13 study). Gideon realized who his Guest was when the Lord burned up Gideon's meal in answer to his request for a sign. As soon as the meal went up in flames, the angel of the Lord disappeared.

Gideon's first reaction was fear, because the common belief was that to see God was to die. But God spoke an all-important word of peace, or shalom, to Gideon (v. 23). So like Moses before him, Gideon built an altar to the Lord and gave it a name: ""The LORD is peace"" (v. 24).

Gideon needed assurance, because as far as he was concerned the nation's enemies were too powerful to be conquered. God's message of peace to Gideon was a guarantee that His plans for Israel's deliverer would be carried out. God's plans for us include His peace too. In Jeremiah 29:11, the word translated ""prosper"" is the same Hebrew word shalom.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The Lord is our peace, no matter what our circumstances are. But chances are that all of us have friends or family members who have not experienced the peace of God's salvation in Jesus Christ. Do you have unsaved people on your daily prayer list? We hope so. With about six weeks between now and Christmas, this is a good time to begin praying that God will use the holiday season to open the hearts of lost people to the Savior. Pray also for opportunities to share Christ with an unsaved friend of relative.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 140:1-13
He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and deliverer. - Psalm 144:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Maybe you've heard the well-known Civil War story about the person who asked Abraham Lincoln whether he thought God was on the side of the Union or the Confederacy. Lincoln is said to have replied that he wasn't concerned about whose side God was on; he was far more concerned that he was on God's side.

David was on God's side--so much so the king could pray that God would defeat the plans of David's enemies and bring these evil people down to judgment. David turned to God as his strong Deliverer to protect him in battle, vindicate his trust in God, and deal with violent, evil, and proud men who were out to destroy David.

This is the theme of Psalm 140, a psalm of imprecations--a big word for curses--against the psalmist's enemies. But let's not misunderstand. This was not simply an angry person lashing out at people who were giving him a hard time and trying to trip him up. David's enemies were God's enemies, because to attack God's anointed king was an attack on God Himself.

God's people are always persecuted by those who are hostile to the faith. Our enemies are probably not as numerous or as dangerous as David's, but we may also encounter plenty of jealousy, anger, or opposition.

But, no matter what our circumstances are, like David, we have a strong Deliverer in the Lord. He ""shields [our] head in the day of battle"" (v. 7), a picture of protection for a soldier.

Therefore, we don't have to go out and fight our battles in our own strength when we are under attack for our faith. Unlike David, we are not God's appointed rulers over His chosen nation. There was more at stake for David than just his well-being. The well-being of Israel would be affected if the king's enemies were allowed to bring him down.

What about us? We're told to leave our vindication in God's hands and repay evil with good (Rom. 12:17-21). God our Deliverer is more than capable of shielding us when attacks come and bringing us safely through the battle.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Christians who never run into any opposition or never experience any resistance because of their faith may want to take a spiritual pulse check. We're not supposed to pray for trouble. We don't have to; Jesus said it was a fact of life for His disciples (John 16:33). But we also have a strong Deliverer who has overcome the world. Let's thank God today for this reassuring aspect of His character.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Samuel 22:1-4
The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27:1b
TODAY IN THE WORD
The ancient city of Sardis in Asia Minor was considered an unconquerable stronghold. The city was built 1귔 feet above the plain below, among rock formations that made it an ideal location for military defense. The Greek historian Herodotus says that in one place, the rocks were so difficult to climb and the wall of Sardis so imposing, no guard was even posted.

We can imagine this ancient city in its high, protected location. Sardis is a good illustration of the term the Bible uses for God when it calls Him a Stronghold.

But that's where the similarity ends, because no manmade stronghold has ever stood, or ever will stand, forever. In fact, Herodotus also records that when the Persians under Cyrus attacked Sardis, they found a way up the rocks when a Persian soldier saw a soldier from Sardis climb down to retrieve a fallen helmet. The Persian soldier followed the same route, and Cyrus's troops came up that way to conquer Sardis.

But God our Stronghold cannot be defeated. David celebrated God's incomparable power and protection in a song that is also part of Psalm 18. As you have read, today's verses actually include a whole series of tremendous names for God, some of which we have already studied.

David was singing in praise and thanksgiving for God's deliverance. Yesterday we saw David praying for God to intervene and crush the king's enemies as he put his hope in God. Here David celebrated Israel's recent victories over their longtime enemy, the Philistines (21:15-22), and no doubt also his triumph over King Saul's murderous pursuit.

There aren't many safe places in the world, but we will never be disappointed when we put our trust in God our Stronghold. You have probably noticed that many of God's names in the Old Testament have military connotations. That's because God was Israel's ultimate defense and protection in a land where they were surrounded by hostile nations.

But God's protection is not limited to physical or military safety. He is a spiritual Stronghold for us. Our souls are safe behind the unconquerable fortress of His eternal power.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There's a lot of comfort and strength for all of us in these wonderful names of our God. We hope you're experiencing this blessing.

One way you can put what we're learning into practice today is by bringing those things you are most concerned about to your Stronghold in prayer. As you pray, imagine placing the people you care about most inside this Stronghold, where they are perfectly safe. Come inside the Stronghold of God's love and care yourself, committing to Him the circumstances and burdens that are on your heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God. - Psalm 71:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
In his book Names of God, former Moody Bible Institute faculty member Nathan Stone writes about the name ""The LORD Our Righteousness."" Stone says, ""[The word righteousness] is used hundreds of times in the Scriptures both as right, righteous, righteousness, and also as just, justify, declare innocent. Human language is at best insufficient to convey the full comprehension of the ideas of righteousness and justification contained in this word. It is only as we see it exhibited in God's character and acts that we see it clearly.""

Another writer calls the name we are studying today ""the Messiah's most precious name."" That's important because this name, ""The LORD Our Righteousness""--which appears only here and in Jeremiah 33:16--is actually a name of Jesus Christ, who as Messiah will exemplify God's perfect righteousness and justice.

Jeremiah prophesied during a dark time. Judah was facing God's judgment through the actions of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. Because of its corruption, the nation of Israel would go into captivity. Judah's rulers were ungodly leaders, shepherds who were scattering the sheep instead of tending them. Therefore, God would depose them and take the people out from under their exploitation.

The prophet also looked beyond the coming captivity in Babylon and predicted a time of regathering when the people would come back to the land as one nation again. This prophecy was fulfilled in the past during Israel's the return from Babylon--but the greatest regathering and blessing of Israel is still in the future.

Verses 5-6 are a glorious prophecy of the coming Messiah, the righteous descendant of David whom God had promised to send His people. During His thousand-year kingdom Messiah will ""do what is just and right in the land"" so completely that His very name will be ""Righteousness.""

For Christians today this name means something just as wonderful. Jesus became our righteousness when He took the curse of our sins on Himself on the cross and applied His righteousness to our sin account. Because the debt has been paid, God is now free to declare all those who believe in Jesus to be justified, or righteous, in His sight (see Rom. 3:21-22).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Since Thanksgiving is just a week away, let's spend the next few days thanking God for who He is and what He has provided.

Today's lesson is a good start for our week of thanksgiving. We're so used to hearing about the failings of unrighteous leaders that we can forget a day is coming when our Lord will rule this earth. Thank Him for His righteousness, and for the privilege we have to share in His righteousness today because He came to earth and died for us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 5:1-12
The LORD is enthroned as King forever. - Psalm 29:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
In May 1782, Colonel Lewis Nicola sent a document to American army commander George Washington. Nicola wrote on behalf of his officers, complaining of the injustices the army had suffered at the hands of Congress. Nicola went on to propose that the army establish a monarchy with Washington as king. Washington wrote back that he had read the idea ""with abhorrence,"" and ordered Nicola to ""banish these thoughts from your mind.""

There's no telling what would have happened to America if it had been declared a monarchy with ""King George Washington"" on the throne. It's too bad Israel didn't show the same good sense as Washington when the people got the idea they'd like to have a king like everybody else. You may know the story (1 Sam. 8:1-22).

The problem was that Israel already had a King, the Lord Himself. But the people rejected Him (1 Sam. 8:7) and wound up with Saul. Thankfully, Saul's successor David knew who really occupied the throne of Israel and the universe. David gladly bowed before God as his King.

God is a perfect King who rules in perfect righteousness. What more could a people want from their king than for him to have an open and responsive ear to the pleas of upright men and women, and to deal with those who are cruel, evil, and deceitful?

God does all of this, and more. The name king suggests absolute ruler, someone who is worthy of loyalty, service, and reverence. There is no higher place of appeal in a monarchy than to the king. So if a king is righteous, the nation will flourish. But a corrupt king will ruin a country, as we saw yesterday in case of the corrupt kings of Judah (Jer. 23:1-2).

There is no injustice with God, however. He does not tolerate proud and evil people. He will find them guilty and judge them.

But those who honor and worship this King can safely follow His leadership. Our King welcomes us into His presence, and listens to our cries for help. He also protects us who belong to Him, covering us with the shield of His favor.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Talking about God as King reminds us that Jesus was ""born king of the Jews"" (Matt. 2:2). He came to receive the worship that is due His name.

Ordinary citizens like us may not be able to get past the front door of the White House or the state house, but we can come to the King of the universe day or night! Today, let's express our thanks for a King who is worthy of our total devotion.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 1:57-80
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation. - Psalm 18:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
Animal horns have been considered a symbol of strength for thousands of years. There were plenty of horned animals in the Middle East in biblical times, and writers of Scripture often used the horn to symbolize power. The horn as a symbol of a powerful ruler is used both in Daniel and Revelation to speak of the coming Antichrist.

But the greatest use of a horn as a symbol of strength belongs to God and His Messiah. David glorified God as the ""horn"" or strength of his salvation--and this term found its ultimate meaning in Zechariah's song of praise at the birth of his son, John the Baptist.

But Zechariah wasn't talking about John when he praised God for raising up ""a horn of salvation for us"" (v. 69). This elderly priest of Israel was speaking of the Child who would soon be born to Mary, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Messiah and Savior, Jesus is the strength of God's salvation. Zechariah's mention of the house of David was a clear reference to Jesus' role as the long-promised Messiah, the ""righteous Branch"" from David's line prophesied hundreds of years before the first Christmas (Jer. 23:5).

Jesus fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy of redemption in His first coming. Even though Israel rejected its Messiah, He extended His salvation to all who would believe on Him--both Jew and Gentile. It's in His second coming that Christ will deliver Israel from all its enemies at the end of the Great Tribulation.

Speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah also celebrated God's faithfulness to the covenant He made with Abraham. The Lord's faithfulness to His oath is a reminder that Yahweh is a covenant-keeping God.

At the end of his prophecy, Zechariah spoke about the crucial part his own newborn son would play in this drama. John was called to announce the Messiah. He was the prophet to tell Israel its ""horn of salvation"" has come.

We can share today in the joy and promise of the good news Zechariah described so powerfully. Jesus is our strength, the horn of our salvation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The psalmist wrote, ""The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation"" (Ps. 118:14).

That's all the reason we need for thanksgiving today, the third day of our pre-Thanksgiving effort to prepare our hearts and minds for this special holiday. As you thank the Lord today for your salvation, why not memorize Psalm 118:14? It would also make a good verse to put on your Thanksgiving Day table. You may want to put it on cards that guests can take with them.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:19-34
I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God. - John 1:34
TODAY IN THE WORD
C.S. Lewis wrote that the incredible claims Jesus made for Himself leave us with three choices. Either Jesus is who He says He is, or else He must be a deliberate deceiver or a madman. Someone paraphrased Lewis's comments in the well-known statement that Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord of all.

Jesus did make claims for Himself that no one else could make, and He accepted the incredible statements others made about Him. John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus is a perfect example. In his answer to the questioning Jewish leaders who came to see him, John readily pointed to Jesus not only as Israel's long-awaited Messiah, but as the Son of God, a name that meant Jesus was deity.

The reaction of these Jewish leaders is not recorded, but later a group of Jews planned to stone Jesus because He claimed that God was His Father, and that they were equal (John 10:32). The Jews understood the implications of Jesus' claims, because they accused Him of claiming to be God, even though in their eyes He was merely a man (v. 33).

Then Jesus said plainly, ""Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?"" (v. 36). There is no escaping the implication of the name Son of God. Jesus is God.

There were some people around Jesus who got the message. John the Baptist was one. So was Nathanael, the soon-to-be member of the Twelve who was so startled by Jesus' knowledge of him that he declared, ""Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel"" (John 1:49). Peter also understood the truth about Jesus by a revelation from God the Father (Matt. 16:16-17).

By and large, the Jewish authorities never did believe in Christ. At Jesus' trial, the high priest put Jesus under oath to tell whether He was the Son of God. ""Yes, it is as you say"" was Jesus' answer (Matt. 26:63-64). This claim sealed His death sentence.

God put a witness to His Son's divine nature at the cross. When the Roman centurion watched Jesus die, he said, ""Surely this man was the Son of God!"" (Mark 15:39). Jesus' resurrection proved that He deserved this exalted name.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Beginning today, we are turning our attention to the names of Jesus Christ in Scripture.

Here we face the same limitation we had at the beginning of the month: too many wonderful names to be covered in a few days. Of all the names of Jesus, Son of God may be the most exalted. This name is the focus of our thanksgiving today. What a price God the Father paid to save us when He sent His one and only Son to Bethlehem!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:21-28
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45
TODAY IN THE WORD
Here's a short Bible quiz for you today. Of all the names and titles of Jesus Christ in the Bible (Names of Christ by T.C. Horton and Charles E. Hurlburt lists more than 300!), do you know which name Jesus used most often for Himself? Hint: the answer is in today's verse!

Jesus called Himself the Son of Man dozens of times in the Gospels. In fact, with just one exception whenever this name is used in the New Testament, Jesus is either speaking Himself, or His words are being quoted or reported (the exception is in Acts 7:56).

Why did Jesus choose this name? Some Bible teachers suggest that this unusual name had a startling effect on people, catching them off guard and causing them to pay attention to Him.

There's no doubt that Son of Man was not a name people heard every day. But there's more to it. Daniel saw ""one like a son of man"" coming to God to receive power and glory and ""everlasting dominion"" (v. 13). This is a powerful prophetic picture of Jesus receiving the kingdoms of this world from His Father--which required the Son's suffering and death.

Jesus used the name Son of Man, then, in connection with His humanity. It spoke of Jesus' earthly life and mission, particularly His death on the cross. Just after Peter confessed Jesus as the Son of God (Matt. 16:16), Jesus began teaching the disciples that He had to go to Jerusalem and suffer death. He spoke about His ministry as Son of Man.

The miracle of Christianity is that God became a man so He could live and die as a man to save the human race. As the Son of God, Jesus knew the eternal joys and glory of heaven. But it is as the Son of Man that He identifies with us in our humanness.

Without Jesus' incarnation, His coming in human flesh, we would be hopelessly lost in our sins. The writer of Hebrews says He took on flesh and blood like ours so that He might destroy the works of the devil and free us from our slavery (Heb. 2:14-18). The Son of Man was like us, and tempted like us--except that He had no sin (Heb. 4:15).

The beauty of this name is that because Jesus became the Son of Man, we can approach Him in confidence (Heb. 4:16), knowing that He understands us completely.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What an incredible Savior we have.

As the Son of Man, Jesus can identify with us because He lived as a human being, suffering every kind of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain. As our Brother, Jesus has compassion for us. But as the Son of God, He can do more than just say, ""I know how you feel."" Jesus can do something about our needs! Let's thank God today for Jesus' unique ministry to us and for us.