Gentiles Too!

Welcome! May God bless our study today!

Read Psalm 45

We hear of a bridal procession in this psalm. The bride, the new queen, arrayed in gold is led to the king. The king is gracious and powerful. The bride is beautiful and radiant. Surrounding nations give gifts and rejoice.

Does this description fit David? Does it fit Solomon? Probably in many ways. But because the Bible is Christocentric and Christ is especially found throughout the psalms, we see that ultimately this is a psalm about our King, Jesus Christ. The bride is his people.

"The psalmist uses as royal wedding to portray our King, who is God, and the fulfillment of His kingdom in his Son." The psalmist paints a picture "of this King and this marriage - illustrating Christ and His Bride, the Church." (TLSB p. 891)

We see that the valiant description of the king fits our King Jesus Christ. But does the beautiful and radiant description of the bride really fit us? Not if we are stuck in our sin and unbelief. But thanks be to God that Jesus the King has redeemed us with his own blood. We are cleansed in our baptismal washing. We are adorned in Christ's own righteousness. We are presented to Him as a virgin, that is, as holy, perfect, and pure. Not by our works, but by the King's grace does this happen!

Read Genesis 48

God's ways are not our ways. We see this portrayed as Jacob decides to give the greater blessing to the younger of Joseph's sons. Just as God chose to bless Isaac rather than Ishmael and Jacob rather than Esau, the same things happens to Ephraim and Manasseh. Well, it is a great blessing for both of them. They each would inherit some land in the Promised Land. (Though there are 12 tribes, not 13, the Levites gained no land, so with Joseph receiving a double portion, the land was still divided up into 12 portions).

And indeed, this is an incredible action, that Jacob should treat these boys as his own sons. They have an Egyptian mother, but are adopted into Israel's family.

So too, many of us are not Jewish by birth, but we are adopted into God's family through Holy Baptism. How gracious God is! Though salvation came from the Jewish people, the Savior really came for Jews and Gentiles, male and female, slave and free, and for all people.

We get to pass that Good News on too. Praise God!

Ask Yourself:

What role do I play in sharing the Good News with all nations?

Do I see myself as redeemed, righteous, and beautiful before God because of Jesus, my King?

Do I struggle because God's ways are not always our ways?

Pray:

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let Your face shine, that we may be saved! (Psalm 80:1-3).

Study with me tomorrow!

Pastor Jon

Soli Deo Gloria!