Advent - 2024 - 4
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
ADVENT 2024
Day 4 | GOD WITH US
ADVENT 2024
Day 4 | GOD WITH US
GOD WITH US
Matthew 1:22-23
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”).”
It’s often helpful for us to remember that Matthew, the tax-collector turned Jesus-follower, was a Jew. He had done all the things Jews would have done by his age and thus he would have been very aware of the Isaiah prophecy – which he quotes here:
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
“Immanuel, God with us.” This was different from what the Jews had experienced for THOUSANDS of years. Up until this point, God was separated from His people. Moses couldn’t see God directly – even when he asked. The Tabernacle – that portable worship center – had stages where one could get closer and closer to where God was (the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was kept) and that location was separated from the people by a 6” thick special cloth. And then when the High Priest did enter annually, he had go through a purifying process. To not do so was punishable by death.
So this promise of “GOD WITH US” is what made Mary fall on her knees and worship (see Luke 1:46-55, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”) This promise is what caused the shepherds to fall on their knees and worship the newborn king. This promise is what caused the wise men from the east to come to the Messiah and fall on their knees to worship the King.
THIS was new, different, and finally “GOD WITH US” NOT “God apart from us.”
Prayer: LORD, I am so thankful that You are with us. YOU are the fulfillment of prophecy but way more… You are GOD WITH US.” Amen.
Matthew 1:22-23
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”).”
It’s often helpful for us to remember that Matthew, the tax-collector turned Jesus-follower, was a Jew. He had done all the things Jews would have done by his age and thus he would have been very aware of the Isaiah prophecy – which he quotes here:
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
“Immanuel, God with us.” This was different from what the Jews had experienced for THOUSANDS of years. Up until this point, God was separated from His people. Moses couldn’t see God directly – even when he asked. The Tabernacle – that portable worship center – had stages where one could get closer and closer to where God was (the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was kept) and that location was separated from the people by a 6” thick special cloth. And then when the High Priest did enter annually, he had go through a purifying process. To not do so was punishable by death.
So this promise of “GOD WITH US” is what made Mary fall on her knees and worship (see Luke 1:46-55, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”) This promise is what caused the shepherds to fall on their knees and worship the newborn king. This promise is what caused the wise men from the east to come to the Messiah and fall on their knees to worship the King.
THIS was new, different, and finally “GOD WITH US” NOT “God apart from us.”
Prayer: LORD, I am so thankful that You are with us. YOU are the fulfillment of prophecy but way more… You are GOD WITH US.” Amen.
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