Saturday, July 21, 2012
Friday, July 20, 2012
A Song for Ramadan
For the past few years I’ve gotten into the habit of choosing a song for the month of Ramadan. I intentionally choose a song which has music that launches me into prayer, a song which has lyrics that help sustain and form that prayer, and a song that is focused on the greatness of the Lord Jesus whom Muslims need to know. In addition to a good prayer guide, being a good learner from my Muslim neighbors, and setting aside a meal a week for focused prayer, choosing song that will ring out from my stereo, computer, phone at least three or four times a day has been a great aid in sustaining prayer for spiritual breakthrough around the world.
Song for 2012 - Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord (Jeremy Riddle)
I chose this song for 2012 because of it’s focus on Isaiah 40:3, “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” This passage begins a transition to a new section of the book of Isaiah which many have named “the book of comfort,” after the repetition in 40:1. And I’ve love that the song focuses on this verse because of how it points to Jesus. All four of the Gospel writers pick up on this verse and the phrase, “prepare the way of the LORD” (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23).
Behind the English “LORD” is the Hebrew name that God calls himself hundreds of times in the Old Testament (“I am the LORD”) and the memorial name that he gives to Israel by which they should call upon him (Exod. 3:15; Hos. 12:5). Transcribed as YHWH and probably vocalized as “Yahweh,” this is a name and not a title. The Hebrew parallelism helps make this even more clear:
In the wilderness prepare the way of YHWH;
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
YHWH is God and the way is being made ready that all flesh should see his glory (Isaiah 40:5). So, it is quite astonishing that the New Testament Gospel writers would take a text this clear and then apply it to the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus the Messiah! Essentially, in Isaiah we have, “prepare the way of YHWH,” and in the Gospels we have, “prepare the way of Jesus.” It is unmistakable what they meant—Jesus is YHWH in the flesh. Prior to John’s reference of Isaiah he stated it this clearly in his well known introduction, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory…” (John 1:14; cf. Isa. 40:5).
So, I chose this song for 2012 to remind me to pray just that truth, that Muslims would see the glory of Jesus, which is the glory of YHWH the one true God, and a way would be prepared in their hearts to meet him.
Song for 2012 - Prepare Ye The Way of The Lord (Jeremy Riddle)
I chose this song for 2012 because of it’s focus on Isaiah 40:3, “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” This passage begins a transition to a new section of the book of Isaiah which many have named “the book of comfort,” after the repetition in 40:1. And I’ve love that the song focuses on this verse because of how it points to Jesus. All four of the Gospel writers pick up on this verse and the phrase, “prepare the way of the LORD” (Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23).
Behind the English “LORD” is the Hebrew name that God calls himself hundreds of times in the Old Testament (“I am the LORD”) and the memorial name that he gives to Israel by which they should call upon him (Exod. 3:15; Hos. 12:5). Transcribed as YHWH and probably vocalized as “Yahweh,” this is a name and not a title. The Hebrew parallelism helps make this even more clear:
In the wilderness prepare the way of YHWH;
Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
YHWH is God and the way is being made ready that all flesh should see his glory (Isaiah 40:5). So, it is quite astonishing that the New Testament Gospel writers would take a text this clear and then apply it to the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus the Messiah! Essentially, in Isaiah we have, “prepare the way of YHWH,” and in the Gospels we have, “prepare the way of Jesus.” It is unmistakable what they meant—Jesus is YHWH in the flesh. Prior to John’s reference of Isaiah he stated it this clearly in his well known introduction, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory…” (John 1:14; cf. Isa. 40:5).
So, I chose this song for 2012 to remind me to pray just that truth, that Muslims would see the glory of Jesus, which is the glory of YHWH the one true God, and a way would be prepared in their hearts to meet him.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
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