“…Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac…”

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Heb. 11:17-19

‘Altar’ means place of slaughter. When we are tried, and we pray, “Lord, I am on the altar,“ we are partaking of Abraham’s faith, and we are partaking of Abraham’s blessings.

The prayer, ‘Lord, I am on the altar,’ identifies us with Christ on the cross. In the New Testament, Christ Himself is on the altar, Heb. 13:10-12; He is the offering on the altar; and He is the priest who ministers. It is on the altar that the fire from the heaven – the Holy Spirit – falls, as it fell on the altar in the Tabernacle, Lev. 9:24, and on the altar in Solomon’s temple, 2 Chr. 7: 1. The Holy Spirit falls on us as we offer ourselves.

Jesus said that the altar sanctifies the offering, Matt. 23:19. When we offer ourselves upon Christ as our altar, we are sanctified, we are perfected, Heb. 10:10-14: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all….For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

As Abraham was offering his son, he received the faith for resurrection, Heb. 11:18-19: “…Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” The faith that justifies us (Rom. 5:1) is made perfect by such offering, James 2:21-22.

  

In the time of testing, Lord, may I remember Abraham. He would rather have placed himself on the altar. He would rather have died himself. In the time of testing, O God, let me pray, ‘Lord, I am on the altar’: my will is on the altar, my desires are on the altar.

As Abraham was offering his son, he received faith for resurrection, Heb.11: 19. As I offer myself this morning, Lord, grant me faith for resurrection.  May I live as one raised from the dead, Rom.6: 13. Lord I bless you for this grace. Lord, I give you glory. Amen.

“…it [was needful for] Christ to suffer…”

“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved (was needful or fitting for) Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day”

Luke 24:45-46

[The risen Lord was speaking to the disciples.]

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2:10

This church – Smyrna – was faultless, yet had to suffer.

“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.” Ps. 119: 73

See similar prayers in vv. 34, 125, 169, and 144 of the same chapter. It is comforting to pray with these verses and ask for understanding when suffering.

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…” Eph. 1:18

This was Paul’s prayer for the church – let us pray for ourselves and for one another accordingly.

“Understanding is the reward of faith.” St. Augustine, 354 – 430 A.D

Open my understanding, Lord, that I may understand your Word, especially the Word concerning your sufferings, death and resurrection. May the Holy Spirit show me how you suffered for my sake. May this understanding sustain me in my trials, and keep me faithful. Let me understand that it is necessary for me to suffer. Let me be thankful for your calling, Lord. Amen.

Worshipping in the Really Hard Times

Job 1:20-22: “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”[“Blessed” = “praised and magnified in worship”].

 

 

Job fell down upon the ground and worshipped” – Lord, let me worship in godly fear and humility when I suffer.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away” – Lord, you are sovereign when I am in adversity; help me worship. 

“Blessed be the name of the Lord” – Lord, let me bless you when you give, and when you take away; let me worship.

“In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly” – Lord, let me not sin by complaining against you when I suffer loss & pain; let me praise you instead.

 

• This moment captures the seemingly indestructible faith of Job. Lord, help me follow Job’s example in my trials. Let me say, “Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

 

• How could Job be prepared for such testing? Job 23:10–12: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.… Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Let me love your Word as Job did, Lord —more than even my daily food; this is my preparation for trials, and I shall come forth as gold.

 

Quote:“[Job’s] faith reached its zenith when this once-powerful prince of the desert “sat among the ashes” (Job 2:8) and still could say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” Job. 13:15.”

-J.R. Macduff in Streams in the Desert

 

In the face of horrific disaster, Job’s resilient faith and fear of God are a faint reflection of an even greater story that took place two thousand years later.  May we, by God’s grace, learn to follow the example of the One who gave all so that we might come forth as gold.