Prophecy fulfilled

Psalm 69 vs 32 & 33

I’ve been sick for a couple of days and I’ve used my early morning hours for sleep rather than study or devotions. On Monday before I got sick I read Psalm 69. It was on my reading list because of the messianic prophecies.

There are four verses that Jesus fulfilled.

Vs4 “Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.”

Psalm 69:4 -NLT

Fulfilled as he hung from a cross dying. Accused of crimes he did not commit.

Vs8 “Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.”

Psalm 69:8 – NLT

Fulfilled at the cross, he was abandoned by his followers and his family. Only his mother and a few other women and his disciple John were there.

“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”

John 19:25-27 – NLT

Vs9 “Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

Psalm 69:9 – NLT

Fulfilled as he cleansed the temple of the money changers, also when he was 12 and was left behind in Jerusalem by his family. They found him in the temple discussing scripture with the priests and elders.

Vs 21 “But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.

Psalm 69:21 – NLT

Fulfilled at the cross John 19:28.

“Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30 – NLT

These verses show thatJesus is the one promised, the one hoped for, the messiah, our messiah, my messiah.

But wait, there’s more.

I was personally encouraged to read these verses below.

“The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.”

Psalm 69:32-33 – NLT

I am not in prison but because of debt I am not free either. As the proverb says the borrower is a slave to the lender. Things changed at work recently and I no longer have overtime. It’s a substantial drop in pay. We are having to work on our faith, not blind faith that says it will all work out but focused faith in the God who spoke and world and planets were formed, who created light, who heals the sick and raises the dead, who has his people, not walk around but walk through a sea on dry ground, who has provided for Mary and I day in and day out. I have had faith, faith in myself, faith in the status quo, and in some measure of faith in God but my faith in God has weakened. Like working on a weak muscle, The only way to strengthen a weakness is to exercise it. Here we go, God make me stronger. “He hears the cry of the needy. “

One phrase of the verse stuck out to me, “will see their God at work”. I believe what the writer meant is that we will see God working, but could it also mean that I will see God at my work place, in other people, see him doing stuff “at work”?

That seems to interweave with A memory verse I’ve been working on. Philippians 4:5 “let your gentleness be evident to all, the Lord is near”. I’ve also been looking at that in more than one way. The Lord is near, I need to be gentle with people because my Lord and God is observing me. He is near me for my good, and to keep me aimed in the right direction. There’s that way and another way, the Lord is near, he is coming back, I need to be gentle with people because Jesus will be back soon and I have a job to tell people about him, in a gentle loving way. Mercy triumphs over judgement. I’m contemplating both of these aspects of this verse while I spend my days at work.

In all circumstances and over all our lives, thank you God for your heart of care and concern for me, for us. Provide for us God, financially and also lead us into the fields of yours that are “ripe unto harvest”.