Dear God,
I give praise, for the way You upheld me, by placing songs of faith and praise in my mind, which filled me with joy over weariness. I cannot keep silent, for I would that all people would know the fullness and pleasure that come from being Your child. I also cannot keep silent about Jesus Christ the Saviour of all mankind, who came to earth, throughout the Old Testament. John the Baptist, the earthly cousin of Jesus Christ, was schooled in the Old Testament, and knew his role was to bring people to soul searching and repentance, prior to the public ministry of Jesus Christ. When proclaiming his message, he used a portion of Isaiah 40:3. Matthew 3:2, 3 “Saying, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” V3 “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness; prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight’”
In Old Testament times, not that many of Your people understood the prophecy about Jesus coming to earth the first time, which was a shame, because they lost the blessing in the hope of the coming of the Messiah.
Isaiah 40:5 “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” These words have gloriously been fulfilled, when Jesus was born in the manner predicted. Though sinless, Jesus came to John and asked for baptism. Protesting the innocence of Jesus, John the Baptist complied, with the request of Jesus. As He arose out of the water, John saw the spirit of God, as a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, descending and alighting upon Jesus. God’s affirmation and glory was upon Jesus visually and then by spoken word. Matthew 3:17 “Suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
It behooves us to remember and read with understanding the prophecies about the second coming of Jesus, lest we also are taken unawares and unprepared. I am grateful that in scripture as our God, You and Your plans are clearly given. There is no doubt about how people can be redeemed from earth. Beforehand the redeemed are judged according to their allegiance to You, their God.
According to past fulfilled prophecies, I have fixed my hope of an eternal heavenly home, all glorious, as given in the unfulfilled prophetic writings.
Amen