The Gathering

"And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people."

Genesis 49:33

This verse, and others like it, show the life of a human being does not end when our bodies die on earth.  Jacob blessed and commanded his sons concerning his burial, gathered his feet into the bed, and breathed his last.  He body was entirely still as his heart stopped beating.  Yet there was something that happened at that sorrowful moment which cheers the soul that fears God:  Jacob was gathered unto his people.  His body would be left in a grave purchased by Abraham yet his soul--the spiritual and eternal being that was fundamentally Jacob--was gathered with the people of God in eternal rest.

Out of curiosity I found in addition to Jacob the phrase "gathered to his people" is connected with the passing of Abraham, Isaac, Aaron, and Moses.  Though the Bible describes the death of many people, I did not find this phrase ever used with those who died without faith in God.  The death of the body brings finality to life on earth but for believers is a glorious entrance into the presence of God and His people.  It is well said by the psalmist in Psalm 144:15:  "Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the LORD!"  The wicked are scattered like chaff into eternal destruction, and the righteous by faith in God are gathered like a farmer brings all his grain into his barn.  Being "gathered" speaks of belonging, being viewed as precious and of great value.

The scripture is clear the identity of God's people extends beyond Jewish ethnicity and to every nation, tribe, and tongue who fear and love God almighty.  Jesus said in John 10:14-16, "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶  And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."  Jesus went to seek and save the "lost sheep of Israel" but also called out to whosoever would heed Him and come to Him in faith.  These are those who are born again through faith in Jesus having received the Gospel.  All who are spiritually regenerated by the Holy Spirit experience the living presence of God now and when we breathe our last will be gathered to our people, to God's people who will celebrate, praise, and serve Him forever.  What a joyful gathering this will be!

The Victory of Faith

It is amazing how Jesus makes those who follow Him "more than conquerors" by grace through faith.  I don't know about you, but at times I would be pleased to settle with being a conqueror.  Everyone would love to walk in victory, overcome all obstacles, and have success in our endeavors.  The victory Christ provides, however, does not mean we always "win," experience the triumph David did in slaying Goliath of Gath, or involve public recognition.  This spiritual victory is primarily internal:  the choice to deny self, refuse to sin, and humble ourselves.  It is David refusing to slay King Saul when he had opportunity and encouragement to do so--and also refused to even speak against God's anointed.  It was not by might or power but by the Spirit of God David overcame and was more than a conqueror.

The apostle made this connection with overcoming the world and faith in 1 John 5:1-5:  "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  God is infinitely greater than this world, and those born of God through faith in Jesus overcome the world.  Jesus overcame sin and death not by conquest but by humbling Himself in obedience to His Father in heaven.  Reliance upon God by the weak and meek enables us to walk in victory and be more than conquerors.  Walking in love towards others begotten of God is evidence our faith in God is genuine.

Jesus commanded His disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you."  This command of Jesus is not burdensome because He has supplied an example to follow and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do so.  Paul begins his description of God's love in 1 Corinthians 13 by saying this love "suffers long and is kind."  It is love marked with enduring suffering and continuing to be merciful, compassionate, and caring.  This selfless love was manifested continually in the life of Jesus and ultimately was demonstrated on Calvary.  Our feelings of love are temporary; our storehouses of love have their limits.  Having been overcome by the eternal, infinitely love of God we are compelled by God's grace to love others.  It is faith that surrenders to God which removes the mountains of ungrace and selfishness in our hearts and causes us to overcome the world.

Everlasting Strength

"In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. ² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. ³ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ⁴ Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength."

Isaiah 26:1-4

Verse 4 has been rattling around in my mind this morning.  We should trust in God forever because in the LORD is everlasting strength.  I was never the strongest of my peers, and as I have grown older my strength has lessened.  God's strength, however, remains complete and beyond reckoning forever.  God's great love, His power, and sovereignty offers perfect peace to all who trust in Him.

Students of the Bible will notice this chapter begins with, "In that day..." meaning the thought continues from the previous portion of scripture.  It speaks of the coming of the Messiah for whom the Jews waited long.  Isaiah 25:8-9 states, "He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. ⁹ And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  Jesus claimed to be the "resurrection and the life" and immediately following raised Lazarus from the dead--who had been already dead four days.  Before Jesus went to the cross He said He would rise from the dead on the third day.  After His words came to pass Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples and proved He is the Door, the gate of righteousness we enter through faith to receive perfect peace and eternal life.

Those who proclaim Jesus Christ as LORD and own Him as Saviour can say, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.  This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  From that day forward we can proclaim with the prophet Isaiah, "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks."  During Abraham's pilgrimage as he dwelt in tents he looked for a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God, an eternal habitation which would someday be provided him by God.  He is an example of faith we are to follow, for he believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

Christ's resurrection in eternal glory is not for Him alone but for all who receive the Gospel and are born again.  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57:  "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  The Messiah spoken of by Isaiah is none other than Jesus the only begotten Son of God, the One we are to be glad and rejoice in.  One day we too will be forever physically changed, given glorified and incorruptible bodies through the victory Jesus Christ accomplished on Calvary.

Even in these ageing, failing bodies we can joyfully proclaim, "This is the day (a day of salvation and strength!) that the LORD has made."  We are kept in perfect peace as our mind is fixed on the LORD because we trust in Him.  In our weakness we discover the LORD's everlasting strength.

Jesus is the LORD

I enjoy reading the Psalms, songs bursting with praise to the LORD.  Four times in Psalm 107 (verse 8, 15, 21, 31) the psalmist exclaims, "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"  Packed within these songs of worship and thanksgiving are references to Jesus Christ and things He would fulfill.  The Saviour of the world told His disciples after His resurrection in Luke 24:44, "Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Last night after reading Psalm 107:23-30 the miraculous deeds of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee came to mind:

"Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters,
²⁴  They see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.
²⁵  For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.
²⁶  They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble.
²⁷  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
²⁸  Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.
²⁹  He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.
³⁰  Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven."

When Jesus directed His disciples to cross over to the other side in a boat, while He slept a great storm arose on the water.  Though many of the disciples were expert sailors the boat began to fill and they feared for their lives.  In desperation they cried out to Jesus and Mark 4:39-41 reads, "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" ⁴¹  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"  Psalm 107 answers their question:  Jesus is the LORD who commands the wind to blow, calms the storm, and brings those who seek Him out of their distress.  The One who brought them safely to shore will also usher all who trust in Him into eternal glory with Him.

Instead of being afraid or marveling Psalm 107 provides the fitting response to Jesus Christ and all He has done in verses 31-32:  "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! ³² Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders."  In thanking Jesus we thank the LORD as He is the only begotten Son of the Father, the Messiah who humbled Himself and the LORD has exalted above all others.  Jesus has fulfilled the passage, and let us fulfill it as well.  Praise the name of Jesus, believer!  Consider His goodness, wonderful works, and divine guidance, for Jesus is worthy to be praised.