Ensign: God's Favorite Flavor

All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. Isaiah 18:3

 

AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS 28 March 2014

 

The first time I saw the picture with today's message, I was scrolling down to read something else and read the verse inside as “I'm covered with the flavor of God!” And several other people did too, I'm told … anyway, in the King James Version of the Bible I use for studies Psalm 5:12 reads, “For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as a shield.”

 

[For why I left out the word “with” so the verse reads, “as WITH a shield”, check back here next week.]

 

Just what is the flavor of God? Well, the word “flavor” doesn't appear in Scripture (neither does “like” save as a comparison of attributes, such as “there is none LIKE unto the LORD our God”, Exodus 8:10, but I digress … maybe) but “taste” does. At least a form of the word regarding the sensation of a presence upon our tongue does thirty times in the Bible … but it doesn't always refer to food that's being tasted.

Let's see … manna, fresh oil (I guess the Numbers 11:8 tasting reference is from the days clogging arteries were so not an issue, but I digress), honey, the white of an egg, meat. AHA! Psalm 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed the man trusteth in him.” For something to taste good it has to be appealing in a way that gets past your nose so you even get to savor its flavor. Won't drink beer for that reason.

 

And the straight truth is – we aren't appealing to God at all. Appealing in the sense of pleasing, not in the sense of requesting a favorable outcome (e.g., to appeal a judge's decision) or in the sense of Him eating us. And what keeps us from being so is not something we ourselves can do anything about; it's in who we are. It's in the sin, the act of separation from God, that is interwoven into us.

Paul could say “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” that comes to us as Romans 3:23 – remember, this is part of a letter; the chapter and verse designations came much later – but we're not left there. Continue with verse 24: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” and see that it's not something WE do that justifies us to God, but His grace in providing Christ Jesus

(I like that wording, I think I'll stick with it) “Whom God hath set forth a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Verses 25 and 26 finish the thought God uses Paul's words to set up – to be justified before God you have to

(is everybody paying attention? Good.) believe in Jesus Who was righteous – read: sinless – for us and Who shed His blood on the cross (died, and three days later rose again) so we could live with and for God not because of what we can do for Him but what He has already done for us. Just saying “Jesus is a good man” is a cop-out. It's because OF Him we are given God's favorite flavor, that of a child of His. Forever.

House rules,

David

  

P.S. I write this weekly devotional to keep in touch with all of you in my address book, and I hope to be an encourager to action too! If you find that I'm not or you want me to get lost, just let me know -- thank you!

Thank You, Lord, that we can still come to you in prayer, that You provide for all our needs -- even when we don't know what they are. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides of the fence in that region and around the world.

Thank You, Lord, for everyone in leadership and service, both here and abroad. Thank You for the opportunities we have and the promise of new life! I pray that we all seek and have a blessed week! Amen.