Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 3:16-18; Numbers 6:23-26
Sat, 19 November 2022

God’s Presence of Grace and Peace

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about the threefold blessing of
Paul (vv.16, 18) and the Aaronic blessing (Num 6:23-26)?

Deeper Reflection
PAUL’S THREEFOLD BLESSING OF THE PEACE, PRESENCE (v.16) and grace of the Lord (v.18), that he prays to be upon the Thessalonian church reflects the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:23-26. In the Old Testament, the “face” (panim) of God is also the presence of God (e.g., Gen 3:8; 4:1638). The blessing of “The LORD make His face (panim) to shine upon you” and “The LORD lift up His countenance (panim) upon you” (Num 6:25a, 26a) parallels “The Lord be with you all” (v.16b). And in His presence with us, the Lord will “be gracious to you” (Num 6:25b) – with “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.18), and “give you peace” (Num 6:26b) as “the Lord of peace” (v.16a).In both the blessing of Paul and Aaron, the Lord’s presence, peace and grace are theologically interlinked. God is our covenant God, and we are His covenant people, whom He has redeemed with “My blood of the new covenant” (Matt 26:28; Lk 22:20) into a covenant relationship with Him. Our covenant relationship is with the very person of God, and thus, God’s presence is with us. The presence of God is the person of God. God’s presence with us is His covenant presence in our covenant relationship with Him, as reflected in this parallelism: “Fear not, for I am with you (presence); do not be dismayed, for I am your God (relationship)” (Isa 41:10). God’s presence with us is a presence of all-sufficient empowering grace (2 Cor 12:9-10) and a presence of peace “at all times in every circumstance”.
38 “…hid themselves from the presence (panim) of the LORD;” and “…went away from the presence (panim) of the LORD”
Application:

How is the threefold blessing of Paul relevant to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To walk in God’s presence of grace and peace
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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