“The people of Israel are as stubborn as a bull” (Hosea
4:16). This is more than the story of Israel. It’s the story of every
one of us. Resisting God’s Spirit and rebelling against God’s Word, we
dig ourselves, more and more deeply, into a hole of our own making. It
is a hole from which we cannot lift ourselves. We can only be saved by
the Lord. The stubbornness must be taken out of our hearts. Love for
Christ must be put into our hearts. It is His love which changes us. He
breaks down our stubbornness. He builds in us a new and true love for
Him.
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation 21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be
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