Rejoice, the Lord is King!

A certain hymn was on my mind a lot last week. 

Earlier this month, one of my harp students played a song she had been practicing in one of her harp books: 

“Rejoice, the Lord is King”

My student played this hymn just before the Biblical holiday of Trumpets and again just before the Biblical holiday of Tabernacles. 

My student had no clue that those Biblical holidays have a common theme: 

They are about recognizing God as King! 

Coincidence? Chance? No way. Not a chance. I call things like that “God things”. I was moved to tears when my student played this hymn for me. 

I see this all the time with my harp students. It cannot be chance. I see God’s hand in the lessons I give my students. Often, God ministers to my heart through the songs that my students play. 

“Rejoice, the Lord is King: 

Your Lord and King adore!

Rejoice, give thanks and sing,

And triumph evermore.

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,

The God of truth and love;

When He has purged our stains,

He took his seat above;

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,

He rules o'er earth and heav'n;

The keys of death and hell

Are to our Jesus giv'n:

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!

Our Lord and judge shall come

And take His servants up

To their eternal home:

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice!

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!” 

~ Charles Wesley

I love this entire hymn, but verses three and four really minister to my heart right now. 

Last week was the final Biblical holiday in the fall season called Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles. 

What is this Biblical holiday all about? 

It is a time when God told His people, Israel, to dwell in booths or small tabernacles. In modern terms, it is basically like living in a tent - for an entire week! 

In essence, God wanted His people to “camp out” for a week! God gave His people instructions about their “booth” or “sukkah” (temporary dwelling) in Leviticus 23:39-43. 

They were to take the branches and boughs of various trees to use in their sukkah. How fun! 

Palm branches are among the trees mentioned in Leviticus 23:40. 

Just like Passover, God told His people Israel to remember this feast forever. (Leviticus 23:41) 

God tells His people why they are to remember this holiday in verse 43 of that same chapter: 

“That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” 

Leviticus 23:43 

The Feast of Tabernacles must be very special to God for God to tell His people to remember it forever. 

When God led His people through the wilderness, He alone was their Shepherd and King. He provided for them and protected them. 

I can only imagine what the camp of Israel, all 12 tribes, must have looked like with all their tents set up, each in his own tribe, with the glory and presence of God dwelling in their midst through the tabernacle! 

That is what God wants His people to remember every year during the Feast of Tabernacles.

How incredibly special and extremely precious that is! 

God wants to dwell with His people! 

Last week, I was invited for supper at a friend’s home in my local area. They invited me to join them for supper in their sukkah in their backyard. My friend’s 12 year old daughter made a delicious pumpkin soup and her mom served homemade breadsticks to go along. 

After sunset, while sitting around the table inside their sukkah, I looked up at the night sky above me. (the “roof” to their sukkah blew off - ha! ha!) The stars twinkled brightly overhead. 

In that moment, I thought about God’s Presence. I thought about God dwelling with His people.

My time with my friends was sweet!  

I got a text from my friend the next day who said that her daughter told her mom after I left that evening: 

“That was true fellowship.” 

My heart was indeed blessed with fellowship - another beautiful aspect of Sukkot. In person fellowship is a very rare thing for me. I felt blessed that they invited me over for supper. 

We chatted about many things, especially about the current state of our world. Sadly, evil seems to be abounding just as Christ said it would before His return. Good is being called evil. And evil is, sadly, being called good. 

We must stay very close to God and to His Word. That seemed to be the reoccurring theme in our fellowship that evening.  

What does the Feast of Sukkot ultimately represent? 

It is a picture of Christ dwelling with and among His people! It is a picture of when Christ comes back to reign as King over all the earth! 

The Bible says that, someday, all nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles! What a glorious day that will be! 

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” 

Zechariah 14:16 

The nations that don’t go to Jerusalem to worship the Lord as King to keep the Feast of Tabernacles?

The Bible says that they won’t get any rain!

“And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” 

Zechariah 14:17 

Wow! I’d say that God takes this one seriously! As another beautiful hymn says, He is: 

“Lord of the nations!” 

The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the “Feast of the Nations” because someday all nations will recognize that the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, is the one, true God, Creator of heaven and earth! 

Hallelujah!  

The Feast of Tabernacles is also a picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb. Tears come to my eyes when I think of that! All nations are invited to the wedding supper of the Messiah, the Feast of Tabernacles! Will you be there? You have a personal invitation from the King of Kings! 

Christ is truly pictured in each one of the Biblical holidays. They all come from God and they point to Christ and His redemptive plan for His people. 

Over the years, I have had some sincere, well meaning Christians tell me that, yes, Christ is the fulfillment of these holidays, therefore we do not need to keep them. 

Yes, we can enjoy studying them to see Christ in them, they say. But these Biblical holidays were given to Israel to keep, not for Christians to keep. 

I agree with them that Christ is pictured in each one of the Biblical holidays, and I love that! 

However, their other statements don’t work with me because the Word of God is so clear that there is coming a day when all nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles! Those who do not keep it will not get any rain. (without water, things die!) 

That does not sound like something that is “just for Israel” or “done away with”. 

God desires to dwell in the midst of all nations, for indeed, He is the God of all the earth! I believe this Biblical holiday is very special to God! 

This week long holiday ends with a special day called “Simchat Torah” or “Rejoicing in Torah”. Basically it is a final holiday to rejoice in God’s Word and the gift that it is to us! 

How precious is that? 

Is God’s Word “done away” with? Never! 

Isaiah 40:8 says that the Word of God endures forever. 

Psalm 119:89 says the same thing: 

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

God’s Word, God’s Torah, endures forever. 

Over the years, I have gained a slight reputation as being into “Jewish things”.

Yes, I do love the Jewish people. The Lord Jesus was one of them. The Lord Jesus is Jewish. 

And yes, I enjoy Hebrew culture because it is the culture of the Bible. 

However, I am not at all interested in Judaism. What is that? 

Judaism is, sadly, blind to Christ as the Messiah. Judaism also takes the Word of God (called the Torah in Hebrew) and adds their own man made laws and rules to it. I want nothing to do with that! 

That is precisely what the Lord Jesus rebuked certain people for doing when He was here on earth! (sadly, I know some Christian groups who do the same thing!) 

The Lord did not rebuke people for obeying His Word. He rebuked them for adding to it. 

We should never add to or take away from God’s Word. It is precious and eternal, and it is a gift! 

I look forward to the day when all nations will recognize that the God of Israel is King over all the earth when this Biblical holiday is celebrated! 

Until that day, in the midst of very unsettling times, I find comfort in the words to another hymn that I love. That hymn says: 

“This is my Father’s world. 

O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: 

The battle is not done;

Jesus who died shall be satisfied,

And earth and heav’n be one.”

~ Maltbie Babcock 

Rejoice, my friend, the Lord is King! 

Is Thy Heart Right With God?

Sometimes, I will have a certain hymn on my mind for a long time. In the past year, there has been a certain hymn on my mind a lot, so much so, I’m writing a post with its theme in mind. 

 

After writing a recent post about the Biblical holiday known as the Feast of Trumpets (called Yom Teruah in Hebrew), I began thinking… 

Perhaps there are some reading this blog who are curious about the other Biblical holidays in the fall season? 

If that is you, this post is about the next Biblical holiday in the fall season, the second one. 

Perhaps I should mention that there are three Biblical holidays in the fall season, and all three of them occur in the span of three weeks. On our calendar, these three Biblical holidays always occur during the months of September or October. This year, all three of them are in October.  

The first one is Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpets. The second one is Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. The third one is Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles. 

What is the second Biblical holiday in the fall season all about? 

Atonement. To be specific, it is a day of atonement for the nation of Israel. 

As Christians, we know that our atonement is in the shed blood of Christ, the Son of God. Christ’s blood provides complete and final atonement for all of mankind. 

Sadly, the Jewish people (the house of Judah) do not recognize Christ as the Messiah. They are blind to Him. There is coming a day when the Jewish people will recognize Christ as being the Messiah. Hallelujah for that day! Want to take a guess when that might happen? 

It will happen some year on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement! Pretty incredible, isn’t it?! 

When you study this Biblical holiday, the connection is so clear. Someday, the nation of Israel will repent before God on a national level. 

The Jewish people will mourn over Him whom they have pierced the Bible says. 

“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” 

Zechariah 12:10 

Sobering words these are. They will weep bitterly, perhaps over their blindness to Him?

How do Jewish people observe this holy day, this Biblical holiday, commanded by God? 

They spend the day in fasting and repentance. They also read Scripture about this day, not realizing the entire day points to Christ as our High Priest and to His final atonement for us. What a glorious day it will be when their eyes are opened to Christ!

On Yom Kippur, observant Jews repent for their sin. Repentance is a very beautiful thing to God. 

Sadly though, the Jewish people have no blood atonement they trust in right now. 

God’s Word makes it clear that without the shedding of blood, there is no atonement or remission. (of sin)

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Hebrews 9:22

As Christians, we know that when we repent of our sin, we have the blood of Christ to trust in as our atonement. Hallelujah for the blood! 

In thinking about this Biblical holiday, about repentance and atonement, I thought about Christ’s sacrifice for us. 

Christians trust in the blood of Christ as their atonement - a very beautiful thing to God. 

God’s Word says that, in order to receive the blood atonement of Christ, we must repent of our sin. 

Sadly, there are many “Christians” who have not repented of their sin. Because of that, they are not born again; God’s Spirit does not live in them. 

Sadly, there are “Christians” trusting in Christ’s blood atonement without any repentance of sin. 

Jesus said:

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, 

ye shall all likewise perish.” 

Luke 13:5 

Repentance is very important to God. When we repent, we receive God’s free gift of salvation through the blood of His Son. 

The Bible says that it is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance. (Romans 2:4) 

I’m not talking about repentance for breaking man made rules or for breaking the traditions of man. (we should run from man made things!) 

I’m talking about repentance for breaking our heavenly Father’s heart, for breaking God’s good and loving commandments, for not loving God and others as we should. 

I’m talking about repentance over a broken relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

Can you imagine what it would be like if the entire United States shut down for just one day to repent before God for breaking His commandments? 

We would have a completely different nation. 

True repentance is so beautiful to God. And it is not a once and done thing. I realized that on the day that I gave my life to God at the age of 11. 

When we walk with God, we continue to repent of things that are not right with God.

Repentance. This is the one thing that is missing in Christianity today. Sadly, there is a false Christianity that involves no repentance of sin. 

Repentance is getting your heart right with God. I cannot think of anything more beautiful! 

When we repent, we receive God’s atonement - the shed blood of His Son. 

The hymn that has been on my mind so much this past year says it so well. 

Is Thy Heart Right With God 

Have thy affections been nailed to the cross?

Is thy heart right with God?

Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss?

Is thy heart right with God?

Hast thou dominion o’er self and o’er sin?

Is thy heart right with God?

Over all evil without and within?

Is thy heart right with God?

Is there no more condemnation for sin?

Is thy heart right with God?

Does Jesus rule in the temple within?

Is thy heart right with God?

Are all thy powers under Jesus’ control?

Is thy heart right with God?

Does He each moment abide in thy soul?

Is thy heart right with God?

Art thou now walking in heaven's pure light?

Is thy heart right with God?

Is thy soul wearing a garment of white?

Is thy heart right with God?

Refrain:

Is thy heart right with God,

Washed in the crimson flood,

Cleansed and made holy, humble and lowly,

Right in the sight of God?

~ Elisha Hoffman

Under His Wings

Yesterday evening as I was winding down before bed, I spent some time in prayer. It felt like there was a lot to pray about. 

Two hurricanes have recently gone through the United States. A bad fire is raging in the state of Wyoming right now. The land of Israel has wars on all fronts, not to mention missiles flying overhead. Sickness seems to be everywhere. Headaches and nauseous stomachs seem to be common in our home right now. None of this is entirely new. Hurricanes, fires, war, sickness, and such have been going on for centuries. 

But this time, something seems different. They are all happening at once. I can hardly keep up with things to pray about. 

What’s next? 

A political storm? An economic collapse? Something big in the United States? 

It sure feels like it. 

I seriously began to wonder if I should read from a chapter in the book of Matthew about the last days rather than check the latest news on my phone. Matthew 24 might actually give me a better “heads up” about what is coming next. It’s kind of crazy. 

I began to feel a little uneasy. And then, just as soon as that unsettled feeling came over me, the words to a hymn I love came to my mind. 

I was so blessed, I began singing the song in my bedroom last night. Within a short time, an enormous wave of peace came over me. Singing to the Lord does that. It shifts your focus. 

Perhaps you will be blessed by the words to this hymn like I was last night. 

1. Under His wings I am safely abiding.

Tho' the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me.

He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

2. Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! 

How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort, and there I am blest. 

3. Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!

There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me.

Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore. 

Refrain:

Under His wings, under His wings,

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever.

~ William Cushing

Words from Psalm 91 came to my mind last night. 

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” 

Psalm 91:4

This entire Psalm, Psalm 91, is a good one to be reading right now, like daily. 

A safe place to be in these days we live in? 

Under His wings.

My favorite bird, a dove. 

Behold, the Bridegroom Cometh!

This time of year is my favorite. I love the fall season. September is my favorite month. 

As a girl, I didn’t have a favorite month; I had a favorite season - summer. Sometime in my early teen years, August became my favorite month. I loved the warmth, the beauty, and the quietness of those late summer days. 

Sometime in my twenties, I began to love fall even more than summer, and September became my favorite month. 

The beauty and coziness of the fall season is hard to beat, especially if you live in a state where the leaves change color and cool mornings and evenings make you want to snuggle under a cozy blanket with a cup of hot tea or coffee.  

Beyond the beauty of this season, I also love fall for another reason. I love the Biblical holidays that occur in this season. 

Growing up, I did not know anything about the Biblical holidays. I was familiar with Passover since it is part of the Exodus story in the Bible. I also knew Jesus died on that day, but that was about it. I didn’t know much more than that. 

Fifteen years ago, back in the year of 2009, my Dad had a small booklet sitting on our kitchen counter among his pile of extra mail. The booklet was titled “The Holidays of God”. Intrigued, I asked my Dad if I could read it. Printed by a well known (to us) Christian publisher that prints small devotional booklets, my Dad was happy to let me read it. 

I read that small booklet. And I was completely blown away. Why do Christians not know about these Biblical holidays? 

Yes, God told His people Israel to keep them, but all of them point to Christ! All of them point to God’s redemptive plan for His people. Why don’t Christians see the connection? 

I was amazed. 

Christ died on Passover. 

Christ was buried on Unleavened Bread.

Christ rose from the grave on First Fruits. 

The Holy Spirit was poured out on Shavuot. (Pentecost)

All of those major things in Christianity happened on the four Biblical holidays in the spring time. Christ perfectly fulfilled them. Since these holidays are about Christ, shouldn’t we remember them? I had something to think about for a while.

A little while later, I read their second booklet on “The Holidays of God” that are in the fall season. Once again, I was amazed. 

Why do Christians not see the significance and connection to Christ in these Biblical holidays? 

My Dad loves Bible prophecy. Sometime that year, my Dad got a DVD series in the mail about the “Feasts of the Lord” in Bible prophecy. 

After reading those small booklets, I wanted to know more. I was eager to watch these DVD’s with my Dad. Once again, I was completely amazed. 

Click here to watch a teaching from this DVD. 

The Biblical holidays in the spring were so easy to see the connection to Christ. 

The Biblical holidays in the fall have not been fulfilled yet, but they will be in the future. Some Christians say these Biblical holidays have been “done away” with. How can they be “done away” with if Christ hasn’t even fulfilled all of them yet? They can’t be. 

The first Biblical holiday in the fall? 

It is the Feast of Trumpets. 

What is that day about? It is a day of blowing shofars and trumpets. In Hebrew, that day is known as “Rosh Hashanah” and “Yom Teruah”. 

What are we as Christians still waiting for? 

The return of Christ. 

What will Christ do when He comes back? 

The Bible tells us:  

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God…” 

1 Thessalonians 4:16

When Christ comes back to take His people home to heaven, He will blow a trumpet! 

That is exactly what the first Biblical holiday in the fall season is all about. I learned that day is known as the day when no man knows the day or hour when it comes. Why? Because you have to be looking for the new crescent moon in the sky for that holiday to begin. 

After learning more about this Biblical holiday in the fall, the connection to Christ’s return is undeniable. That is precisely what that Biblical holiday is all about. No one knows the day or hour, but we can know the season He will come in by understanding the Biblical holidays. It is glorious! 

Friends on social media see many verses from me about the return of the Lord this time of year. 

I cannot help but share the overflow of my heart. Every year in the early fall season I wonder… 

Is this the year of your Son’s return, Father? Will we hear you blow your trumpet, your shofar? Is this the year your Son will come to get His bride? 

Recently, my mind was drawn to the parable Christ gave in Matthew 25 about the ten virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom to come. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. I read that parable in my Bible yesterday morning. 

The wise had oil to burn when the bridegroom came. The foolish had no oil to burn when the bridegroom came. 

 Oil is a type and picture of the Holy Spirit. 

Though they were waiting for the bridegroom, the foolish virgins did not have any oil when He came. That is, the foolish ones did not have God’s Spirit living in them. 

Christ, the Bridegroom, said to them: 

“But he answered and said, 

Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” 

Matthew 25:12 

Very sobering words, these.

The wise virgins had oil, that is, God’s Spirit lived in them. The wise ones were ready when the bridegroom came.

The meaning of this parable? 

We must be born again. We must have oil. We must have God’s Spirit in us. Otherwise, Christ will say: 

“…Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” 

Matthew 25:12 

There will be people looking for Christ’s return, but do not have oil. They are not born again. 

The Feast of Trumpets began yesterday evening at sunset. Naturally, my mind is drawn to the return of Christ since that is what it represents! The future resurrection of the dead will occur some year on this Biblical holiday. We do not know the day or hour, but we can know when it is near.  

I blew my shofar last night, loud and clear, after telling the Lord that I eagerly anticipate His return! Today is the Feast of Trumpets - a reminder to be watching for our heavenly Bridegroom with our lamp full of oil. 

Because the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Hebrew gives a much deeper insight into God’s Word. 

Unlike English, every Hebrew letter has a numerical value as well as a picture meaning. Because of this, much more can be seen in Hebrew than in English. 

For example, there is something in the Hebrew text of the Bible that implies that Adam and Eve, created on the 6th day of creation, were also created on the Feast of Trumpets.

This means the creation of the world took place the week before the Feast of Trumpets. I enjoy remembering the creation of the world every year. 

God joined Adam and Eve on that day. They were, in essence, married on the Feast of Trumpets. 

Like Adam and Eve, Christ will also come to get His Bride some year on the Feast of Trumpets. 

Pretty amazing, isn’t it? 

When I discovered this, about 15 years ago, I began thinking how special it would be to have my wedding either on or near this Biblical holiday. 

I would love to have my wedding, and especially my marriage, reflect Christ in every way. Amazingly, the wedding of our Messiah will take place some year during my favorite season! 

This year, that is today, Saturday, October 5th. Often, this holiday falls in September. 

My favorite love story in the Bible is the story of Isaac and Rebekah. (Genesis 24) There are so many beautiful elements in that story. God surely had them planned for each other. Although I do not know this, I cannot help but wonder if the wedding of Isaac and Rebekah may have happened on the Feast of Trumpets? I see something in Scripture that, very subtly, implies that it could have been on that day. 

I do know that Isaac and Rebekah had an evening wedding because the Bible says: 

“And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.”

Genesis 24:63-64 

Like Isaac and Rebekah, I would love to have an early evening wedding so that we have an actual “marriage supper” with our guests. Evening is my favorite time of the day. I love sunsets. 

I cannot help but wonder if Eve was brought to Adam in the early evening? You know, in late afternoon or early evening on the 6th day of creation? Eve was God’s final creation. 

I cannot help but wonder if the Lord Jesus will come to get His Bride in the evening too? You know, towards the end of the Feast of Trumpets - at the sound of the last trump? 

We shall see. 

On Saturday, I enjoy visiting on the phone with a friend of mine who lives in the state of Maine. 

Last Saturday, we had an enjoyable chat about weddings and God bringing people together. 

Because we are both single, I laughed as I told her, somewhat jokingly: 

“You know where I would love to meet my future husband someday?”

There was a brief silence on the phone as she waited for my answer with anticipation. 

“I’d love to meet him at a well.” 

My friend laughed heartily over the phone while I joined in her laugh. I continued by saying: 

“It would be just like some stories in the Bible!” 

“I know. It’s wild. And I’m dreaming. But wouldn’t that be special?”

I concluded by saying to her…

“In all reality, I would be delighted to meet my husband in a park or somewhere like that.”

The first time my parents saw each other was at a park in Michigan. A short time later they were introduced to each other by mutual friends. It is special for me to know where my parents first met. I really like parks. I also love nature.  

Love stories are special and each couple has a different story about where and how they met. 

Last month, I went for a walk one evening in our neighborhood. The sun had already set, but it felt good to walk and pray in the cool of the evening. The full moon began to rise. 

September 2024. Like so many years before, I hoped that maybe my wedding would be this year. But no. 

I recalled the first time I ever prayed for a Godly husband. It was September of 1999. It was just before I turned 17. I remember wondering if I was too young to pray about that, but I decided to pray anyway. That was 25 years ago. 

I will now be able to tell my husband that I waited and prayed for him for 25 years. 

Tears formed in my eyes on my walk. I told the Lord how I felt that evening. 

God’s loving response to me? 

“I know how you feel, Erin.” 

“I’m still waiting for my Bride.” 

God knew. God understood. He is still waiting too.

Every year as the Feast of Trumpets comes to an end, I am always a little sad. This must not be the year of Christ’s return. 

Though it may seem at times like our heavenly Bridegroom delays His coming, His Word says: 

“For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

Hebrews 10:37 

When Christ comes to get His beloved Bride, let us be ready, waiting, and watching, our lamps filled with oil - His precious Holy Spirit. And let us be listening for the sound of the trumpet! 

“… Behold, the bridegroom cometh; 

go ye out to meet him.” 

Matthew 25:6