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2 Samuel 9:1-12, “Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"… David said to (Mephibosheth – Jonathans last living Son), "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake… Then Mephibosheth bowed himself, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?" So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons.”
[Forgiven for Christ’s Name sake, kindness for Jonathan’s sake]
Our theme is the very precious doctrine that God the Father shows us kindness and mercy according to Jesus Christ’s sake. God forgives us and brings us to His table as legitimate sons and daughters based solely on the intense love and pleasure the Father has in His Son Jesus Christ. The Father does not save us (in a since) foundationally first because He simply pities us, but first because He loves His Son so much. That out of His infinite love for His Son, for His willfully coming to earth to die for us, that in an intensity of love which cannot be expressed by this writer, God therefore infinitely desires with boundless endless Pleasure to Honor His Son Jesus Christ. And Thus for His sake or for the Love He has in His Son the Father openly then loves us and invites us to eat at His tables as true Son and Daughters. “For Jonathan’s Sake…Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons.”
This truth is such a rock solid foundation to me when my sin seems to weigh my heart with guilt and shame. But I am afraid I don’t reflect on this as much as I should, and I worry even more for others who seem to pursue Christ little. First, because of how deeply it Honors Christ supremely above all as the Christian who hopes in God’s mercy in this way magnifies the Glory and Person of Jesus Christ as the most Supreme. Second because sin loses its death grip and shame loses its power in the face that I am totally forgiven solely on how deep the Father infinitely, I say that word as strongly as I can, takes Pleasure in His Son and in His work of obedience even to the point of the cross. And thus we are forgiven based on God’s love to Honor His Son. It is as infinitely impossible for God not to forgiven those to come to Him through His Son as it is as for God to reject His Love and infinite pleasure He takes in Honoring His Son Jesus Christ for who He is as He is the outshining of His exact Glory and His perfect loving obedience.
Psalm 25:11, “For Your name's sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”
Jeremiah 14:7, “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, Do it for Your name's sake; For our backslidings are many, We have sinned against You.”
1 John 2:12, “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His [Christ’s] name's sake.”
King David’s behavior toward Mephibosheth was a prototype or example of how our Heavenly King was going to act toward His church. John writes that our sins are forgiven on the account of our Heavenly Father doing kindness toward us on Christ Name’s sake. As King David loved Jonathan and so out of this love He showed grace and kindness to Mephibosheth who did not deserve it. Our Heavenly King on the account of His Love in His Son shows us kindness and grace although we do not deserve it for the Sake of His love in His Son. This is becoming more of bedrock foundation for me each day. This doctrine has the kind of power that strips guilt and hopelessness off my heart, which leads me on paths of freedom. For over the years I have come to know that freedom to pursue Christ and forsake this world comes from resting in Jesus Christ’s finished work for me. That for His Name sake, not mine, but for His I am forgiven. I have found the more I find peace and happiness which comes from trusting in my forgiveness as it is based on Christ’s Name sake that herein alone is the truest source of the treasures of freedom for the Christian. It is from this reservoir of freedom that the streams of the deepest sources of love, risk taking, sacrifices spill out from, toward our Lord God and our fellow believers. I am always amazed that my forgiveness gets is source from God delighting in God (Christ Jesus).
Psalm 106:8, “Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, That He might make His mighty power known.”
Christ has saved us for His Name’s sake so that He might make His Glory known, so that He might make His power know. Because God is passionate above all things for Himself and His Glory being properly display then when have a perfect hope that God will complete the saving work He started in us. Christ will be seen as Incredible as we see how He saved so many spiritual dead God haters and how He raised them from the grave, saved them from the sting of death, washed the souls clean, and changed them into, by His Power, God loving God obeying Son’s and Daughters of the Most High King of Heaven. For as the Psalmist says in 23:3 our sanctification is also based on His Name’s sake, “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.” Our God delights in His Fame being known; therefore He will not fail in saving us, for He by His design, in the act of saving the church, He has made this act the height of making His fame and renown known. “Love never fails.”
Psalm 109:21, “But You, O GOD the Lord, Deal with me for Your name's sake; Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.”
Not only is our Savoir making His power known but also His “mercy” and goodness known by saving us according to His Name’s sake. Without acting for His Name’s sake God will not save us, He will not save guilty blaspheming sinners just because feels sorry for them. Which is why the Psalmist here is pleading that God, who as revealed Himself as merciful (Exodus 34:5-7), be just that but be merciful by dealing with their sin and failure according to His Name’s sake. It is pure unadulterated mercy that God would graft our futures into the purpose of His Name being known as Great, Powerful, and Merciful. If the Almighty God did not do this we would have no hope of forgiveness, either now or forever. Christ will make the Fame of His Mercy known, He will NOT fail in this goal. Which is why the Psalmist banked His forgiveness on God’s commitment to His Name, and we have this same hope today in Christ Jesus. This is why we pray “in Jesus Name.” For it is only for His Name’s sake the Father listens to us and forgives us. This is why the Gospel means literally, “the good news of the grace of God.” Because Christ being infinitely worthy in Himself, since He is the perfect outshining of God’s Glory, we now have an Infinitely high Name to which we bank our forgiveness on. Jesus Christ the Magnificent. This is also why Jesus in Matthew 11:28,29 says the following, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” He bids us come and find rest in Him, for this world in all its pursuits and fame has no hope of providing neither a name or work worthier enough to give us hope of forgiveness and therefore no true promise of life and happiness. But Christ invites us to rest our souls on His Name and He will “give [us] rest.”
The first thing I see in God’s zeal to vindicate me only by Christ Jesus’ sake is this; the depths of God’s infinite worth and beauty, specifically in our Heavenly Father’s Love for His Son to Honor Him. Christ is God’s exact person and Glory, which is why the Father Loves His Son with and infinite love. Which in reality is a love for Himself. But specifically we see the Father’s love in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, for Christ’s willingness to obey the Father out of desire and love for His Father, and humble Himself to live on among sinful men and die of His Church. The Fathers public acknowledgement of His pleasure is recorded in Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
This leads me down those quite often paths of meditating upon the Infiniteness of God’s Nature and Perfections. How great must my God be! Who can know? If the Father loves this Son so much that He would soley forgive me out of His love for Him, then it speaks volumes to me to how wonderful it must be one day to see by Beloved Savoir, whom I see now by faith, and then “face to face.” How I desire to grow more in love with my Great God and Savoir Jesus Christ, none compares to Him. How great is the love of Jesus Christ the He would personally and intimately love sinners and transform them into saints. How wonderful is the Love of the Father. For although He forgives us on Christ’s account He then Himself loves us personally as if we were His own children, for He invites us to eat as His table for all our days. No one could love us as our God does, for His love toward us is at its most fundamental level, Mercy. 1 John 4:9, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” Therefore let us draw near in this relationship with our God by entering into Holy praises, thanksgiving and admiration of our great God, Jesus Christ. Trust only in His Name, pray only in His Name, lead others only to His Name, the Lord of Heaven and earth and of every forgiven heart. This should lead us to specifically rest all our hope of forgiveness and every good thing we need on the sake of Christ Jesus’ Name. For if we really love our God this attitude will most honor Him above all others, for boasting in any other thing is an assault against the truth and Honor of Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 20:44, "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel," says the Lord GOD.' "
Prayer:
Thank you Heavenly Father for taking the time to teach me such wonderful truths as you have today. It has been a deep joy and peace to learn to lean more on the truth that you forgive me and sanctify me solely according for Christ’s Name’s sake, my Savoir who You Sent into the world of mortal men. So my prayer today in the view of my failures, sins and weakness is simply the same as the Psalmist of old, Psalm 79:9, “Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name's sake!”
It almost seems odd to rest all my anxiety here, that you totally expect me solely on your Love for you Son, for His Name’s sake. But I have come to believe this both honors Your Son and was Your design from the beginning so that You could rightfully forgive sinners and except them as Your beloved sons. As my view of the Supremacy of Christ has grown I ask you will keep me Humble before You so that I am always willing and ready to place all my anxiety in the that Name which is above all other Names, Jesus Christ my Savoir. Teach me not to be content unless all my hope rest therein. May my life become more pleasing before you as I learn to boast, exalt and rejoice only in the Name of Jesus Christ, who for my sinful sake became poor, beaten and stricken. Forgiven me for not seeing the beauty in your ways and designs, especially in the Glory of the Cross and work of Jesus Christ. Use me for your Glory. So that when all around me people boast and find satisfactions in other things, that I will shine out the Supremacy of the Name of Jesus Christ who has become for me the total Sum of all my Boast and Good. May my life testify of His Majesty for all to learn to come to Christ and be forever satisfied by His love and beauty. Heavenly Father, Almighty God, Amen.
Yours in Christ: Oshea
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