You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.2
God chose the Jews not because they were good nor deserved it. They are a people holy (set apart) to the LORD; the LORD has chosen them to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The LORD set his love on them and chose them. They were the fewest of all peoples, but because of God’s love he kept his oath that he swore to their fathers, that the LORD has brought them out with a mighty hand and redeemed them. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.3 Moses said to them, “. . . Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant but with us, who are all of us here alive today. The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, while I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD. . . . He said: “I am the LORD your God . . . . You shall have no other gods before me. . .”4 Thus, God introduced the law through Moses. And continued to guide and correct them through the prophets.5
At the Transfiguration Jesus’ face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah (representing the law and the prophets, respectively) . . . behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” They were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”6
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.7
This Jesus is the same Jesus Christ who had to die on the cross to fulfill the demands of a Holy God that we could be saved through grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.8
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.9 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.10
Notes:
1. “King of the Jews”—Mark 15:26 [“This is the King of the Jews”—(Luke 23:38); “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews”—(Matthew
27:37); “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. . . it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek—(John 19:19-20)]
2. Psalm 119:68
3. Deuteronomy 7:6-9
4. Deuteronomy 5:1-21
5. In the Old Testament there are 5 books classified as the major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel;
and 12, minor prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and
Malachi
6. Matthew 17:1-9
7. Colossians 1:15-20
8. Ephesians 2:8-9
9. Psalm 119:67
10. Psalm 119:71
