What is the salvation of the LORD?
As I was walking back from CVS, I got thinking about Jonah.
Jonah's response to the word of God was the same as that of Adam and Eve: he disobeyed and ran away from the presence of God. And thus it is with all of Adam's descendants. "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12
In contrast to that, "salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9). What does that mean? Is "salvation" a rescue from the disastrous results of our rebellion as well as the just rewards of our rebellion? Is it a rescue from the wages of sin (death) and the power of sin? Is this salvation the reason that Jonah was able to obey God in chapter 3 (despite his still human heart which quickly displays itself in chapter 4)?
And what of Habakkuk? He says that though there may be absolutely no food to sustain them, yet he will rejoice in the God of his salvation. If the city is overthrown and he is threatened with starvation, where is this salvation? I don't see anything that looks remotely like salvation here. Well, what does Habakkuk say after this bold statement of faith? The LORD God "will make me walk on my high hills." Might it be that the salvation of God is what gives Habakkuk the strength to humble himself at the word of God and hope in God who is unseen?
Is salvation deeper than what we often assume? Is it as relevant today as it is forever? Is it a matter of how we stand before God shown through the general posture of our life (either running from His word or conforming ourselves to His word by His Spirit)?
These are things I want to meditate on more, especially with these other passages in mind: Luke 1:72-75, Romans 14:8, and Psalm 27:4.
Jonah's response to the word of God was the same as that of Adam and Eve: he disobeyed and ran away from the presence of God. And thus it is with all of Adam's descendants. "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:12
In contrast to that, "salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9). What does that mean? Is "salvation" a rescue from the disastrous results of our rebellion as well as the just rewards of our rebellion? Is it a rescue from the wages of sin (death) and the power of sin? Is this salvation the reason that Jonah was able to obey God in chapter 3 (despite his still human heart which quickly displays itself in chapter 4)?
And what of Habakkuk? He says that though there may be absolutely no food to sustain them, yet he will rejoice in the God of his salvation. If the city is overthrown and he is threatened with starvation, where is this salvation? I don't see anything that looks remotely like salvation here. Well, what does Habakkuk say after this bold statement of faith? The LORD God "will make me walk on my high hills." Might it be that the salvation of God is what gives Habakkuk the strength to humble himself at the word of God and hope in God who is unseen?
Is salvation deeper than what we often assume? Is it as relevant today as it is forever? Is it a matter of how we stand before God shown through the general posture of our life (either running from His word or conforming ourselves to His word by His Spirit)?
These are things I want to meditate on more, especially with these other passages in mind: Luke 1:72-75, Romans 14:8, and Psalm 27:4.