"The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. 29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalms 118:27-29

These closing verses of Psalm 118 begin with an unshakable proclamation: “The LORD is God.” In Hebrew, it’s emphatic -- God, He is El -- the declaration that all authority, holiness, and sovereignty belong to Him alone. Yet this is not just a statement of who He is -- it’s a testimony of what He has done: “He has made His light to shine upon us.” This light is more than the glow of the sun -- it is the revelation of His presence, the warmth of His favor, and the piercing truth that chases away every shadow. His light doesn’t simply illuminate -- it transforms. The psalmist then calls for a radical act of worship: “Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!” This is the language of the Temple, of worship that is both celebratory and costly. During Pasover, this verse was read on Hoshana Rabbah, as worshipers circled the altar, praising God and crying out for salvation. The horns of the altar were the place of atonement and covenant -- the very spot where the blood of the sacrifice was applied. To bind the sacrifice was to fully dedicate it to God, with no option of taking it back. This is no ordinary offering -- it is a festal sacrifice, brought with joy, not reluctance. In the light of God’s revelation, the only reasonable response is full surrender. It’s as if the psalmist is saying, “I will not just bring my gift to the altar -- I will bind myself to it. My worship will not be convenient -- it will be complete.” This points us directly to Jesus, the ultimate festal sacrifice, who willingly allowed Himself to be bound and led to the cross, the final altar, so that His light could shine on all who believe. From this place of total surrender, verses 28 and 29 overflow with thanksgiving: “You are my God, and I will give thanks to You… Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” The heart that has encountered God’s light and laid itself on His altar cannot help but worship. These words also carry a Shabbat rhythm -- just as Shabbat closes each week with blessings and praise, so this psalm closes with the eternal refrain of God’s goodness and enduring mercy. Shabbat reminds us that our worship flows from rest, not striving, and that our surrender is not loss, but delight. Brothers & Sisters, your light has come, the altar is before you, and the cords are ready. Will you be a casual observer of His goodness, or will you bind yourself to His purposes with joy? This is the moment to go beyond convenience into consecration. Lay yourself down -- not as a reluctant offering, but as a willing one. Let the light that has shone on you ignite a life of thanksgiving. Tie your heart to the altar of His will and let your praise rise like incense. The LORD is God -- acknowledge it with your life. He is good -- declare it with your lips. His mercy endures forever -- live in it with every breath. THE LIGHT, THE ALTAR, AND THE ETERNAL SONG!

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD." Psalms 118:24-26; “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Matthew 23:37-39;

Psalm 118:24 is not merely about enjoying a new day -- it is a prophetic declaration of a divinely appointed moment. "This is the day the LORD has made" speaks of a kairos moment in history when heaven and earth converge. It points to the day when Messiah would be revealed, salvation would walk into Jerusalem, and God’s covenant plan would take a dramatic step forward. This is not the casual celebration of a sunrise -- it is the joyful response to God's redemptive unfolding. Verse 25, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!” -- Hoshiana na! -- is the cry that echoed through the streets of Jerusalem as Jesus rode in on a donkey. The people cried out for deliverance, quoting this very verse, though many did not realize that salvation had already come to them in the flesh. That same cry is lifted every year on Hoshana Rabbah, the final day of Sukkot, when worshipers encircle the altar pleading for salvation, rain, and revival. It is followed by Simchat Torah, the rejoicing in the Word of God -- a celebration Jesus embodied as the Word made flesh. Tragically and prophetically, on October 7, 2023, as Jews around the world danced with the Torah scroll on Simchat Torah, Israel was struck by war. And before the IDF entered Gaza, soldiers were praying Psalm 118:25: “Hoshiana na -- Save us, we pray, O LORD! Grant us success!” The cry of the ancient psalm became a modern wartime prayer. It was not staged -- it was spiritual. The plea of the people of Israel in their hour of need echoed the same cry once shouted before Jesus in Jerusalem. But the story is not over. Jesus’s words in Matthew 23:37–39 reveal a prophecy yet to be fulfilled. After weeping over Jerusalem’s rejection of Him, He declared: “You shall not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” That’s Psalm 118:26 -- the very next verse. The world has heard Israel cry out verse 25. Now, all creation groans, waiting for her to declare verse 26 -- the key that unlocks His second coming. When Israel cries out in recognition of Jesus as the One sent by the Father, heaven will respond, and the King will come. Brothers & Sisters, we are standing between verses -- between the cry of “Save us, O LORD” and the declaration “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” The first has already been spoken. The second is coming -- and it will shake the heavens. This is not a time for passive faith. This is the day the LORD has made -- not just for rejoicing, but for revelation. The gates are open. The cries are rising. The King is near. Join the cry. Prepare the way. And pray with urgency that Israel will finish the song she began. When she sings verse 26, the sky will split, and Jesus will come -- not as the rejected cornerstone, but as the crowned King. THE DAY OF THE LOED -- A CRY, A KING, AND COMING GLORY!

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalms 118:22-23

These verses capture one of the most profound Messianic truths in all of Scripture. What man cast aside, God exalted. What the builders saw as flawed and unfit, God chose as the foundation of His eternal plan. Jesus, the rejected One, is the very cornerstone upon which salvation, identity, and destiny are built. This is more than a theological concept -- it's a divine reversal that reveals the heart of redemption. Rejection by man does not disqualify--it often qualifies you for God's greatest purposes. Throughout history, humanity has consistently misjudged what matters most. The religious leaders of Jesus's day, the "builders," were entrusted with God's house, yet failed to recognize the cornerstone when He stood before them. But the plans of men never override the purposes of God. The same Jesus who was crucified outside the city became the foundation stone of a heavenly kingdom that will never be shaken. And this wasn't a last-minute adjustment -- it was "the LORD's doing", and it is still marvelous in our eyes. The Hebrew word for "stone" is אֶבֶן (evan) -- a compound of אב (av) meaning father and בן (ben) meaning son. Hidden within this one word is the mystery of the Gospel: the Father and the Son, united in purpose and identity. The cross was not an accident; it was the place where the Father gave the Son to become the foundation of our faith, our lives, and the coming Kingdom. The cornerstone is not just about structural strength -- it's about divine relationship. This truth demands a response. If Jesus is the cornerstone, then every part of our lives must align with Him. He is not an add-on or a side pillar -- He is the first stone laid, the standard by which all other stones are set. Your identity, your calling, your future -- everything must be built on Him. If you've experienced rejection, know this: your value is not determined by the builders of this world, but by the One who makes all things marvelous in His time. Brothers & Sisters, It's time to rebuild -- on the Rock. Stop trying to fit into structures God never called you to belong to. You may have been rejected, overlooked, or cast aside -- but that doesn't disqualify you. In fact, it places you in perfect alignment with the One who was rejected before you. Let Jesus be your cornerstone -- not just in word, but in foundation. Tear down what was built on sand. Lay Him down as the first and final authority in your life. Align your identity to the Father through the Son. What man rejected, God is ready to use. What the enemy tried to discard, God is setting in place. The cornerstone is secure -- now build. THE REJECTED STONE BECOME GOD'S UNSHAKEABLE FOUNDATION!

"Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation." Psalms 118:19-21

These verses are far more than ancient lyrics -- they are a spiritual invitation. The psalmist doesn’t just admire the gate -- he pleads for it to open. “Open to me the gates of righteousness...” This is the cry of a heart that longs for access to God, not by merit, but by mercy. In Hebrew thought, gates represent transition points -- thresholds between the common and the holy, the outside and the inner court, the temporal and the eternal. These are not man-made doors -- they are divine entrances into the presence and promises of the LORD. Verse 20 declares, “This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.” But who can enter? Psalm 24 asks, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” The truth is, none of us are righteous by our own strength. But here lies the mystery revealed in the Gospel: Jesus is the Gate. He declared in John 10:9, “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved.” He is both the way in and the One waiting on the other side. Prophetically, this passage also points to the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Matthew 21), greeted by shouts of “Hosanna!” The gates of the city -- and of salvation -- were opening, and many missed it. But the righteous, those who discerned the moment, welcomed the King. This moment foreshadowed the greater entry Jesus would make through the gates of heaven after His resurrection, carrying the victory of the cross and the promise of our access to the Father. Verse 21 brings the worshiper full circle: “I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation.” In Hebrew, “You have become my Jesus.” The cry at the gate has been heard. The way has been made. And the only fitting response is worship. Not just thanks for what God has done -- but for who He has become. Brothers & Sisters, the gate is open. Jesus didn’t just open it -- He is it. Don’t stand outside when the way has been made. Don’t admire the threshold -- walk through it. Enter boldly. Enter with thanksgiving. Enter clothed in His righteousness, not your own. The time for hesitation is over. The blood has been shed. The veil has been torn. The call has been made. Step through the Gate of the LORD and declare with all your heart: “You have become my salvation!” Let your praise shake the courts of heaven. The door is open—go in! THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS - ENTER IN AND GIVE THANKS!

"I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. 18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death." Psalms 118:17-18

As we continue our study in Psalm 118, I want to take a deep dive into verses 17-18, where the psalmist makes one of the boldest declarations in all of Scripture: "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD." This isn't the voice of someone untouched by pain -- it's the cry of someone who has been through the fire and come out declaring God's faithfulness. This statement is not a denial of suffering; it's a defiance of death. It's the resolve of a heart that's been chastened, refined, and pressed, yet remains confident in the God who preserves life -- not just for survival, but for purpose. The Hebrew word for "declare" is סָפַר (saphar) -- meaning to proclaim, recount, or record in detail. It's the same root used for a scribe or storyteller. This isn't about vague gratitude -- it's about vocal, specific testimony. When God raises you up, He doesn't do it just for your comfort -- He does it so you can bear witness. Your life becomes a scroll on which His faithfulness is written, line by line, miracle by miracle. This verse carries profound prophetic weight. It prefigures the resurrection of Jesus, who was chastened unto death yet not abandoned to the grave. On the third day, He rose -- not in silence, but declaring the works of the LORD. And because we are in Him, His resurrection becomes the pattern of our own. We, too, are raised -- not just to walk out of tombs, but to walk into testimony. Not just to breathe -- but to proclaim. Verse 18 reminds us that the Lord may chasten, but He does not abandon. Discipline is a sign of sonship, not disfavor. There are seasons where we are pressed, pruned, and purified -- but they are not the end. In fact, they often precede the greatest declarations. What was meant to break you becomes the stage from which you testify. You are not just a survivor--you are a witness. So what will you do with the life He has preserved? This is your moment to speak. To recount the works of the Lord in the land of the living. Your scars tell stories, and your survival is sacred. Don't waste your breath on fear. Use it to testify. You are alive for a reason. Rise up and declare it. Brothers & Sisters, you weren't just rescued -- you were raised. And you weren't just raised -- you were commissioned. The enemy came to bury you, but God brought you through the fire so you could speak with authority. Don't stay silent. Don't shrink back. Open your mouth and tell the world what God has done. Stand on your feet, even if they're trembling. Speak through tears, if you must. But speak. Declare His works boldly. Hell lost when Jesus rose -- and it loses again every time you refuse to die in your trial and choose instead to live and declare. Let your life be a trumpet. Let your voice shake the grave. You shall not die -- you shall live! YOU SHAL NOT DIE, BUT PROCLAIM!

"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37-39

Over the past two devotionals, we heard the song of the redeemed and stood at the wells of salvation. We saw how strength, song, and salvation flow from Jesus Himself -- how the joy of drawing from His presence is not just a poetic promise but a lifeline for our day. Yet today, we stand at a prophetic threshold. Something has shifted. Something has broken open. We are not only being refreshed -- we are being awakened and called. On October 7, 2023, the world changed. As Israel danced with the Torah on Simchat Torah, and the remnant celebrated the final outpouring of Sukkot on Hoshana Rabbah, war erupted. The enemy struck not only on a feast day -- but on Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day, a day biblically symbolic of new beginnings, covenant consecration, and resurrection. Eight in Hebrew marks that which goes beyond the natural -- into the realm of the supernatural. On this eighth day, while the people of God rejoiced around the Word, the heavens shook -- and we must discern the hour. This was not merely a geopolitical war. It was a prophetic turning. On the very day we traditionally cry out, “Hoshiana! Save now!” -- a demonic backlash was unleashed. But as in ancient times, God is not surprised. He is not shaken. And neither can His people be. The same Messiah who cried out in the Temple on Hoshana Rabbah, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!” (John 7:37), is still standing in our midst, calling us to draw from Him, not just for comfort, but for power. This is not a time for passive devotion -- it’s a time for Spirit-empowered purpose. The joy we draw from the wells of salvation is not merely for survival, but for assignment. The water that flows from the throne is meant to empower you -- to stand, to speak, to shine. What has broken open in the natural must now break open in the Spirit. You were born for this moment -- not to shrink back, but to rise up as one filled, overflowing, and ablaze with purpose. The eighth day cry is not just “thank You for what was,” but “Lord, empower me for what is now!” Brothers & Sisters, do not waste the moment. The shaking is not random. The eighth day is not just symbolic -- it is prophetically strategic. You are not meant to walk in yesterday’s strength. Come again to the well. Drink again of the Spirit. Let the joy of salvation become the fire of boldness. Let the ancient cry of Hoshiana become your anthem -- not just for rescue, but for release. You are being empowered for this hour. Now it’s time to rise, filled with living water, and become the vessel through which God births His purposes on the earth. Drink deep this weekend -- your assignment awaits. THE EIGHTH DAY CRY -- EMPOWERED FOR THE HOUR!

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, 16 the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!” Psalms 118:14-16; “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” 3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:2-3

Yesterday, we heard the anthem of the redeemed rise like a trumpet blast: “The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” We explored how this was more than personal -- it was prophetic, Messianic, and generational. We saw Jesus not only as our Deliverer but as the very embodiment of God’s strength, the melody of our praise, and the fulfillment of every promise. We stood in awe as tents of rejoicing rose in the midst of warfare, and households became sanctuaries of celebration. But today, we go deeper -- we step to the well. Isaiah 12 picks up where Psalm 118 leaves off, repeating that same triumphant cry: “the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.” But then it adds something profoundly spiritual: “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” These wells are not shallow. They were dug in eternity past and opened at the cross. And the joy we draw with is not emotional hype -- it is the deep gladness of a soul that knows the Source. The same Jesus who brings salvation now invites you to draw daily from His endless supply. During the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests would pour water from the Pool of Siloam upon the altar with joy and dancing. Psalm 118:14 was sung aloud as crowds celebrated God's provision. And on the final day of that feast -- Hoshana Rabbah -- Jesus Himself stood in the Temple and declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink!” (John 7:37). It was more than a dramatic moment -- it was a fulfillment. He is the salvation Isaiah had prophesied, and Psalm 118 had celebrated. So now, the call is clear. You’re not just meant to survive in the wilderness -- you’re meant to draw joyfully. You’re not called to wander parched -- you’re called to drink deeply. The same strength that stood firm yesterday, the same song that rose from battle, is now calling you to a well that never runs dry. This is a lifestyle of praise and drawing. Rejoicing isn’t a response to circumstances -- it’s a result of connection. And when you drink from Jesus, living waters will flow not just into you but from you (John 7:38). Now that the prophetic anthem has taken root—“The Lord is my strength and my song”—it’s time to go deeper. It’s time to come to the well. Don’t settle for yesterday’s echo—encounter the living source today. Let joy awaken as you draw from the depths of His salvation. Stir the waters of your spirit. Lift your voice and proclaim with courage: “Behold, God is my salvation!” Brothers & Sisters, if you're weary -- draw. If you're parched -- draw. If you’re down and out --draw. Jesus is not only the melody of your past victory -- He is the fountain of your present power. Drink until rivers surge from within. Praise until walls tremble. Rejoice until the heavens break open over your home. Your Redeemer lives—and the ancient wells are open. Come thirsty... and leave overflowing. DRAWING FROM THE WELLS OF SALVATION!

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, 16 the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!” Psalms 118:14-16

There’s a reason this verse resounds like a national anthem of the redeemed. It’s not just a personal declaration—it’s a generational cry that echoes back to Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:2) and forward to the final deliverance of Israel. The Hebrew word for salvation—Jesus—makes this verse unmistakably Messianic. It isn’t a vague deliverance. It is the revelation of Jesus, the Deliverer, who embodies strength, becomes our song, and stands as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. The passage points to His strength as the power to stand firm in the midst of battle. His song speaks of victory that comes after the struggle. His salvation is the rescue only a true Savior can bring. But their tents resound with joy because salvation has visited them. This isn’t distant theology—it’s immediate reality. When Jesus enters your life, your entire household becomes a dwelling place of rejoicing. What the enemy meant for destruction, God transforms into a testimony of praise. This verse is filled with prophetic revelation. The rejoicing in the tents is not just about Israel's past victories but a foretaste of a future kingdom when the Messiah returns and tabernacles among His people once again. The Hebrew “ohel” (tent) also evokes the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)—the appointed time when the nations will worship the King in Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16). Could it be that God is preparing your tent now to become a place of prophetic rejoicing before the nations? If your strength is gone, if your song has faded, and if salvation feels distant, lift your eyes! Your strength is not your own. Your song is not of this world. And your salvation is not in a system, a government, or even your own resolve. Your Jesus has come. He stands mighty in your midst, and He is doing valiantly on your behalf. Brothers & Sisters, let your tent shake with praise! Declare Jesus as your strength, your melody, your rescue. Speak it aloud until the atmosphere shifts. The enemy cannot occupy the space where praise rises. Lift your voice. Let your home become a tent of rejoicing. Let your spirit catch fire again with the song of the redeemed. For the LORD has done valiantly—and He has become your salvation. LEARN THE PROPHETIC ANTHEM OF DELIVERANCE!

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?" Psalms 22:1

The cry that shattered the stillness of Golgotha—“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)—was not a random cry of despair, but the deliberate voice of Jesus pointing to Scripture. As He hung on the tree, bearing the sin of the world, He invoked the ancient words of David—not only identifying Himself as the righteous sufferer, but signaling that Psalm 22 was unfolding before their very eyes. In that moment, heaven and earth bore witness to a divine mystery: the Holy One, seemingly abandoned, was fulfilling a prophecy written a millennium earlier. Jesus did not merely suffer—He fulfilled every word, every shadow, every stroke of divine prophecy. The prophetic parallels are nothing short of astonishing. “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people” (Psalm 22:6). “All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him’” (Psalm 22:7–8). These taunts were hurled at Jesus by mockers as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:39–43). “They pierced My hands and My feet… they divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:16-18). What David penned in anguish became literal history at the crucifixion. The Roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus’s garments; His hands and feet were nailed to wood. Whether David knew it or not, he was painting a divine portrait of the crucified King. But Psalm 22 does not end in torment. A holy reversal begins in verse 22: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You.” The writer of Hebrews affirms this as a prophecy of Jesus, “who is not ashamed to call [us] brothers” (Hebrews 2:11-12). The suffering Servant rose in victory! He praises God in the congregation, shares His triumph with His people, and destroys the power of death. “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD… for the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:.27–28). The cross gave way to the crown; the Lamb became the reigning King! And when Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He echoed Psalm 22:31: “They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this.” In Hebrew, it can be rendered: “He has accomplished it.” The prophecy ends not in defeat, but with the shout of finality. Jesus didn’t die a victim—He died a Victor. Every line of Psalm 22 came to life, and every drop of blood was part of a divine transaction. The Messiah was pierced, but He was also raised, and He will reign forever. Brothers & Sisters, let this truth grip your soul: what God begins in suffering, He finishes in glory. The cross was not the end of Jesus’s story—and it is not the end of yours. You may feel forsaken, but you are not forgotten. He was pierced, so you could be healed. And since He was vindicated, you too shall be raised in victory. The grave has no claim. The mockers have no power. The darkness has no dominion. So rise up in faith and declare with boldness to the next generation: He has done it! HE HAS DONE IT!

"I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." Psalms 16:8-10 ; "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him: 'I FORESAW THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE MY FACE, FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, THAT I MAY NOT BE SHAKEN. 26 THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED, AND MY TONGUE WAS GLAD; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL REST IN HOPE. 27 FOR YOU WILL NOT LEAVE MY SOUL IN HADES, NOR WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION. 28 YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE.' 29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear." Acts 2:22-32

King David wrote these words generations before the empty tomb shook the foundations of death. At first glance, Psalm 16 reads like a personal prayer of trust -- a yearning for security and closeness with God. But beneath the surface, the Spirit was revealing something deeper, something eternal: a promise not just for David, but for all of us. David dared to hope for more than just a long life; he looked beyond the grave and glimpsed the eternal. He trusted that God would not leave him in Sheol -- the realm of the dead -- and would not let His “Holy One” see corruption. Yet David did die. His tomb, Peter boldly proclaimed at Pentecost, was still present and known to all. So, how could David sing such a song of confidence? David was a prophet. He saw the resurrection -- not merely of himself, but of the One who would come from his lineage. The phrase, "You will not let Your Holy One see corruption," was not about David, but a Messianic Psalm about Jesus, who broke the power of death by rising on the third day. And because Jesus rose, so shall David -- and so shall we. What David saw in part, we now see in full. His hope has become our anchor: resurrection is not a wishful dream, it is a guaranteed reality through the Risen One. Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection, the forerunner of a new creation where death holds no power. Because He lives, we will live also. This is not just a future promise -- it is a present power. Death no longer has the final word. Brothers & Sisters, let this awaken your soul and ignite your spirit: long before Calvary, God whispered the promise of resurrection through a shepherd king -- but in Jesus, that whisper became a thunderous cry that shattered the silence of the tomb. The grave is broken, death defeated, and the pit stripped of its power. This is not mere theology -- it is the cornerstone of our faith. As Paul declared, if Messiah had not been raised, our faith would be in vain --but He has been raised! (1 Cor. 15:12-17) And because the apostles grasped this truth, they were transformed from fearful men into bold witnesses who faced death without flinching. Let that same resurrection power burn in you today. Proclaim the truth with fire -- for the tomb is empty, death has lost its sting, and Jesus is alive — Amen! THE HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE!

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:6-7 ; "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." Hebrews 4:9-10

The majestic Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9 culminates in a powerful declaration: “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Not might. Not maybe. Not if we work hard enough. It will be done -- because God Himself is passionate to see it through. The Hebrew word for “zeal” here is קִנְאָה (kin’ah), which also means jealousy or burning passion. This is not passive interest -- it’s the fiery determination of the LORD of Hosts to establish His Kingdom. The same fiery zeal that struck Egypt with plagues—shattering the power of false gods, that parted the Red Sea and made a way where there was none, that birthed a nation from the womb of slavery, and that drove the Son of God to the cross at Calvary -- is the very zeal that will fulfill every promise declared in Isaiah 9. This kingdom of justice, righteousness, and peace is not the result of human effort or religious striving. It is divinely initiated, sustained, and completed. That’s why the passage ends not with a command to act, but with an invitation to rest -- an echo of Shabbat, the seventh-day rest established at creation and later given as a covenant sign to Israel. And yet, that weekly rest was always pointing to something greater: a future, eternal rest in the Messiah, our Prince of Peace. The Book of Hebrews tells us there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9-10). This isn’t merely about a day off -- it’s a prophetic promise that in Jesus, we cease from striving, just as God did from His works. In Messiah, the striving to earn your salvation is finished. The striving to prove, to fix, to control is silenced by the finished work of the cross. Jesus didn’t just observe Shabbat -- He embodies it. He is our rest. Our stillness. Our restoration. He is the Lord of Shabbat! Every Shabbat you observe becomes more than a tradition -- it becomes a prophetic rehearsal of what is to come: a world restored, a people redeemed, a King enthroned, and a kingdom at peace. In a world of exhaustion, He offers rest. In a world filled with confusion, He offers divine wisdom. In the midst of chaos, He reigns peace. Brothers & Sisters, so lay down your burdens, beloved. The Kingdom will not rise by your striving -- but by the zeal of the Lord of hosts. Rest in Him. Worship Him. Trust in Him. Let Shabbat be more than a ritual -- let it be your weekly return to the heart of heaven. For your King has come, and His zeal is accomplishing what no man can. He is your Shabbat. He is your Peace. He is your eternal Rest. And in Him, every storm will cease and every striving soul will find peace. Our Prince of Peace is coming on the clouds of heaven! THE ZEAL OF THE LORD!