The Author, Part V

In the book of Proverbs, Jesus speaks. Jesus was with God even in the beginning, even during creation as noted in many other scriptures found in other books. Here Jesus is called wisdom by Solomon but as "wisdom" speaks there are many verses that seem related to Christ. I believe that Christ is speaking through Solomon by way of the Holy Spirit. Another mirror of Christ found in the most unsuspected of places. An old book of wisdom. This may sound crazy but consider the evidence before you decide to judge.

First, the beginning.

^{Proverbs 8:22-27}

²² "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;

²³ I was appointed from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.

²⁴ When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;

²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

²⁶ before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.

²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

And then the end.

^{Proverbs 8:32-36}

³² "Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.

³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.

³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.

³⁶ But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."

The Author, Part IV

The word of God is all of the Bible but the person speaking in many of the verses is either author spoken (inspired by the Holy Spirit), God spoken, and Jesus spoken. Jesus speaks throughout the whole of the Bible, not just in the gospels. It is all the word of God but person oriented. Here in this verse God speaks.

^{Hosea 1:8-11}

⁸ After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. ⁹ Then the LORD said, "Call him Lo-Ammi,  for you are not my people, and I am not your God.

¹⁰ "Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.' ¹¹ The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be reunited, and they will appoint one leader and will come up out of the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.

The Author, Part III

In Isaiah, Hezekiah speaks of his great distress but in his words we find that he was being led by the Holy Spirit. For it is no accident that Hezekiah spoke these words for they are a mirror of Christ's words and feelings during His final days.

Christ speaks, even in Isaiah, concerning His death and resurrection. In the words of Hezekiah we get a glimpse into the pain and pleading of Christ during His last days. A peephole through prophecy in which we see God's Son and how His life was taken from Him. God punished Him for the sins of the whole world and turned His back on Him. He left Him and abandoned Him for a time until the time of punishment was over. This punishment was supposed to be ours but instead He went through it in our place.

God was satisfied with the punishment, not only in this world but the punishment that spiritually came upon Jesus. Once satisfied, He raised Him to new life.

Isaiah 38:9-14

9A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

10 I said, "In the prime of my life
must I go through the gates of death 
and be robbed of the rest of my years?"

11 I said, "I will not again see the LORD,
the LORD, in the land of the living;
no longer will I look on mankind,
or be with those who now dwell in this world.

12 Like a shepherd's tent my house
has been pulled down and taken from me.
Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,
and he has cut me off from the loom;
day and night you made an end of me.

13 I waited patiently till dawn,
but like a lion he broke all my bones;
day and night you made an end of me.

14 I cried like a swift or thrush,
I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.
I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"

The Author, Part II

Actually, Christ speaks quite frequently in the Bible. I am not referring to the New Testament Gospels either. In Psalm 22, Jesus speaks generations before He was born on Earth through David His ancestor. David's words may have been driven by circumstances of his day but clearly Jesus speaks through him. In Psalm 22, Jesus speaks of His days of crucifixion and even His inner most feelings of pain, despair, and faith during those final days.

It is almost impossible to deny the prophetic element of Psalm 22. It is almost as if we get a glimpse into His journal of thoughts. If Psalm 22 does not make you cry, read it until it does. This is Christ's emotions and feelings as He was brutally murdered without a cause.

The pain He experienced to pay the price (to purchase us) is so profound and through this witness of the cross, we see His love for us.

Psalm 22:12-16

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13 Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

The Author, Part I

 The Bible can be a very challenging read for most but through prayer for His wisdom God will reveal the glory of His word to even the novice. An important lesson that I have learned throughout my reading of scripture is something that all Christians must realize when reading because it will help them with their comprehension.

The Word of God has three essential writers. The actual author or writer of the book (influenced by the Holy Spirit), God the Father, and Jesus Christ. Even in books written generations before our Lord was born in the flesh, He was present in the word. I am going to give you two examples where Jesus speaks. Most think that if they want to find out what Jesus had to say they should turn to the gospels and read the red letters. These words in the gospels are only a small snapshot of what Jesus speaks in the Bible. He truly has been with all generations no matter the time period.

Psalm 40: 7-10

7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.

8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.

10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.

He speaks even in Jeremiah in the following verse. Jeremiah is speaking about his own time period and the destruction of Israel by the hand of the Babylonians and expressing his own feelings, but through the Holy Spirit, these words mirror the time period when Jesus was also being persecuted.

 Jeremiah 18:19-23

19 Listen to me, O LORD;
hear what my accusers are saying!

20 Should good be repaid with evil?
Yet they have dug a pit for me.
Remember that I stood before you
and spoke in their behalf
to turn your wrath away from them.

21 So give their children over to famine;
hand them over to the power of the sword.
Let their wives be made childless and widows;
let their men be put to death,
their young men slain by the sword in battle.

22 Let a cry be heard from their houses

when you suddenly bring invaders against them,
for they have dug a pit to capture me
and have hidden snares for my feet.

23 But you know, O LORD,
all their plots to kill me.
Do not forgive their crimes
or blot out their sins from your sight.
Let them be overthrown before you;
deal with them in the time of your anger.