[287]. A Message From A Poem – The Prophets Made Careful Inquiry

[287]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE PROPHETS MADE CAREFUL INQUIRY

The whole reason for this poem is this passage – {{1 Peter 1:9-12 “obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, SEEKING TO KNOW WHAT PERSON OR TIME THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WITHIN THEM WAS INDICATING AS HE PREDICTED THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST AND THE GLORIES TO FOLLOW. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things into which angels long to look.”}}

At the time I thought about these dear saints of old who wrote the scriptures and did not really understand what the message was. For example Isaiah wrote about the suffering servant who was despised and was so horribly treated. He would have contemplated this to try to understand who it was he was writing about under inspiration. {{Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore and our sorrows He carried, yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, but He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”}}

The Old Testament writers looked through a glass darkly. They searched the scriptures they had written trying to discern what the message was, even from other writers. One notable case is this one – {{Daniel 9:1-3 “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans — in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, OBSERVED IN THE BOOKS the number of the years which was REVEALED AS THE WORD OF THE LORD TO JEREMIAH the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years, so I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”}}

Daniel strained to understand what Jeremiah had written and sought the Lord for understanding and wisdom.

Well, those in the Old Testament who wrote scripture themselves tried to understand what they wrote and what others wrote. Combine that with what Peter said, and we have the reason for the poem.

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THE PROPHETS MADE CAREFUL INQUIRY

The men of old who died in faith

Saw not the promised One.

Knew not His birth,

When came to earth;

Knew not the glorious Son.

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Believed they God’s inerrant word -

Redemption’s joy to see.

That all could find

Among mankind,

Rest for eternity.

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The prophets searched in earnestness,

They sought to tap God’s grace.

In search they merged,

Their thoughts converged,

Looking for time and place.

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Now we look back upon God’s work

And see His word fulfilled.

The Lord above

Came down in love.

By man His blood was spilled.

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Look back and see God’s perfect will;

Redemption through His blood.

Our sins displayed,

With mercy weighed;

Forgiveness now a flood.

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Look back and understand His grace,

Extended wide to all.

With saints of old,

We’ll Him behold,

All one then in the Lord.

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11 July 1997 R E Ferguson 8-6-4-4-6 or 8-6-8-6 ABCCB